The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-12-03
THE WARFARE AGAINST DRINK
TEMPERANCE BATTLE GATHERS
STRENGTH EVERY DAY.

crease of Drinking and Drunken
ness in England.
United States Consul Frank w.
Mahin. of Nottingham, In writing on
the decrease OF Drinking and
Drunkenness In England" says:
The truth OF such statement
would probably be doubted by the
casual observer of the number OF
intoxicated people on the streets and
OF men and women entering public
houses. But the evidence Is derived
from a comparative study OF social
conditions and from the custom re-
turns and the reports of beer-brew-
ing companies. No doubt another
Trustworthy guide is the tendency OF
| public sentiment, which Is unques-
tionably in the direction of sobriety.
Temperance societies in this country
are growing in numbers and infiu-
ence. Outside OF these, the abuse OF
| intoxicants In It's relation to mental
| and physical health is receiving much
| attention. A special committee last
| year made an exhaustive investiga-
| tion OF the subject and reported to
| Parliament. The substance OF this
report was. at the request of temper
| ance societies, published by the au-
! thorities of several London and pro-
! vincial boroughs through placards
posted on blllboards and distributed
| in factories and workshops. The
| Nottingham placard, signed by the
| chairman of the City Councils health
| committee, the city's medical officer,
and the Town Clerk, reads as follows:
The report of the committee pre-
sented to Parliament by command or
| His Majesty states that;
The abuse of alcoholic stimulants
is a most potent and deadly agent OF
physical deterioration.
Alcoholic persons are specially IL
able to tuberculosis and all inflam-
matory disorders.
Evidence was placed before the
committee showing that in abstinence
is to be sought the source OF muscu-
lar vigor and activity.
The lunacy figures show large
and increasing rumber of admisslons
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
ernment, are published in order to
carry out the recommendation of the
committee and to bring home to men
and women the fatal effects OF alco-
hol on physical efficiency:
(1) Alcoholism is a chronic pois.
oning. resulting from the habltual
use OF alcohol (whether as spirits,
wine or beer) which may never go
as far as drunkenness.
(2) 1t is a mistake to say that
those doing hard work require stimu-
lants. AS a fact no one requires al
cohol as either food or tonic.
(3) Alcohol is really narcotic.
dulling the nerves, like laudanum or
opium, but is more dangerous than
either in that often It's first effect IL
to weaken mans self-control, while
his passions are excited: hence the
, number of crimes which occur un'
der its influence.
(4) Spirits, as these are usually
taken. rapidly produce alcoholism,
but milder alcoholic drinks, as beer
and even cider, drunk repeatedly
: every day produce, after time, al
coholic poisoning with equal cer-
tainty.
(5) The habit of drinking leads t'
Q the ruin of families. the neglect o
2 social duties, disgust for work, mis-
/, cry. theft and crime. 1t leads alst
Q to the hospital. for alcohol produce
p The most various and the most tata
diseases. including paralysis, insan
r lty. diseases of the stomach and live
q and dropsy. 1t also paves the way i
+ consumption, and frequenters OF pub
q Tic houses furnish a large proportion
a Of the victims of this disease.
g complicates and aggravates all acut
. diseases; typhoid fever. pneumoni
{ and erysipelas are rapidly fatal Il
the subject OF alcoholism.
y (6) The sins of alcoholic parent
l. are visited on the children: If tbes
II survive Infancy they are thrsatene
II with idlocy or epilepsy, and man
l. are carried away by tuberculosis
S. meningitis, or phthisiF (consumT
o tion).
y % IN short, alcoholism is tn
je ost teri ible enemy to persona
" health, to family happiness and
national prosperity.
This action o. city government
chosen without leference to the ten
perance question, is the stronse
possible indication OF the trend
n public sentiment, and though in
an self an effect. is likely to be prin
ne cause in furthering the temperan'
ms movement in this country.