New-York tribune., 1921-02-27
Alcohol and After

4 wholly new and scientific con-
.rjbution to the discussion of pro-
hbition appears in the current
z North American Review, based upon
L The figures of the health survey of
mr modified forces in the war.
These records are now revealed for
The first time by DR.. Peafce Bailey,
the psychiatrist who had charge of
The problem of mental detectives,
4 drug addicts, alcoholics, etc, in the
/ draft.
/ The astonishing conclusion reached
from this health survey is that in
every thousand physically sound
American young men there are
twenty too much invalided from men
tai deficiency and nervous diseases
70 be soldiers, while there is less
than one unfit from alcohol.
Dr.. Bailey explains in detail how
these statistics were assembled. An
elaborate QUESTIONABLE was filled out
by the examining doctors with ex-
traordinary thoroughness and care.
Practically the entire 100000 men
examined were thus reported upon.
& The actual figure of recruits dis
eharged for alcoholism and alcoholic
was 5000, or less than i
Ger cent of those examined. This
result was astonishingly small,
mailer than any estimates had fore
va Proceeding with the analysis
4 the survey, DR. Bailey is driven
y this extraordinary conclusion:
"The general opinion that alco-
& holism and mental deficiency go hand
in hand, that the drunkard is de-
fective and that the simpleton event
ualy fills drunkard's grave, that
both combine together to bring about
IA the poverty and misery of the in
III digent classes finds little support
from these examinations of the army.
Ia The two conditions operate separate
|8 y for the most part, and no two con-
ditions which limit the normal func-
ton Of the human mind are further
apart IN their clinical and social char
seteristics."
Here are the chief items Of d.
sergence: Only 8 per cent of the
mental detectives Of the army gave
history of intemperance; 40 per
cent were abstinent. Mental de-
iect predominates in rural communi-
aes, and, while not mutually exclu-
sa, alcoholism and mental def
fency do not flourish in greatest
abundance in the same communities.
VI the total of white mental and
Rrvous cases diagnosed, 3.5 per cent
we're alcoholic, 1872 per cent were
mental defects. There were nine
zen states which exceeded the 29.2
per cent average, and not one of these
aeeeded the 3.5 per cent alcohol rate.
IN Maine, for a striking example,
olO per cent of the cases diagnosed
we're mental defects; only 25 per
sent were alcoholics. The other
states showing an abnormal per-
@a1age of mental deficiency were
Mtne South, and their alcoholic rate
vas almost negligible. In North
safolina, for example, the respec-
I'VE Percentages were Asst and T..
sOnversely, of the seventeen states
slch exceeded the average 3.5 per
sht rate for alcoholism, none ex-
Eeded the 29.2 mental deficiency
ate.
ne same apparent antagonism
tween alcoholism and mental de-
r.shcy Is revealed in respect to the
s~efent races, and especially In re-
Aaon to the negro. Alcoholism did
- exist among the negroes; there
sste only % cases in all. But there
~ A,o55 negro mental detectives.
~ Bailey attempts a tentative
Spianasion Of these astonishing re-
sas ), which is suggestive. The meri-
= detectives Of whom he is speak
S y are those which have the mind
child of eight years or below
Ae Standard test for rejection in
army. But statistics show that
ssery such defective there are at
sass ten who, while not classified as
sS9e-nlnded, are sluggish, back
- 1a and dull. Thus the conimu-
~ which has a high rate of de-
csases is bound to be backward.
= : we other hand, communities fall
niow the average for mental
M would show more initiative
nsty. prcgresaivansss. They