Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-06
Three Fifths of Rising Generation
Mentally and Physically Diseased

Mentally and Physically Diseased
by Alcohol.
a wave of degeneracy is sweeping
the land. and its development threatens
the physical vitality of the nation de-
ciared Dr. r. Alexander MaeNicholl of
New York, former surgeon of the New
York Red Cross Hospital. who was sent
abroad BIZ President Roosevelt to in
! vesticate the subject of alcoholism and
narcotics,
within a period of fifty years the
population of the United States in
creased 22O per cent, while the number
% insane and feeble minded increased
$50 per cent. according to the recent
census practically all of which is due
to the chronic and excessive use Of al
cohoI in one form or another, and mar
coties,e Ire said. I'm five years the
birth rate in the United States fell off
30 1s3 per cent"
Back of all the causes for his
harming condition. asserting the sur
econ. who was addressing the Ameri-
can Medical Society, the study of alco-
boi and narcotics shows that alcohol is
the chief degenerative factor.
"A degeneray so appalling in magni-
tude," DR.. MacNicholl continued. that
II staggers the mind and threatens to
destroy this republic, numbering more
victims than have been slain in all the
wars and in all the epidemies of acute
diseases that have swept the country
within 200 years.
During the past few years the birth
rate in the United States has fallen oft
SO 1-3 per cent. This means the loss of
100000 babies year Let this degen-
cracy continue at the same rate for 100
years and there will not be a native
horn child five years old in the United
States.
What is the cause of this degenera-
ecy? A hundred different intermediate
agencies may contribute to the undo
ing of the race, but back Of them all
stands alcohol as the chief degenera-
tive factor. Statistics compiled by
the leading insurance companies, and
presented by Sir T. w. Whitaker in Il
report to the British parliament show
that out of every 1000 deaths among
the population at large 440 are due to
alcohol. This would mean a mortality
from alcohol in the United States of
$4,000 a year
THE great burden of drink is not
borne by the drinker, but by the drink
eT's children. The germ cell that is
to be evolved into another being is the
most highly organized of all the cells
in tie body. In its protoplasm lies the
material and pattern of the perfected
organism.
Should such poison as alcohol lessen
10 nF 10 al In he
quality of the protoplasmic material
and deface the pattern, these short
eomings and defects would be sufficient
in the subsequent stages of develop
ment. A defective germ cell cannot
evolve normal body; this Is the rea-
son that we find large percentage of
functional and organic diseases among
the children of drinking parents
I'm our studies among school children
in New York city we find that 81 per
centum are the children of drinking
parents and that 81 per centum of these
children of drinking parents suffer
from some institution or organic
disease. In one institution for
the treatment of physical detectives a
recent study shows that every patient
is the child of drinking parents.
Our studies of school children show
that one in every three is mentally de-
ticient. If This percentage holds good
over the entire country there are q,
100000 of children of a school age that
are mentally deficient, and less than
81 900 of these are from hereditary al
cohol faint.
Three cut of five school children are
afflicted with some functional or or
Ganic disease. If this percentage holds
good, there are 100000 of children of
a school age that are afflicted with
functional and organic diseases, and
less than 100000 of these are free
from hereditary alcohol faint. ma
ton half diseased and half well cannot
live, but here We show three tifths of
the rising generation mentally and
physically Observation-Disclosures Star.