ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 185, 15 November 1910, Page 3

ALCOHOLOGY.

like insurance; (Published by Arrangement). The manifesto of the Life Assurance Society of New York on the drink habit says: There are five reasons why mer drink:—"tiood wine, a friend, because I'm dry. or lest I should be by and by or any other reason why." If we looked we might find better, far better, reasons why a man should not drink. HEREDITY. Heredity is often an explanation ol alcoholism, but seldom a good excuse, The "taste"' for alcohol is not directly transmitted, but merely a defective nervous organisation which readily yields to the temptation of alcohol, 01 any other temptation that offers the easiest way out of trouble. But a weak or unstable nervous organisation may lie trained up to stability and control, iust as a. round-shouldered, sloppy, flabby physique may be made over and "set-up" by proper drill. LIMITATIONS OF HEREDITY. It is claimed by one school of biologists that gross over-indulgence in alcohol by a man who has inherited a healthy nervous system from healthy ancestors, cannot a fleet his offspring. There is doubtless some truth in this theory, or alcohol would long since have caused wide-spread degeneration. Recent evidence, however, supports the beliel that in many cases a decided effect is transmitted. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. A wan with a tendency to drink should not lay the blame on his ancestors, but look the glass of liquor in the face, if we may use the expression, ana deny its power to enslave him. THE EFFECT ON THE RACE. It is also claimed that alcohol is of benefit to the race, as it tends to weed out the unfit. But the unfit are still with us, and continue to arrive, after

senturies of alcoholic indulgence by the •ace; for alcohol is a slow poison, ana ■arely kills until after maturity has arrived, and the defective nervous control las been passed- on to another genera;ion. No one can deny that in excess ilcohol is a deadly poison., destroying :ell life, causing a drunken and watery and through collateral excess in ■ating, dissipation, etc., leading to a multiplicity of evils. But many gooa ■itizens drink more or less constantly in so-called moderation. What may' hi taid in the defence' of the custom? On ;he evidence, medical judgment musi renounce against it. Such slight scion-

tifie warrant as there may be is found in the fact that alcohol, by dulling the higher reasoning faculties, brings temporary rest to a tired brain, and releases the simpler nervous activities that have to do with "good fellowship," and the primitive tendency to mix with one's kind. There are times when the over-vorked-brain or nervous system becomes '•'lopsided," and the balance must be restored. But is it sound sense to advocate the use of a poisonous drug foi such a purpose? We think not? There are other resources that will restore the nervous balance without exacting such a high price for the service. These questions as to moderate drinkin'j each man must answer for himself. We simply | claim that he should know what alcohol is. and what it does to the human body, and then consider what the indulgence will eosfc him in health, happiness, ana success. We believe, however, that the time will come, as predicted by Huxley, Spencer, and others, when the man who deliberately throws away in no good cause the splendid asset of sound health shall he declared a social enemv. Here then is the Insurance Company's SUMMARY. Alcohol is not a "demon," but a drug; not a stimulant, but an anaesthetic. Jn so-called moderation it reduces muscular and mental efficiency. It suppresses the higher brain functions, thereby releasing the lower. It is most dangerous to those with weak family histories. The effects of excess in those of normal family history may be transmitted to their children. The experience of large groups of insured lives shows that moderate drinking shortens life. Most cases of alcoholism are curable, if the desire for cure exists. Advertised cures are worthless; thev merely "sober up" a patient. The advice and assistance of an intelligent physician, the upbuilding of selfcontrol and faith in one's manhood, are the fundamental requirements for ,a permanent cure.