Worse than Alcohol.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 11, 11 June 1885, Page 2

Worse than Alcohol.

Mr Peroy Grey, m -t.li«». February number of the National Review, lifts n|> his voice against the crusade which has been so successful against the use of Htimulants. What he says i* worth s-mie consideration. He argues that thrill us an instinct m human nature which craves a stimulant, a craving which shows itself m nil races and climes, and which adapts itself to the production of every region., flence, he declare- that closing public houses and prohibiting alcohol will only drive .moo. ami women to the use of narcotics. M<mi will never be contented "i.ii water,, milk, and nufeimentml liquors., and the juice of. fruits. If deprived of alcohol, they will seek oj-iuin, which shows itself everywhere m ihi' iiici;rasod aivl iucreiuinp use of ti>b:icci>,'ot ; ''in' ox^ssiyb quantities of toa aud coffee drinking. But opium 'is ihe great danger; rnce h'nbi) instead 1 uf intoxicating liquor*, ifc« tenacity is far stronger, its effects more deadly aixl terrible. Women can' use it without detection, and men without ivprohsition. This matter is one widen U a >ecret trouble to all physicians m large, pr.jct ice, though suldbin hiose thii-i darkly hinted at; bu&'it is 'known thaf <l narootisin," as it is CMlled t ; is a deadly iin<l increasing social «»v?l, which has brought ruin and death on many. Part of »hi< has I teen brought about by the discovery of anesthetics, und their extended use m surgery, and some who know the facts have gone so far as to question the actual value which can be claimed for their influence on 'mankind. " Delia6in£, demoralising, and denaturing" were the wordsin which DrTAwsm^-iiiiiself a victim to it< effect, warned the world • against the use of mor j th ia, and, well he-. ; ; mighty for the fatal' drug .brought. him to the gallows. It wax not lOugi since that tho Lancet drew attention to the increase m casea of melancholia.an.l iti may well bo that -..niiniterH of these are idua :to tho employment of sedati ves^ which, when their effect is -gone -by,' leave their victim move depressed th» n ever. Surely the ca^e is that of a man " who goeth 'and takiuh to 'him seven spirit* more \yioked than, himstilf, and ihey>nfcor m and dwell tlierr, and the last state of that man is worse that the fiwt."