Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-12-18


hin, of Nottingham, in writing on the
decrease of Drinking and Drunken
ness in England says;
The truth of such a statement would
probably be doubted by the casual OBJ
server of the number of intoxicated
people on the streets and of men and
women entering public houses. But
the evidence is derived from compar-
alive study of social conditions and
from the custom returns and the re-
ports Of beer-brewing companies. NO
doubt another trustworthy guide is the
tendency of public sentiment, which
is ana uestiouably in the direction OF
sobriety. lem pcrance societies in this
country are growing in numbers and
influence. Outside of these, the abuse
of intoxieants in its relation to mental
and physical fealth is receiving much
attention. A special committee last
wear ade an exhaustive investigation
of the subject and reported 10 Parlia-
mept. The substance Of this report
was, at the request of temperance So
cietles, Published by the authorities
of several London and provincial bor-
oughs through plaeards posted on bill
boards and distributed in factories and
work shops. rhe Nottingham placard,
signed by the chairman OF the City
Councils health committee, the city 8
medical officer, and the Town CLERK,
reads as follows:
The report of the committee present
ed to Parliament by command of His
Majesty states that:
b The abuse Of alcoholic stimulants is
u most potent and deadly agent OF
physical deteriJration
Alcoholic persons are specially liable
to tuberculosis aud all infiammato
disorders.
Evidence was placed before the com
mittee showing that IN abstinence Is
to be sought the .ource Of muscular
yigor ana activity.
increasing number of admissions of
both sexes which are due to drink.
The following facts, recognized by
the medical profession and placarded
all over France by order of the Gov
eminent, are published in order to car.
carry out the reco mmendation of the
committee and to bring home to men
and women the fatal effects Of alcohol
on physical efficiency:
IL Alcoholism is chronic poison
ing, resulting from the habituai use of
alcohol whether as spirits, wine or
beer which may never go as far as
drunkenness.
(2) 1t is n mistake to say that those
doing hard work require slim dlants.
AS fact no one requires alcohol as
either food or tonic.
(3) Alcohol is really narcotic, dull
ing the nerves, Ike laudanum or OPT
um, but is more dangerous than either
in that sflea its fir, t effect is to weak
en- mans self-contrsl, while his pas
sions are excited; hence the number
OF crimes which occur under its intlu-
ence. 40
a. Spirits, as these are usually TAX
en-, rapidly produce alcoholism,s but
mlider alcoholic drinks, as beer, and
even cider, drunk repeatedly aevery
day produce, after time, alcoholic
poisoning with equal certainty.
(5) he habit of drinking leads to
the ruin of families, the neglect of So
cial duties, disgust for WORK, misery,
theft aud crime. 1t leads also to the
uos pital, for alcohol produces the most
various and the most fatal diseases,
Including paralysis, insanity, diseases
of the stomach and liver and dro psy.
1t also paves the way to consumption,
and frequenters of public. houses fur
nish large proportion of the victims
of this disease. 1t mplicates and.ag-
gravates all acute diseases; typhoid
lever, pneumonia and erysipelss. are
rapidly fatal in the subject OF. alcohol
ism.
10y The sins of alcoho parentlics are
visited on the children; if these sur
vive Infancy they are threatened with
diocy or epilepsy, and many are car
ried away with tuberculosis, meningi.
is, or phthsisA c )nsumpt- on). -
~ In short, alcoholism the most
terrible enemy 10 personal health, 10
family happiness and 10 national pros