The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-10-13
ALCOHOL is CAUSE OF EVIL
Most Prominent Figure in Crime, Pau"
perism and lnsanity-Prob-
lem is Hygienic.

The following interesting study Of
the temperance problem in it's 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 DR.. F. 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-
ance and decisions of the past, and a
call for a larger knowledge of the
great laws and forces hat 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
entifc knowledge makes it clear, from
a larger study of the causes, that
many of the diseases which aflict the
race are ~preventable. This is CON
firmed in the diminishing mortality in
diseases of the present day. An ex-
act study Of crime, pauperism, insan-
fly 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 mcre
evident in disease. accidents and
losses. and il is the consciousness of
this, felt in almost every home in the
land, that gives to the temperance
movement d power above all senti-
ment or theory. Statistics show be
yond question that over half a million
persons are sick and dying yearly in
this country, and that alcohol is most
intimately related as a prominent
cause. Also, in many cases, the use
OF alcohol is a symptom of conditions
which existed before. and in all cases
1t contributes to make fatal and hurry
on the degenerations that are present.
Inebriety is an insanity, s~pringing
from states of exhaustion, poisoning.
defective living. and alcohol is a mar
cotic, covering up these conditions and
intensifyinG them. The inebriate is
literally insane, because his conduct is
suicidal to his own interests and ar
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 liv.
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 seer 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 ar
epidemic of that disease. 1t is the
stress and strain of life, and ignorant
conduct that brings on fatigue and
weakness, and resort to alcohol tc
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 a race of totaI
abstainers, to whom alcohol can never
have any fascination. Break up the
great delusion of today that alcohol
Is a stimulant and a tonic, and a new
age will come in. The saloon is doom
ed to disappear. and alcohol is going
to be one Of the great fuel and light
producing forces OF the world. Al
ready its power has been demonstrat.
ed, and IL only awaits the inventor to
devise means for Harvesting It into
the great productive forces of the
world.
The temperance problem is a nv
gienic one, and the diseased insane in
ebrfate is durable by means and meas
ures along lines of exact science
These facts are becoming more and
more prominent, and with them the
absolute certainty that inebriety will
be stamped out and many of the con
ditions Of which crime and pauperisu
are only results will be removed. Boil
local option and prohibition are ter
minals that are absolutely certain II
be reached in the near future. Whai
We want today is q study of the cause,
and conditions which make inebriate,
In every community. Knowing these
we can apply ear for their remoyal
This must be done by physicians ant
scientists, and 1T is the great unknown
field of preventive medicine, that 4,
to be occupied in the very near IN
ture."