DEATH RATE OF ABSTAINERS AND DRINKERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 17 January 1884, Page 1

DEATH RATE OF ABSTAINERS AND DRINKERS.

At the last meeting of the British Medical Association, Dr 0. R. Drysdale ; (London) read a paper in the Public Medicine Section on ‘The comparative death rates of total abstainers and moderate drinkers, as ascertained by the records of insurance companies.’ He observed that the method of statistics so peculiar to this century seemed to him to show clearly that even a moderate daily consumption ot any alcoholic fluid was detrimental to health and longevity. Dr Drysdale detailed a quantity of evidence which he had obtained from several insurance companies beaming on the subject. One of these may 7 be given as an ■xample. Mr Wilfred Bowser, of the London, Edinburgh and Glasgow Insurance Company, in a letter dated June, 1883, states that hi* company was tno first to offer special advantages to to'ul abstainers insuring against accidents. Ii that Company • assurers who are total abstainers from alcoholic drinks, of one year’s standing, pay the same rates of premium as non abstainers, but they are insured in a separate and dis inci section. Ii t'eing an ascertained fact that the rate of mortality of total abstainers is less than that of the general public, the former derives the whole lam-fit at the periodical dni-ioa of profits of their superior hea th and longevity. It is important t>* observe t'»a' persons who are the least intemperate are not assured l>y this company upon my terms.’ Di Drystlale, having detailed the whole of n s evidence, added : ‘ The information derived from such important contiibutions to vital statistics of teetotallers and moderate drinkers all uoints clearly in one direction, and that is towards total abstinence from alcoholic drinks in daily life. Alchol deary is a dangerous article of diet, and, like ether, eholoroform, and opium, is in the right place only on the shelves of the apothec try.’