The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-21
DRINK AND WAR.


DIR. c. w. Saleeby, F. R. C. s.. F. r.
s., one of the most eminent physicians
of Great Britain, has issued state
ment declaring that during every year
of peace, alcohol takes in lives in his
country three-fourths of the toll that
was exacted by the first year of the
great European war.
THE first year of the great war cost
us about $4,000 fine lives of our SOL
diers and sailors.
But during every year of peace, al
coho1 takes at least so, 900 lives in this
country. On the most moderate reck-
oning it is responsible for one-seventh,
or about IA per cent, of the whole
sand lives a week, year in and year
out, is three-fourths of the toll ex-
acted by the greatest war in history.
Estimating from the average size
of a family and the known death rate
from alcohol. we find that thi- de-
stroyer of the people, by its destruc
ton of husbands and fathers, makes
As 45 widows and orphans in Eng
land and Wales every year, or over
124 every day. These figures are an
under-statement, for they do not rec
ognize the fact that the mortality due
to alcohol is really much higher
among men than women.
I'VE have in this country an infant
mortality of about 100, 900 per annum,
and a mortality of infants before birth
which is as least as high. 1t is esti-
mated that not less than half of this
ante-natal mortality, namely, $4,000
lives per annum. is due to syphilis.
over the whole of this colossal loss of
life, before and soon after birth,
amounting to not less than 100000
lives annually, is the trail of alcohol,
either doing it's deadly work hand in
hand with syphilis or destroying life
directly on it's own account.
obviously, therefore, the abolition
of the mortality directly and indirectly
due to alcohol would vastly more than
compensate for the unprecedented loss
of life due to the deadliest war in his
tory"
Doctor Saleeby's eminence in his
profession is such that he would not
talk at random on such an important
than fair to assume that his compari-
sons and deductions come reasonably
close to hitting the mark.
What the Incorporate and excessive
use of alcoholic beverages do in one
country they are likely to do on a pro-
portionate scale in another. SO the
annual toll of life that IS taken direct
ly and indirectly by alcohol in this
country must reach rather enormous
figures.
And here would seem to be another
forceful and almost unanswerab1e ar
gument for the cause of national pro-
hibition.
Nor is it going too far to suggest
that prohibition has already demon
strated its efficacy as a life saver in
this country, or where it has been
honestly tried here; and the life or
death situation in Kansas can be cited
as an instance.
A recent report on the mortality sta
tistics of the nation and its several di-
visions by the federal census bureau
gives Kansas an annual death rate of
9.s per thousand. The state board of
Aet-AlH , Inquire IS 1U.o, ana the dis
parity is explained by differing meth
DDS of computing or estimating the
population of the state that are used
by the state and federal authorities.
The census bureaus figures for the
average death rate turnout the entire
country is 1875, and it is noticeable
| fact that the death rate in several of
the more densely populated states and
where the saloons are running full
blast is considerably above this aver
age figure.
To attribute the falling off in the
annual Kansas death rate so far below
the average for the country. and Sc
much further below the higher death
rates in license states, entirely to the
beneficent effects of prohibition would
undoubtedly be going beyond the
mark.
However. that prohibition plays a
material part in keeping down the
death rate in Kansas is not to be gain
said Any competent physician or
health authority in or out of the state
will so testify