Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-28
lived in the tropics and are generally Fl
the cold zones
Col. Chamberlin's View.

Col. Chamberlin's View.
There Is only one opinion as to the effect
Of closing the canteens. Everybody who Is
In position to judge will give the same
answer to that question. Lieutenant
Colonel Chamberlin. inspector general. in
his recent report said: THE absence of the
canteen is severely felt. The effect is to
encourage men to drink the various native
drinks, many of which are very injurious.
and to encourage the use Of opium. At the
several posts inspected by me in the depart
ment of Mindanao it was learned that in
spite of all precautions considerable liquor,
usually of bad quality. found its way into
the garrisons. Prices for whisky smuggled
into garrison range from s. to s.. gold. per
bottle. and it finds ready sale even at those
exorbitant prices. The Chino and native
merchants teamsters and others can afford
to take heavy chances with such profits in
view. A canteen where the men could pro-
cure good beer and wine at reasonable
price would be blessing"
Colonel Chamberlin says that the native
drinks offered to the men at the low dives
where they were now resorting not only
destructive to health but equally degrading
to the morals and the effect the dis
cipline was very bad. There was more dis
order, more arrests. more courts martial
as well as more sickness. and the opium
habit was easily acquired in the low dives
and the Chinese resorts which the soldiers
were in the habit of frequenting.
From another point Of view Colonel
teen caused the companies to lose the
profits. which amounted to 800 $50 a
MONTH which were expended for news
papers, magazines, games and other amuse-
ments and delicacies for the mess. We are
now providing post exchanges n sub
stitute. where the soldiers may find pleas
ant place to loaf and read the newspapers
and play games. They will have billiards
and pool rooms lunchrooms at which sim
Pile refreshments. coffee, tea and soft drinks
will be sold. and where they can buy at
cost prices timed goods and other supplies
formerly sold by suffers. We hope such
resorts will prove effectual in keeping the
boys away from disreputable places.
Yes, we have a fine class Of men out
here in the army" said Colonel Chamberln
in reply to a question. land they behave
just as well as they do in the states.
soldier Is a soldier wherever he goes. and
when they have good officers and discipline
is maintained, their conduct is excellent"
The Fatal Vino Habit.
The surgeon general, who has been max
ing an investigation. says that THE form
of alcohol most commonly taken by the ma
tives Of the Philippines is vino or vino
favored with anise-the so-called 'anisado'
Natives are rarely drunkards Compare
lively few of them ever drink to excess
Their indulgence is limited to an occasional
glass of vino anisado This modera tion
unfortunately, is not practiced by the SOL
diers. who drink vino recklessly, and soon
become slaves to the habit, which is fatal
Vino is generally made from tuba. the
Juice obtained from the bud (unripe fruit
of the nipa palm. Tuba somewhat suggests
pulque, and. like the Mexican drink, rapid
ly undergoes an acid fermentation, so that
it must be used soon after collection, wheth-
for drinking or for diStllation. The ma
jority of distilleries are therefore located In
districts where the nipa palm grows, though
vino is made to less extent from sugar or
cocoanut juice. Whichever Is used the dis
filling process is the same and the resulting
liquor is bad one.
Stills are of a primitive pattern. consist
ing of nothing more than boiler and short
worm. Under this boiler very hot fire is
built bellows not uncommonly being en-
ployed to increase the heat This heat Is
so great as to not only carry over all al
cohoIs, but steam, and the distillate con-
tains less than 20 per cent of alcohol of
bad quality, as it is composed not only of
ethyl alcohol. but, the lower and higher al
cohols-methyl, amylic alcohols furfurol,
etc This crude product sometimes under
goes a further publication in Manila by re-
distillation. but while a good alcohol can
be ma in this way this is not done CONNER
cially. and time is never given for changes
which age the various artifcial pro-
cesses Stimulating age cause.
Since American occupation number of
mixtures made from this impure alcohol
have been manufactured with the various
essences of brandy, whisky. rum. gin, etc,
in numerous establishments, many being
made actually while you wait That these
liquors are injurious both from physical
and mental standpoint, needs no further
proof Vino causes a maniacal acute alco-
holism in which any crime may be commit
ted. and after recovery from debauch de-
preston Is greater than from ethylic al
cohol Repeated overindulgence may act as
an exciting cause of insanity In those with
a proper predisposition. Melancholia Is
more common than mania. Practically all
habitues become perverted entering into
that state so often seen in morphine hends
of loss of responsibility and inability to
distinguish between right and wrong.