The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-21
Forty Years Following 1867 and, on the Left, the
Increase in the Number of Divorces During
the Same Period The Similarity Between
the Two Charts Is Significant.

to forbid the use OF alcoholic beverages among
their employees. Science has supplemented
experience by actual and accurate measure
ments. If a man drinks one glass of beer. the
day on which he drinks 1t his general efficiency
will BE lowered on an average of per cent.
II he takes three glasses of beer day. or the
equivalent In light vino. for twelve days. his
efficiency at the end of the twelve days will be
lowered 25 per cent to 40 per cent, depending
upon the temperament Of the man and the ma.
ture of the work. In doing mathematical work,
like bookkeeping. the loss Of efficiency goes
above the 40 per cent limit; in memorizing the
loss goes up as high 70 per cent. Thus the
most moderate and temperate drinking Is
harmful
The results can be illustrated by taking tho
effect of alcohol on the white blood corpuscles.
the wonderful standing army of the system,
whose organized hosts. millions strong, attack
and destroy the hordes OF disease germs Of all
kinds that are constantly entering the system
with the air we breathe. with our food and
drink, and through abrasions OF the skin. These
disease germs seek a lodgment-germs Of
tuberculosis usually In the lungs. germs OF
typhoid In the intestines, each kind in It's IA
vorite organs or tissues-and meet in combat
the armies Of corpuscles. If the latter win
from the outset. the germs are thrown off, II
the germs win at first, they get Judgment and
multiply. and the person contracts disease. If
the corpuscles finally win. the patient RECEIVERS.
If the multiplying hordes of germs win the
patient dies. Nearly all OF the diseases of
mankind and nearly all the deaths hang upon
the vitality and vigor of the white corpuscles.
Under the microscope 1t is found that even a
moderate drink Of alcoholic beverage. passing
quickly into the blood. paralyzes the white
blood corpuscles They behave like drunken
men. In pursuit they cannot catch the disease
germs In conflict they cannot hold the disease
germs from deyouring. and they cannot operate
in great phalanxes. as they do when sober
against such powerful germs as those of con-
sumption.
Every time man takes drink Of alcoholic
beverage he lays himself open for time to
contracting disease. Every time man takes
a drink he puts his life in peril. No wonder
the mortality statistics show, they do. that
the total abstainer has nearly twice the security
and hold on life that the moderate drinker has,
and about three times the hold OF heavy
drinkers.
If the drinks are repeated the microscope
shows that the fighting powers of the white
blood corpuscles are permanently impaired,
even when they are not actually drunk. This
accounts for the lowered vitality Of regular
drinkers, even though temperate.
After long-contfnued drinking, even though
temperate. the microscope shows that the white
corpuscles become carnivorous and begin to
feed upon the tissues and organs like disease
germs. The favorite tissue food OF the degen.
crate corpuscles are the tender cells of latest
development In the human being the latest
development is the brain. The microscope
actually shows the degenerate corpuscles in the
gray matter of the brain.
Statistics compiled by insurance companies
show that the death rate for the population at
large is 1000 deathe per year out of every
61,215 OF the population. and that the death
rate Of total abstainers is $50 per year in the
same number. These figures taken from many
millions Of cases, may be accepted as accurate.
They show that 44o out OF every 1000 deaths
!nearly one-half OF the deaths that occur) are
due to alcohol. Alcohol is killing our people at
the rate OF nearly 200 every day in the year.
The figures OF the English life insurance
conpania. as to the effect OF drink on longevity
are as follows:
II young man at the age OF twenty is a total
abetainer and remains total abstainer. his
prospect Of life is forty-four years, and he win
i've to the average OF sixtyfour; but IL he Is q
temperate regular drinker his prospect of life
win be thirty,one years. and he viii live to the
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