Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-11-29
Alcohol ruins health through its tendency

war by substituting a harmful or adven-
titious tissue which crowds out the normal.
The highest developed cells are first af-
fected, such as are found in the brain,
stomach, liver and the kidneys During
the changes the muscular coat fades away
and is supplanted by chalky deposits or
fatty degeneration, which makes them
brittle and liable to rupture. The old saw
that man is as old as his arteries" is
frequently applicable, especially when men
die of paralyses and diseases of the heart
and kidneys.
Alcohol lowers the temperature of the
body in spite of the preconceived idea that
it produces warmth. This condition is
brought about through the action of vaso-
motor disturbance, which slightly enlarges
the blood vessels by paralyzing them. Sir
Benjamin Richardson showed that under
the influence of alcohol the temperature
was lowered from ga to 8 degrees. The
shivering fits of drunkards resulted from
this fact. DR.. hansen and all arctic ex-
plorers inveigh against the use of alcohol
in frigid climates.
After a careful study of alcohol as a
beverage and medicine, have been TN
able to discover one single beneficial or
useful purpose 1t serves in the human
economy. On the other hand, even in
moderate quantities 1t reduces every ones
efficiency by lessening the higher func-
tons of the brain, and impairing the men
tai and physical condition. Besides alcohol
is the underlying cause of human degen-
eracy and is surely but slowly retarding
the higher development of those who use it.
will briefly enumerate few of its most
important psychological and pathological
effects
1. Through its inhibitory action on the
brain centers alcohol lowers all of the men,
tai faculties, such as intelligent thought,
perception, memory, judgment, proper COM
parison of people or things, caution and
quickness of action. II continued for years
the intellect is permanently affected and
the mental stigmata transmitted to sue
ceeding generations.
2. 1t lowers the moral standard, lessons
self-restraint, is productive of unreliability,
untruthfulness, dishonesty and crime.
8. 1t affects the resisting powers Of the
red and white corpuscles and the blood
serum against diseases.
a. II lessons working capacity, march
ing endurance, accuracy and rapidity in
rifle firing, ability to command troops and
solve military problems, to navigate and
maneuver war vessels. to act as members
of courts and military boards. to properly
perform administrative work. to develop
the intellect and fit one for the higher
duties and responsibilities of life.
5. 1t causes sickness, impairs health and
usefulness. adds greatly to the non-effi-
cheney of both officers and men, adds adj
diti0nal burden and cost to the medical
department, deprives the government of
otherwise valuable officers and enlisted
| ~ NI..
pension list, with corresponding increase
of governmental expenditures.
6. Vital statistics clearly prove that the
moderate use of alcoholic beverages reduces
the longevity Of mankind. They have a
distinctive bearing on public officers many
OF whom have passed years on sick status
as result of their use, Many have died
in the prime of life, or have been retired
from active duty through their direct or
indirect influence. The same may be said
of enlisted men in both services.
7. 1t causes gastric catarrh of the stOm-
ach with its train of neurotic and digestive
disturbances. cirrhosis of the liver, Bright's
disease and albuminuria, chronic pharyn-
gifts, erysipelas, govt, neuritis, glycosuria,
arterio-schlerOsis with paralysis, fatty heart,
exhaustion and sunstroke, epilepsy, imbe-
cility, melanchOlia, dementia and insanity.
II Is my opinion that the majority Of
degenerates, who enter our services, as
expressed by fragrant volators of rules,
regulations and orders, deserters. the inapt,
moral perverts, and veneTeal debauches,
result from the use of alcoholic beverages
or their hereditary effects.
Indeed. total abstinence should become
a requirement in the election of our presi-
dents, governors of States, senators, con-
oil off In
the suffrage Of the people. Besides, no one
who uses alcoholic beverages should be
appointed to the important positions of
cabinet officers, members Of the supreme
bench or district courts, heads Of govern
ment bureaus, civil or military. TO the COM
mand Of military or navy force 8, or any
other position Of importance and RESPONSE
blity
In view Of our knowledge of the subject,
has not the government the right to pro-
hibit the use Of alcohol among its public
servants, and especially among the pen
sionable class
| Every officer who accepts a commission
/ in the army and navy relinquishes In part
his civil rights and personal liberty. As a
compensation for submission to regula-
tons, orders. command and duty the gov
eminent provides ample pay and allowances
and Obligates itself to pension both officers
and soldiers on age or length Of service. or
for mental and physical disability con-
tracted in the line Of duty.
For this reason hold that the govern
ment has the right to require every officer
and enlisted man on the active list to
safeguard himself against disease and
vicious habits which are inimical to health
and efficiency.
Sanitary orders have been issued forbid
ding the use of nOn-steriized water TO
prevent amebic dysentery and certain |
articles OF diet to prevent cholera. beri-beri |
etc. Vaccinations have been enforced |
against smallpox, typhoid fever and dph- |
iberia, and mosquito bars against malaria |
Why not enforce the total abstinence of
alcohol. which Is one Of the greatest factors
in the causation Of venereal diseases. i'm
paired health and nOn-efficiency in our
public services2
Governments. States. counties and mu-
inequalities have a legal right to regulate
or prohibit the sale Of alcoholic beverages
just the same as they have the right 10
protect the community against malignant
diseases or pernicious narcotic habits
Everywhere the liquor traffic Is subject TO
control and the legitimacy Of such laws
have been sustained by the highest courts. |
Opponents to prohibition and temper
ance laws have said much about personal
liberty. Ones rights only invites activi-
ties that are not detrimental TO themselves,
TO their employers, the communities or the
State. Few railroads, steamship compa-
MES, street-car systems, banks, colleges and
schools permit drinking men in their en-
ployment. and preference is always given
to abstainers in many other walks Of life.
Even the sO-called frst-class bar-rOoms
refuse employment to men who are not
abstainers
Section 1887 Revised Statute Of the
United States, states that any officer found
incapacitated for active service from dis
eases or conditions not incident 10 the
service, shall be retired from active service
or wholly retired as the President may de-
termne.
Only recently the War Department has
issued an order depriving officers and en-
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