Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-07-15


Betterment. a synopsis of which is
published I'm American Medicine for
February, the effect OF alcohol on
longevity is considered. IL is pointed
out that the results OF various tests
made by Graepeln and others into the
effect of small doses of alcohol on
muscular power indicate that il has a
nous soldiers like Kitchener and
Roberts show that in warfare abstain
ers stand more hardwork than those
who drink in moderation. The popu-
lar opinion that more work can be
done with alcohol than without is not
supported by the facts, and Is doubt
less due to the pleasant feeling OF
buoyancy which alcohol produces. AS
for mental efficiency tests OF translate
ing from one language TO another, OF
adding, of writing, OF memory, etc,
show marked loss of efficiency
through small doses Of alcohol. The
Rosanoffs contend that alcohol i'm
pairs every human faculty that has
been tested; the higher and more com
pick the faculty, the more pronounced
is the effect" The opinions Of the
medical profession are in the main in
the same direction, although attention
is drawn TO Col G. r. Woodruff's
paper on the beneficial effect of al
cohol in the tropics. In order to
demonstrate the effect Of alcohol on
mankind statistics are given Of the
mortality of men engaged in the man
ufacturer and sale OF alcohol. These
men were insured by forty-three of
the leading life insurance companies
and their habits at the time of appli-
cation were considered satisfactory
The mortality shown in the following
tables represents the extra mortality
over the normal experience Of these
companies:
Liquor and Beer Saloons-Propriet
ors and managers not attending bar,
extra mortality. SO per cent. Proprie-
tors and managers attending bar ex-
ira mortality, 73 per cent Hotels
with bar-Proprietors superintend-
ents and managers attending bar eX-
ira mortality, rs per cent The fol-
lowing deals with men who do not at
tend bar, although liquor is served on
the premises: Hotels with bar-Pro-
prietors, superintendent, and mana
gers not attending bar, extra NOR
tality, 80 per cent. Restaurants with
bar-Proprietors, superintendent and
managers not attending bar, extra
mortality, so per cent. Statistics were
also supplied Of persons in two other
branches of the liquor business, as
follows: Breweries Proprietors,
managers and superintendent, extra
mortality, 80 per cent. Wholesale
gers, extra mortality. % per cent.
With regard to the formerly intern
perate it was shown that the life in
surance companies had experienced
about SO per cent extra mortality
among men who occasionally drank
to excess more than five years prior
to date Of application, and had been
temperate up to that time. The
steady so-calied moderate drinkers,
men who were considered average
lives by the insurance companies, were
found TO have a very considerably
higher mortality rate than among the
more abstemious class.
4 prominent life insurance COM
pany divided its policy holders into
four classes, depending on the extent
lowing table gives the percentage of
the mortality on the basis of the
American table: Total abstainers,
relative mortality. 50 per cent; rarely
use, relative mortality, II per cent;
temperate. relative mortality, 81 per
cent; moderate, relative mortality, 125
per cent.
In a table is given the extra NOR
tally i'm the nonabstainers over the
abstainers section United Kingdom
Temperance and general provident in
stitution, extra mortality of nonab-
stainers over abstainers, 80 per cent.
Scottish Temperance Life Insurance
Company, extra mortality of nonab-
stainers over abstainers, 40 per cent.
Scepter Life Insurance Company,
England, extra mortality Of nonab-
stainers over abstainers, 80 per cent.
Australia Temperance and General
Life Insurance Society, extra mortality
Of nonabstainers over abstainers, 60
per cent Manufacturers Life Insur-
ance Company, Canada, extra mortal
ity of nonabstainers over abstainers Is
per cent. The author is satisfied
from study Of the fore going statis-
ties that total absainers live much
longer than nonabstainers.