DEAN INGE’S OPINION

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1921, Page 2

DEAN INGE’S OPINION

(To the Editor.) Sir.—Having disposed of the Chicago correspondent of the London Times, that is, so far as his opinion about the Drug Habit in America, it only remains to deal with Dean Inge’s statement that alcohol is harmless. Of course, my words will not reach the Dean, but there may be some who take the Dean’s words as final, and to them 1 would, through your cclumns, address a few words. The Dean says that t the consumption of alcohol, and meaning thereby, we may assume, the drinking of beer, wine or spirits, is harmless. But some of us read the newspapers, and from that source alone we gather sufficient information to prove that beer, etc., are not harmless drinks. This assertion about the harmlessness of alcoholic drinks comes from a man of learning. So we must let lis peers reply to Mm, and here is a little of what they say. Beginning at home and taking the most recent official utterance on the subject, I refer to what our New Zealand officers on health and education have recently issued. I mean the special report on educational subjects No. 13, which was issued by the department for the guidance of teachers, and, of course, ultimately for sohclars and the general public. Here is a brief quotation: "As the result of much scientific Investigation all observers are now impressed with the fact that the vital tissues of both animals and vegetables are deleteriously affected by even very small quantities of alcohol.’’ Again in the summary, it says: "The habitual use of alcohol, even in small quantities, is harmful, especially in its ultimate effect'. It will be seen from what has been said that from the; point of view of the community the evils, individual and social, physical and moral, inseparably associated with the taking of alcoholic beverages far outweigh any consideration of Its comparative harmlessness in restricted quantities.” Your readers could, no doubt, get copies of the report referred to and find for themselves that, in the opinion of our authorities on health, alcohol is hanmful; and not as the Dean says "harmless.’’ . To quote another offlctal statement, I would refer to two reports issued by the British Government: "Alcohol; its action on the human organism,” and the report of the Medical Research Committee on "The influence of alcohol on manual work and neuromuscular co-ordination.” The latter is a highly technical report, especially on when and how to take alcohol, if at all, and a supporter of Dean Ingle will find very little comfort from J.t. f In one place it says that small doses of alcohol gravely depreciate the accuracy of performance; and, in another place, that a workman using alcohol would have a special liability to make errors in his co-ordinated movements. The former report referred to above is from the Advisory Committee of the Central Control Board, a committee of eight medical authorities of the highest standing with Lord d’Abernon as their chairman. Lord d’Abernon writes the preface ft> the report, and in it says, of the man who |tinks his drink does him good, that

"Self-satisfaction has been increased, but neither skill nor power.” Many others might be quoted, notably that standard work on alcohol, "Alcohol and the human body,” by Horsley and Sturge, but it would be better if those who agree with Dean Inge would read for themselves; and I would especially urge everyone to read the special report on educational subjects No. 13. I think copies can be got from the Education Board or from the department, and I shall be most happy to lend my copy to any one who for it. It is astonishing that in the 20th century anyone with his eyes and ears dpen, and a fair amount of common sense, can conclude that the consumption of alcohol is harmless, even though a Dean says so.—l am, etc., 9 G.H.M. . New Plymouth, 13th March.