New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-03
Houses0f.0es EXCHANGE,

SLIGHTLY" ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
The extracts from an address by Dr. S. A Knopf
before the Massachusetts State Federation Of
-Women's Clubs printed on the Woman's Page OF
The Tribune OF October under the title Of The
Nations Health" contained one remark which in
the interest of the nations health" should be
amended. This the suggestion that women OF
wealth and influence help to create. among other
things healthful places of amusement where the
honest laboring may take his wife and children
on a Sunday afternoon and partake of non-alcohOuc
only slightly alcoholic drinks" If it were known
that the water of a certain spring had been
slightly contaminated with typhoid fever germs
would DR. Knopf recommend that spring safe
source OF drinking water? If not. why not? If it
is only slightly contaminated perhaps only one in
thousand drinking from it would contract typhoid
fever. Or suppose very slight amount Of opium
had been mixed with the ingredients of some re-
freshment served with the workingman's 'repast
a this healthfu place of amusement would not
DR. Knopf at raise warning voice against
the danger that such 4 mixture might lead some
into opium slryery?
Typhoid fever germs men lodged In the human
body are likely to multiply and give rise to poisons
which endanger life Alcohol even in small quant-
ties has the power. Ike opium. to set up in the
user an uncoatrollabe craving for more This fact
is not as we'll know by people generally as 1t
should be. 1t is known and recognized by physl-
Clans as the following testimony shows:
Professor A R. Cushny. of the University Of
Michigan. says:
"A danger in the therapeutic use or alconOl WHlCH
is generally recognized is that of forming the
habit"
The amount Of alcohol used in prescriptions as a
rule is very small. and yet it is enough to cause
conscientious physicians to hesitate in prescrib-
ing it,
Every medical man." says a writer in The Brit
ish Medical Journal lis well aware of the property
possessed by alcohol in common with tobacco:
dWed OF oG creating am appetite for itself dicu to
resist"
DR. Charles w Chapman in The London Lancet"
1886. page 326, says:
'Srhere can be no doubt that immense injury
accrues to the community by the reckless use OF
coca malt and other made-up wines. for the 80
the habitual use of actual narcotics from drugs
Winetaking is as easy il Is fascinating
1T : driuS which appetite, ana not ap-
petite which seeks for drink says David Starr
Jordan in Popular Science Monthly" The taste
DR.. j. T. Kennedy snys;
After an observation of thirty years ma in the
majority of instances the moderate use of-such
be averages leads an excessive use OF the same.
the use of light Wines ana beer is dangerous.
Physicians stand in position or responsibility
toward the nation s health Popular notions regard
ing alcoholic drinks in large measure que 10 the
attitude or utterances OF the doctors Renee phys
clans who advocate countenauce any degree OF
moderate drinking cannot hold themselves exempt
frcm corresponding responsibility for drinking hab-
its among the people. And those whose aid DR. I
Knopf would enlist in seeking 10 improve the /
ma tons health have right TO demand that both /
utterances about the of alcoholic beverages by
regard to the well recognized power or little
Boston. Mass '''' " NARY 2, HUNT.