The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-11-20

l.. Dana, Professor of Nervous Diseas-
es in the Cornell Medical College, on
alcoholism as Cause of Insanity"
reprinted from The Annals of the
Academy" in which the writer says
1T seems to me in conclusion that
what we need to do in this matter is
to fight the increased use of alcohol,
and fight the abuse of alcohol in every
possible way. l think we can probably
do it more successfully by appealing
to the sense and reason of people, by
| bringing up children in the way of
Iself-control and wisdom, than by actual
! legislation; I mean in so far at least,
as the control of insanity is concerned.
l do not believe that as long as the
consumption of alcohol per head does
not rise above what have called the
normal rate legislation against it will
lessen insanity, although it may do
lot of other good. l think if we legis-
late at all we should legislate against
the use of it by anyone under thirty
years of age, and think if such a law
could be enforced we would cut out
the evils of alcoholism better than in
any other way.
1T seems to me that by pursuing in
addition to this some methods of edu-
cation and training which will make
us a stronger or less homeopathic race,
we will have less alcoholism and less
alcoholic insanity, because in the ma
iority of cases alcoholism is not dis
ease so much as it is symptom of
homeopathic constitution. In fact, the
test of a homeopathic constitution is
the inability to use alcohol at all, or
to use it wisely or moderately. Alec
holism is in reality only symptom,
the expression of an unstable consti-
tuition. 1t is really this unstable con-
stitution which blossoms out in alco-
holism, and which is perhaps through
this led into an insanity. Therefore
we must legislate against alcohol to
some extent and educate against alco-
hol, but it is still more our duty to
train our children and ourselves to
habits of wise living and habits of self
control, so as to eliminate the feeble
souls and over-sensitive constitutions.
The flowing bowl would do little harm
if it were not for the shallow pate"
DIR. Charles A. Rosenwasser of New
ark read a paper on THE Liquor
Problem; Some Suggestions for It's
Solution" at the last meeting of the
American Society for the Study of AL
cohol and Other Narcotic Drugs. In
this paper, which is reprinted in The
Medical Record, he says
1--WE should endeavor to do away
, with the bar system with it's attend
ant evils, and this can gradually be
accomplished if we will but take a
common sense view of the matter, and
not expect to change in a few months
system which has been engrafted
upon society over a long period of
years. How can the bar system be
done away with? A beginning can be
, made by permitting the sale of alco-
holic beverages on Sunday in Testaur-
ants and hotels, but only with meals,
and only in places having no bars.
Some will say if you do this you will
soon find our saloons turning into res
l taurants. | admit this to be my OBJ
: ject, for we must do away with the
= bar if we wish to lessen the evils OF
the liquor traffic. If those persons who
, will drink will learn never to take al
D coholic beverages without partaldng
+ of food at the same time, also to drink
g slowly, and to refrain from treating
D each other, great deal will have been
g accomplished toward lesesning the
evils associated Wien the taking of al
S cohol But the individual who has
t or has had, the drink habit must avoid
= alcohol in every form and under al
y conditions, if he is really DESTROYS Of
d overcoming the habit
: I'VE should encourage the use o.
mild alcoholic beverages, such as beef
and light wine, in place of the stronger
: one, such as whisky. This can best BIZ
n done by permitting the sale of the
milder preparations under a much low
r er license fee than that charged fol
y the sale of the stronger.
e "The campaign Of education mus
s continue with renewed energy in the
:, hope of reducing the demand for alec
e hol, for alcohol, like every other com
e modify, obeys the law of demand ant
n supply. Children especially should b,
e taught the effects of alcohol upon thu
r human body, so that they can see 70
e themselves why it is best for then
d never to touch alcohol. We Shout,
e lay greater stress upon the physica
st effects of alcohol than upon the mora
effects, for we know that there
Is nothing so conducive to healthy MOI