The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-05
ALCOHOLIC PHILOSOPHY

It has been determined by a great many pre-
 else scientific measurements that there is an in-
 terval of one-fifth of 8 second between the in-
 stant an impression is received on the retna and the response or reaction of voluntary mus
 scles. This is the mean reaction time of nor
 mal persons. An automobile moving at the
 rate of 30 miles an hour travels A feet in a
 Now the physiologists have found that drink or
 two of beer or wine or finger or two of bran-
 Mhsky as os sn m
 hours after the alcohol is taken. In that extra
 at 30 miles an hour will travel say 20 feet
 All this is established scientific fact. It is not
 debatable theory or conjecture. But give an
 exponent of personal liberty a bottle of some-
 thing and listen to him debating the subject
 with the doctors:
 "oh, yeah? How large is the glass of wine or beer the dumb driver took? What was the alcoholic content? How old is the driver? Did he innbibe before or after food? And how did you time the two or three fifths of a sec ond lag? And how do you know the acci- dent was not accelerated? Your statement
 was manifestly generalized, written for nor; interesting, but here you apparently slipped" This is typical alcoholic philosophy. The item that aroused our bibulous friend was re- port of the scientific observation of the effect whisky. Because the slightly intoxicated cor | respondent is not familiar with instruments of
 precision he blatantly doubts that one can measure ffths of a second. If he were quite sober he would perhaps reserve judgment or at | least more shrewdly conceal hi signorance. | Every one knows that a drink of liquor | has the same effect. only that it is not so ap- parent to the casual observer.
 What else is the "breaking of the ice" with | wine or liquor but the benumbing of the higher
 consciousness. letting down of healthy modesty and reserve. freeing the guard a sensible per- son keeps on his language and behavior, and letting go" regardless?
 The present tests for drunkenness are neither practical nor recognized by the courts We need some simple practical test whereby any one, even a police court clerk, may determine | at once whether person is unde rthe effects of alcohol, whether we lpease to call it intoxi- cation or not. Some inventor might well apply
 instrument for the purpose. Alcohol retards l the reaction time-the time that "lapses from tina to the instant the muscles of hand or foot | respond to the signal or stimulus--from the one-fifth of a second, which is normal to three-fifth or four-fifths of a second. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Competitors Beware l Would the handling of type in process of | composition be harmful to an expectant mother
 or to her unborn child? IF. B. CD Answer-Not the handling. But inhalation of
 ingestion of bits of lead from carelessness about | eating or chewing gum or bringing the fingers
 to the mouth when the hands are soiled. may | bring about chronic lead poisoning and affect
 the unborn child disastrously.
 1 The Mild Question notice you recommend raw milk. not pas- | teurized, for children. Isn't that the loose milk? I give my children --'s Grade A Pasteurized bottled milk. Would raw milk be better for them? (Nrs S. E. Al
 | Answer-Yes if you can afford to give them Certified milk, or a less expensive milk which
 is approved by your physician or by the local health department.
 Chees sI Cheese
 You had 6 statement in the paper advising | plenty Of fresh raw milk and plenty of cheese | for the arthritis patient. Does this mean cot | tage cheese or store cheese? (NIrs ,. c. S.) Answer-As you like. There is no cheese
 better in any respect than cottage cheese. so far as know.