WAR WITH THE DELIRIO TREMENTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 316, 24 December 1862, Page 6

WAR WITH THE DELIRIO TREMENTES.

(From the Canterbury Press, 20th December.) In the last Session of the Provincial Council there were some brave opinions uttered as to drunkenness. Open war was declared against the incurables—war to the knife. A law was passed which must be absolutely effectual if— —there's the rab—if it be enforced. The Provincial Government says that men shall not drink themselves to death. Now which is to win—the Provincial Government, or the devotees of delirium tremens ? The Council has taken its stand on the philosophy of the old Irishwoman (the story is a true one) :— Squire.—*.' Biddy, you wretched creature, you're drunk again." Old woman.—" Ah, shure, thin, your honor, but I'm jist a marthi/r to the dhrink." The dear old lady looked on whisky as on rheumatism, or famine, fever, or the potato rot, or any other sad dispensation of Providence, to, be endured with Christian resignation. The Provincial Council takes somewhat the same view. They propose to treat drunkenness ; rather as a disease or misfortune than as a crime. They say if a man can't drink like a man, but will perpetually get drunk" like a lunatic, he shall not drink at all. They propose to stop misused grog simply on the same principle on which they banish cesspools to avert fever—the principle that prevention is better than cure. Again we say which is to win ? The philanthropists or the drunkards ? The case is brought to a simple issue. If the law be put in force, it will win. If it be left a dead letter the ddirio trementes will die the death of victory. They will toss off the last glass with an idiot grin to the health of the Provincial Cassar, with the toast,— morituri te saluiant. The question is—who is to put the law into force? Will the police do it? We think not. It will require a new machinery. If those who passed this bold and provident measure are determined that the law shall be enforced, there must be a special organization for enforcing it. This has been found necessary in many other cases. Vice in many forms is punishable. Procuration is indictable. Cruelty to animals. But forasmuch as what is everybody's business is nobod/s business, societies have been formed to prosecute. There is a Society for the protection of Women; Society for the Suppression of Vice; a' Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animate ; societies ior the protection of many different interests. The object of these associations is to employ agents in order to bring cases before the courts to be dealt with according to law. If we are going to stop the worst form of drunkenness, we must do the same. We must form a societ)', collect subscriptions, pay agents, employ standing counsel, collect evidence, and brin* every case of continual and inveterate dip* somania before the courts, and take every measure to procure conviction. Such a society will do much to stop this filthy madness which is pervading our whole community. If any are courageous enough to come forward as its founders, they shall have not only our voice—that is little—but our liberal subscription towards the object of their labors; and they may be well assured that the curses of the miserable suicides will fall lightly on heads which are shielded with unnumbered blessings from wives and children to whose homes their righteous labors will have restored comfort and happiness. Smallpox in.Sheep.—The Argus says, in its Agricultural Report that—'- to remove the fears of those who fear the importation of sheep infected with the small-pox from England or Europe, a notice has been published in the Gazette, directing attention to a clause m the Customs Act which renders all inteeted sheep, cattle, or other animals, liable to forfeiture and destruction if brought to the colony • and instructions have been issued to the officers of the Customs to cause all animals so imported, and either reported as diseased or presenting any appearance of | being so, to be detained onboard ship, or else confined m some inclosed place on shore, until they have been inspected by some competent person. Upon this report a further order will be made, and importers and masters of vessels are warned of the heavy penalties incurred by any attempted evasion of this act It this rather novel, or hitherto little considered part of their duty be really attended to by the Oiutoius officers, they may be to a great extent, the means of preventing the introduction of diseased stock; but unless they can get the.assistance of competent persons, in the shape of inspectors and veterinary surgeons, without very much lass o,f t\ina, their action in the first instance is likely to. be of little use. And, speaking of inspectors, there seems to be a great anxiety on the part of some of the sheepowners in the dilterent districts to find the gentlemen gazetted under the Scab Act some time since, or at least to know how to open communication with them, now. that the pains and penalties of this act can be enforced, and the assistance of an inspector is needful tor enforcing or evading these.