ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 215, 20 December 1910, Page 3

ALCOHOLOGY.

ALCOHOL IX FRANCE. (Published by Arrangement). There was a time when it was said that France was a sober yet wine-drink-ing country. It is quite otherwise now. France is a proof of* what temperance men 'have always said: that the consumption of light alcoholic drinks only leads the way to heavier potations of stronger liquors. FRANCE TO-DAY has the unenviable notoriety of consuming the largest amount of alcohol per 'head of any country in the world, so that alcoholism has become the most terrible scourge the country has ever had to contend with. So serious is this that by recent cablegrams we ' learu that the French Premier, M. Briand, declares that the Government must take steps to cope with the evil. As a matter of fact, the country is going from bad to worse in respect to drink and its evil consequences. Li 1906 the Academy of Medicine of France invited members of medical societies throughout the country to collect statistics of all deaths, in their districts, due to alcohol. The reports are appalling. Mon. Fernet gives the statistics of eleven hospitals and'asylums in which, in thirteen months, among a total of I'aOO deaths, alcohol was the attributed cause in no less than one-third of the cases. Dr. Lerop, medical officer of the Evreux Lunatic Asylum, deals" with the ravages of alcohol in Normandy. He says: "The consumption of alcohol has risen enormously in the last 50 years with the following, among other, results: The number of BIRTHS HAS DIMIXISHED by one-half. The mortality has risen greatly, the causes of death being dis-

eases due largely to alcohol. Crime 'has risen from 4.G to SJ per 1000. 'Suicides and eases of sudden death have largely increased, and the number of lunatics has quadrupled since 1550." Mon. Chas. Dupuy, the President of the Senate and four times President of the Council of Ministers, with other prominent men,-has taken up the question of temperance reform in a recent declaration. Mon. Dupuy; stated: "The number of saloons must be reduced so that there may be a reduction in the consumption of alcohol. The sale and manufacture of absinthe must ~be strictly prohibited. The final aim of all true statesmen must be the total prohibition of the liquor traffic." A number of doctors and other professional men and women have combined with the temperance forces, to effect, if possible, a remedy for the danger which is threatening the nation. White (official) placards have been issued by the Government on the evils of alcoholism. The Anti-Alcohol League, recently formed, has 91 members of the Senate and 141 of the Deputies, with; others comprising men of all parties. The League demands the total prohibition of absinthe, brandy and alcohol as beverages. THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE IX FRANCE

has been ruined by the friends of moderate i drinlring. Twelve years ago a good temperance work was begun in France, but moderates came in and spoiled it. The country has now, says Dr. Legrain, become a prey 'to the wine cultivators and the wine-dealers. The people are truly perishing "for lack of knowledge." They allow practically free-trade in liquors and private distillation,- making the temperance work very difficult. They have in parts a saloon for every 20 electors. There is, however, a prospect now that the Government is taking up the matter; and already temperance diagrams and lessons have been introduced into the public schools, so with more knowledge the country may be saved, and one of the fairest lands in the work!, La Belle France, the home of freedom, shake herself free from the terrible slavery of alcohol.