Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-20
INJURIOUS TO HEALTH,
The Effects of Alcoholism in France
should BE solemn warning to
People of This Country.

So serious have become the evils re-
sulting from the use of alcohol by the
people of France that the physicians and
surgeons of the hospitals have issued a
public warning, which is placarded over
the country in the hope that it may help
to reduce the evils of alcoholism. The
placard is distributed by the public pow
ers and posted conspicuously In the pub
ic hospitals. 1t reads as follows:
The majority of maladies treated in
the hospitals are caused, or aggravated,
by the abuse. and even by the simple
use, Of liquids containing alcohol; all
OF these liquids, however denominated,
are dangerous. We direct especial at
tention to the so-called aperitifs, such as
absinthe and bitters.
| The brandies and liquors are also
very destructive and, likewise, wine in
large quantities. More than one litre per
day of wine represents a dangerous
quantity. Taken before eating, the liquids
depress the appetite, whatever ad-
vertisers may say to the contrary; they
burn the stomach, the liver and the ar
teries. After eating, alcohol, in what
ever form served. troubles the digestion
and at the end Of some time 1t is impos-
sible to do without drinking and from
/ this moment the victim is alcoholic
1T is possible to become alcoholic In
drinking regularly the liquids indicated
above, and that also without entering
. into state of intoxication.
THE working classes labor under the
greatest error in believing that alcohol
gives strength. Those who are addicted
to its use realize merely an artificial ex-
element which last but a short time and
leaves them soon more faigued than be-
fore. They then desire to cure this IA
| tigue In again consuming alcohol, and
they thus become alcoholic.
| Alcoholics become insane easily and
are liable to very painful forms Of par
alysis. We often treat workingmen who
have been very robust and who have be-
come rapidly consumptive because they
have regularly taken before each meal
their aperitifs.
The children of alcoholic parents are
: almost always badly formed, weak
! minded, insane. scrofulous or epileptic.
! They die often In commissions.
| Criminals are in large part alcoholics
or the children OF alcoholics"
! France was at one time considered
the most sober nation of Europe 1t is
now the most drunken This is due to
the efforts made to popularize the use
Of wines. especially the so-called light
wines. The habit of wine-drinking has
/ become so strong that the people feel I'M
able to do without some alcoholic drink
and. whenever for any reason the price
OF wine is advanced. the people resort
to the so-caled aperitifs The cheap
ness of these destructive drinks has in
creased their use and the habit once
formed is rarely broken
Efforts are being made by American
brewers. distillers and dealers in alco-
holic drinks to increase their sale and
consumption in this country. There
has been during the past two years a
special effort made by dealers in whisky
to increase the sale of certain brands
by advertising and their advertisements
appear in only the better class OF daily
and weekly papers These drinks are.
therefore. virtually. thrust before the
eyes OF young people as well as Of the
more mature in all homes Dealers are
also advertising their goods by circulars
as never before in this country
This greater activity is in part trib-
ute to the growth of the temperance SEN
timent and of consequent total absti-
nence and indicates that manufacturers
of and dealers in alcoholic liquors real
lie that they must make greater efforts
to increase the sale of their commodities
If they are not finally TO be driven out of
their infamous business The expert
ence OF France. however. should teach
the American people the necessity OF
greater effort TO reduce the consumption
OF alcoholic liquors. and. if possible.
bring about It's total disappearance
We are now, as people the most tenn
perate, but we may, like France, become
the most drunken. and the only way to
prevent such a moral disaster to the ma
ton is for the people to abstain totally
from the use of alcoholic liquors of any
KIND. The warning of the physicians
and surgeons of the hospitals of France
should be posted in all American public
schools. In libraries. factories and other
public places. and be printed in all pa
pers.-N. w. Christian Advocate.