The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-01
PEOPLES FORUM
Alcohol VS.. Drugs.


Editor Virgintan:
Sir.---in the Baltimore American Of May 25th-
Or. Horato M Pollack, of Albany y. r.. The
statisucan Of the New York hospital commits
sion, and Who is now in Baltimore in attendance
upon the SEVENTEEN annual convention Of
the American Medico- s3-oho logical associa-
ton. states;
There are fourteen State hospitals for
the ins4ne in New York, containing 3d.
600 insane inmates. A we'll known heredl-
tary and transmissible disease is the prin-
cipal cause of insanity. Alcoholism sands
second among the causes of insanity. IF
the total number of insane persons in New
York State, 10 per cent Of and per
cent Of women have become 50 through the
excessive use of alcohol.
During the year ending September 90.
1913, cool insane patients were admitted
to New York insane hospitals. Out oG the
6,061 persons, admitted, only thirty had
become insane through the OF fr@Gs
Very few persons become insane through
the use of drugs, Those who do generally
morphine, cocaine and kindred drugs.
but the continued of drugs does nos 10
as much harm as alcohol" This s.atAln@ut
Of pr Pollack makes the use Of habit
forming drugs responsible for ONLY 9hirty
out Of 6.06l insane patients, while a3sJhel
causing 90 per cent Of Such cases. becomes
responsible for 1,2l2 insane patient In
the production of insanity, therefore.
alcohol has been found in New York insane
hospitals forty times effective as habit
forming drugs.
The Virginia Association for Local Self-C+2v-
eminent Personal Liberty Prohibition Does-%ot-
Prohibit Med leo Saloon Defending With tn -Sa-
IooniSt- Kept-in the Background combination
practically admits the riShtness of prohibition
of the liquor traffic when is chosen advocates
say they would be for prohibition II it were
effective: but, instead Of using It's Influence to
secure and help make prohibition effective this
hysphenated association is willing to endure the
admitted evils Of the liquor traffic lest "a worse
condition. in the shape of habit-formine drugs
fail upon
lack for New York State represent anything
the average relative influence Of alcohol
and drugs in the United States in the production
Of insanity, this association should reverse its
position by advocating and helping to make e.
fectiNe the prohibition Of alcohol as the major
evil and by enduring the minor evils resulting
from the use of drugs. were such endurance
necessary. The whole proposition, however ot
good citizens submitting to any recoenized ov1
in community involves evasion Of their
duty, and is a confession OF the community
la,vlessness. Even the National Liquor Dealers
Journal. September O. l913, says; The liquor
traffic cannot save Itself by declaring that Env-
eminent is incapable of coping with TIE problem
It's presents
When Colonel W. G. Gorgas was made re-
sponsible for such sanitation nj the Canal Zone
would remove the liability to yeilow fever
ne might have argued that inasnuch the hui
inasmuch the opening of the canal would
give opportunity, by closer contact, Tor infection
from Asiatc cholera and the black plague, Il
would be better to endure the may yellow
fever epidemic than abolish It's breeding
places and incur the risk OF those dis-
aStrous epdnmiCS TO which were liable.
Colonel CorGas. however acted on the scientific
common sense Idea that he would destroy tho
breeding places for all cpidenics and then meet
the diseases Of humanity, of whatever name OF
virulence, they presented themselves 70
fail IN combat any epia annie 3lstnse because il
may be succeeded by another. is strange posi-
ton in therapeutics. To fail to destroy any
recognized evil in a community because another
EVIL may arise, is strange position in govern
ment The sensible thing both in uedicine and
government is 70 destroy all desrGctre agencies
they may arise, without regard 70 their re-
latiye destructiveness; and to destroy them be-
cause they destructive.
The saloon is the fertile breeding ground f1T
crime disease, insanity, divorce }awlessness
and all the pests OF homo and church and State
And Virginia is going 10 have fall house clean
ing
NORTHERN VIRGINIA.