Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-29

that beverages containing alcohol are an
accessory food Of value only when 1t be-
comes necessary to increase temporarily
the elasticity of mind and body and de-
sire and capacity for work, and that the
subsequent depressing effects and the bane-
full influence of its misuse requires G: eat
care in its employment, especially when
rest, proper food and some Of the alkoloidal
beverages, like coffee, tea, cocoa, and slim
ulants, like meat broths and soups may &C
complish the same purpose. and their sale
as a substitute should be encouraged.
3. In spite of the fact that beer drink ng,
viewed in the abstract, Is unproductive of
good, your committee believes that its sale
in canteens, under rational and compre
hensive regulations rather than it's total
prohibition. will SubServe the best interest
of scientific temperance, because so long as
human nature is weak and the masses are
not properly educated, the substitution of
a lesser evil under military control, appears
not only justifable. but will in the future,
as it has in the past, prevent excuses
which are fatal to the soldier, soul and
body. At present every effort toward total
abstinence at military posts merely OPP
poses theory to facts and sentiment to sta
tistics, and compels recourse to saloons OF
the lowest character, whose proprietors
care nothing for the efficiency Of the army
or the ruin of a good soldier.
4. Every precautfon should be observed to
conduct post exchanges and the sale of
light wine and beer along the lines recon-
mended by MunSon in his Theory and Prac-
tice of Military Hygiene, DID. S2O-S22 and
your committee begs to emphasize the fact
that the bar features should be entirely
abolished and that the exchange should in
fact be a soldiers club. with ample facili-
ties for reading rooms. legitimate amuse-
ments and athletic sports. where the soldier
as a self-respecting individual may satisfy
in an orderly manner his craving for diver
sion from the routine duties of a military
life. without undue prominence of the re-
freShment feature.
5. The sale of soft drinks warm lunches,
coffee, tea. cocoa. bullion and soups should
be encouraged as substitutes for alcoholic
beverages, and medicinal and line officers
should be directed to educate by precept
and example the rank and file OF the army;
that for persons In health alcohol in any
form presents no advantages not found in
other food stuffs or stimulants and which
are moreover free from the dangers attend
ing its use. In this connection II should be
remembered that good food. well prepared,
and properly cooked and served, is one of
the most effective prophylactic measures
against the drink habit in civil as we'll
{, military life. and no effort should be
spared to bring the culinary department in
the army to the highest state of perfection.
8. Medical officers should point out the
grave and far-reaching consequences OF the
effect of ,nereal diseases. SO intimately
connect with the drink habit. and make
strong plea in favor Of confluence. This may
be done by letting these young men know
that while the sexual passion Is very strong
1t can be accelerated or delayed. excited or
soldier can be assured that by the cultiva-
ton Of pure thoughts. removal Of tempta-
ton. normal Dental. and especially by vigor-
Gus physical exercise. confluence is not only
possible but easy.
7. Strong effort should be made to i'm
prove the social conditions Of the soldiers.
There are times and occasion when the
friendly advice of company commander or
attending surgeon. a personal interest In
the physical and moral welfare OF the
young soldier, will prove Of greater benent
cold verdict of summary court-martlal.
cold verdict of a summary court maruai.
Such personal efforts on the part OF the OF
ficers dictated by the spirit OF a universal
brotherhood of man, appears TO US per
fectly compatible with proper military dis
cpline. 1t is also believed that the haDi. Oh
paymasters may be greatly stimulated py
personal efforts.
Major Seamon, former surgeon IN the
army. heartily Endorsed the views expressed
by DR.. kober In his report ana feaa res RESI-,
luton adopted by the Association OF Mill
tary Surgeons. He suggested, however,
that 1t be urged that the sale Of beer be
permitted If light wines be barred.
Medical Inspector j. w. Ross of the navy
spoke of the effect of the abolition or the
sale of liquor in the navy, and said that all
the predictions made of the dire results or
the abolition of the sale were fully realized.
But he said conditions had much improved.
He spoke of the experiments that have been
but the experiments failed He also spoke
of the evils outside Of navy yards. referring
particularly to New York and Bremerton.
Greg
Or. ]. NJ. Lindsly of Havana introduced
resolution bearing on the presence OF
yellow fever in Texas
A meeting of the advisory council for the
purpose of nominating officers for the as
ISOLATION and selecting the time and place
for the next annual meeting Of the associ-
alton was held at noon. the report to be
made tomorrow. .-
The members OF the association called on
President Roosevelt this afternoon at 23o
O'Clock DIR. Walter Wyman and Gen.
Sternberg, assisted by Col. Thos. w.
Symons made the introductions.
The report of the committee on demog-
raphy and statistics In their sanitary re-
lations was read by Mr.. William A. King,
chief statistician OF the census bureau, and
a paper on Some Indications That May
Serve for the Better Utilization of the Re-
suits From a Comparison Of the Principal
Causes of Death in Cities That Employ the
International Nomenclature" by DR.. ]. r.
Monjaras of Mexico. These were the last
papers read at the morning session.
Discussion Of Papers.
Considerable discussion took place at the
afternoon session yesterday q ths payers