New Britain herald., 1923-07-21
LIQUOR FATALITIES
Showing INCREASE
Record for New York Alarming,
According TO DR.. Hubbard

New York, July Autonomous in
creases in the number of deaths from
wood alcohol poisoning. alcoholic cases
admitted to the general hospitals and
arrests for intoxication in New York
are blamed on prohibition by DR.. s.,
Dana Hubbard, director of public
health education of the department OF
health of New York city. DR.. Hub
bard cities statistics of the hospitals
the police and courts in support of his
conclusion that prohibition is a fall
ure. He asks the reason why, and
then answers:
Prohibition has failed because the
United States is bounded on the north
by hard liquor, on the south by liquor,
on the west by rum and on the east
by no limit"
DR.. Hubbard's tabulations show that
deaths from alcoholism reported to
the department OF health increased
from 252 in 1918, the last year in
which the country was under no ma
tional restraint in the use of alcoholic
beverages, to 272 in 1922, and that in
1918 the number of deaths from wood
alcohol poisoning was only four as
compared with Is in 1922. The total
number of deaths from alcoholism.
wood alcoholism and acute alcohol
poisoning jumped from PSF in 1918
to 295 in 1922.
The number of alcoholic cases treat
ed at Bellevue hospital was only 1928
in 1918, but it rose to 4,0SS in 1929,
and that institutions report is typical
of other hospitals in New York city.
Twenty-nine hospitals reporting on
the number of alcoholic cases admit
ted to their wards showed an aggre-
gate of $40 in 1918 as against g.
500 in 1922.
Fourteen Points on Prohibition
In enumerating What Prohibition
Has Done" DR.. Hubbard submits the
following IA points,:
'1.-Prohibition has increased enor-
mously the deaths from wood alcohol
poisoning.
2-Prohibition has increased admis-
sion to general hospitals of cases of
alcoholism.
3-Prohibition has made men
switch from beer drinking to hard
liquor.
4-Prohibition has increased alco-
holism in the two alcoholic services
of our two hospitals.
5-Prohibition has closed the saloon
but has made home-brewing and &C.
casioned home drinking.
6-Prohibition has increased the
wholesale price of grapes, rich in
and vitamines, beyond the
price for average home consumption.
7-Prohibition has increased the
number of arrests for drunkenness.
Specialization has brought about |
disrespect for the law.
9-Prohibition has caused poison |
Gus death dealing drinks to be made |
and promiscuously sold.
10-Prohibition has increased alco- |
holic indulgence by the adolescent |
male and female.
Petldling of Impure Liquors
11-Prohibition has brought about |
wholesale bootlegging and Illicit ped
ding of impure liquors.
12-Prohibition has brought about |
an increase in the manufacture of
spurious money.
13-Prohibition has brought about
speak, easies for the sale clandestinely
If liquor.
14-Prohibition has many SINS So
,ial and hygienic, to account for.
"rhese II points are consequences
disappointing in our public health
and are a terrible indict-
nent of such regulation. These facts
mould make thinking persons consid-
n seriously if this is the right way to
leal with the problem.
privileges that are almost as nat
lral as life itself being swept ruth
essly away overnight naturally begets
IN antagonistic reaction which can
'nly be hurtful to good cause hav-
ng high aims. Let us reflect"