The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-10-13
ALCOHOL IS CAUSE OF EVIL
Most Prominent Figure in Crime, Pau
perism and lnsanlty-Prob-
lem 10 Hyeienic.


the temperance problem in its close
relation to hygiene, as seen from a
medical point OF view, has recently
been added to the vast array of evil
dence which science is accommodating
against alcohol by DIR. +. ID. Crothers,
superintendent of the Walnut Lodge
Hospital, Hartford, Conn, and one OF
the foremost medical experts OF the
United states:
The so-called temperance move
ment Of today is really an evolution.
airy struggle upward from the ignor-
snce and delusions of the past, and
call for a larger knowledge of the
great laws and forces that govern the
progress of the race, The study Of In
ebriety is scientific, and should be con-
fined to the facts and the laws which
govern the growth and development of
this great evil. Every advance of sci
cntifc knowledge makes It clear. from
a larger study of the causes, that
many of the diseases which aiIiict the
race are preventable. This is CON
firned In the diminishing mortality In
diseases of the present day. An eX'
act study of crime, pauperism, insan-
ity and a great variety of evils of this
class show that alcohol is the most
prominent exciting and contributing
cause.
This fact is also more and more
evident in disease, accidents and
losses, and It is the consciousness OF
this. felt in almost every home in the
land, that gives to the temperance
movement a power above all senti-
ment or theory Statistics show be-
yond question that over half million
persons are sick and dying yearly In
this country, and that alcof oil Is most
intimately related as prominent
cause. Also, in many cases. the use
Of alcohol Is a symptom Of conditions
which existed before, and In all cases
It contributes to make fatal and hurry
on the degenerations that are present.
| Inebriety is an insanity, springing
from states OF exhaustion, poisoning,
defective living, and alcohol is mar
cotic, covering up these conditions and
| intensifying them. The inebriate Is
| literally insane, because his conduct Is
suicidal to his own interests and an
tagonizes every impulse of life and
| healthy living.
Scientific study and experience
show that the inebriate is durable, not
| by emotional appeals or secret drugs,
but by the use Of accurate means and
measures, applied along the lines Of
exact laws of cause and effect. The
! suppression of the saloon and educa-
tional measures are all helpful, but
removing the causes farther back,
| training parents and children to live
on higher planes OF hygienic life In
| both conduct and thought, will prevent
and stamp out this great menace to
civilization.
The army Of inebriates, with all
the associated degenerations seen In
crime and pauperism, are as truly
grown and cultivated in our midst as
weeds in the garden. Given certain
conditions and surroundings. and all
these degenerations will follow from
them with the same certainty that
typhoid fever germs, scattered
through drinking water, result In an
epidemic eof that disease. 1t is the
stress and strain OF life. and ignorant
conduct that brings on fatigue and
weakness, and resort to alcohol to
cover 1t up. How to live right how
to take care of the body and the mind
Is the highest kind of temperance cul
ture, that will bring race OF total
abstainers. to whom alcohol can never
have any fascination. Break up the
great delusion of today that alcoho
Is q stlmulant and a tonic and a new
age will come in. The saloon is doom
ed to disappear, and alcohol is golnl
TO be one of the great fuel and ligh
producing forces of the world Al
ready its power has been demonstrat
ed, and 1t only awaits the inventor Il
devise means for Harvesting It int
the great productive forces OF tn,
world.
The temperance problem is a hy
glenic one, and the diseased insane In
ebriate is durable by means and meas
ures along lines Of exact science
, These facts are becoming more an,
more prominent. and with them tn
. absolute certainty that inebriety will
be stamped out and many OF the cor
ditions OF which crime and pauperisn
are only results will be removed. Bot
, local option and prohibition are tel
, minals that are absolutely certain I
, be reached In the near future Wha
we want today Is study of the cause
> and conditions which make inebriate
in every community. Knowing thes,
we can apply means for their remova
, This must be done by physicians an
:, scientists, and It is the great unknow
field of preventive medicine, that
= to be occupied in the very near Z,
ture."
|. EEMIEn nnIIMKn IAl rnnI A Al