Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1911-02-17
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ALCOHOL IS CAUSE OF EVIL
Most Prominent Figure in Crime, Pau.
perism and Insanity-Prob-
lem is Hygenic.

Ihe following interesting study OF
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
against alcohol by DR.. F. D. 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
ary struggle upward from the ignor-
ance and delusions of the past, and a
call for 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.
entiflc knowledge makes it clear, from
a larger study of the causes, that
many of the diseases which adlict 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-
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 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.
lnebriety is an insanity, springing
from states of exhaustion, poisoning,
detective living, and alcohol is mar
cotic, covering up these conditions and
intensilying 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 hyg.enic life in
both conduct and thought, viii prevent
and stamp out this great menace to
civilization.
The army Of inehriates, 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 ali
these degenerations will follow from
them, with the same certainty that
typhoid fever germs, scattered
through drinking water, result in an
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 to
cover it 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 total
abstainers, to whom alcohol can never
have any fascination Break up the
great delusion of today that alcohol
is 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 demonstrate
ed, and 1t only awaits the inventor to
devise means for harnessing it into
the great productive forces of the
world.
The temperance problem is a hy-
gienic one, and the diseased insane in,
ebriate is curable 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 cor
ditions of which crime and pauperism
are only results will be removed. Both
local option and prohibition are ter
minale that are absolutely cartsin m
be reached in the near future. What
we want today is a study Of the causes
and conditions which make ineb9iates
in every community. Knowing these.
we can apply means for their removal.
This must be done by physicians and
scientists, and it is the great unknown
field Of preventive medicine, that is
TO be occupied in the very near fu.
turn."