United labor bulletin., 1909-12-31
Continued from Last Week.


Privy Councillor Professor E. Won Behr-
ing. NJ. D., Director of the Hygienic In
stitute at Marburg: Personal as well as
comparative observation of persons inti-
matety known to me, leads me to the be-
lief that the limits of a wholesome guam
tity OF alcohol, in the form OF good wine
and beer, may be very widely drawn. On
the occasion of several of my long sea
voyages, l was very much impressed with
the superior physical capacity. mental
acuteness, genial character and kindly
disposition displayed by consumers of
alcohol as compared with total abstain
ers 1t has been demonstrated that al
cohol, particularly in the form of wine,
is an indispensable and exceedingly val
liable agent in the field of medicine
Privy Councillor NJ. Rubner, NJ. D.. Pro
fessor at the Berlin University: In all
countries, among primitive and cultured
peoples, the dietary of adults includes,
in addition to the ordinary food sub
stances, special beverages like coffee,
some form of tea, beer, wine or spirits.
The older the human being the greater
the decline, through natural causes, of
his power, the more his need of these
stimulants. There is much truth in the
old saying. "Wine is milk to the aged"
Privy Medical Council Professor F.,
Jolly, NJ. D., of the University of Berlin:
A glass of wine in the forenoon, one at
of this, a glass of beer, will not only be
a. .....
effect on the heart action.
Professor c. A. Ewald, NJ. D., Privy
Medical Councillor: The theorem that
human beings should abstain totally
from all alcoholic beverages-the de-
mand has not as yet been extended to
other stimulants-I consider extravagant
and without adequate foundation. Slim
ulants are an Indispensable requirement
of human nature for the sustenance of
the organism, as well as for the accom-
plishment of the nutrtive processes; al
most as necessary as food itself.
Professor r. ZuntZ, M. D., Privy Coun-
cilor: = Replying to the question OF
the total abstinence advocates, whether
it is not wrong to compel the body by
would not voluntarily make, we may an
swer: Without stimulants there would
be no life" 1t is fact that every food
supplies us also with stimulants, that
without stimulants operating on the
senses, the food of men and animals
would excite aversion, and that human
beings would starve on a diet of correct
IA ,e
lative elements.
Privy Councillor Ernest Bunker. M. D.,
Physician in Ordinary to the German
Empress: l consider the movement in
favor of total abstinence as absolutely
unjustifiable. There can be no doubt
that with the much greater exertion of
modern times, we are compelled, not only
physically, but by reason of nervous con
ditions, to rely more on stimulants than
was formerly the case. l believe
that a great injustice would be perpe-
trated on the human race by depriving it
of its accustomed stimulants, and of the
enjoyment accompanying their use.
believe that the purely psychological eff
feet which they exercise is of great prac'
the lightest and least harmful of all al
coholic beverages, it is likely to prove
hurtful on account of its large fluid vol
ume rather than by reason of its alco-
hoiic strength.
Privy Councillor Prof. w. Erb. M. D.,
Director of the Medical Clinic, Univer-
sity of Heidelberg: / consider the total
.kbctinapca ypoyament which would ahSO-
lutely prohibit the use of alcohol in every
form, by no means justifiable and not by
any means necessary for public health !;
at the same time. fully admit the many
deplorable evils resulting from the ex-
cessive use of alcohol. According to
my experience, temperate use of stimu'
lants affords an important means of re-
invigoration, relaxation and physical and
mental enjoyment, which cannot be cas-
lily over-rated. Weak natures, it cannot
be denied, find here an excuse for ex-
cess; but this consideration cannot mill
tate against our argument.
Prof Wilhelm Engelmann, Director of
the Physiological Institute of Berlin Uni
versity: I will willingly state, that in
my opinion the total abstinence move
ment, which would effect complete pro
hibition of the use of the stimulants
enumerated by you, is not only unjustif
able, from a physical standpoint, but also
decidedly preposterous, menacing and
cruel To denounce as poisons the stim
uiants enumerated, viz: spirits, wine
and beer, as is done by certain total alb
stainers, must be characterized as fool
sh and unwarrantable, and the PROPOSE
tion to deprive people of them wholly
uBjustifable.
Privy Councillor Gutenberg, M D.:
When we consider the stimulating effect
which alcoholic heyerageS exercise nnOr