ALCOHOLISM IN FRANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10139, 9 December 1910, Page 4

ALCOHOLISM IN FRANCE.

The following paragraph, from the November number of the Century Magazine, afFords an appropriate addendum to the cablegrams relating to the actions of the French Government concerning alcohol: . . . . "it is reported that the official, dispensaries have printed on the back of prescription blanks a series of concise sentences setting forth the effects of alcohol and giving a whole-, some warning against the use of convivial beverages. Public placards to the same effect are posted on municipal buildings and in hospital wards. Moreover, the French Minister of Education has recently 'issued a circular to all heads of schools, both primary and secondary, under liis department, desiring them to establish school temperance societies, and announcing that an official inquiry ; is about to be made into the methods and results of the teaching of temperance in schools.' " A sample placard is given, the headline of which is "Alcohol is a poison," whilst sub-headings proclaim that alcolfol degenerates man; alcohol causes insanity; alcohol causes tuberculosis ; alcohol degenerates the race ; alcohol depeoples France. It will be seen that the results of all these warnings of shocking consequences have not been satisfactory, and that M. Briand has now promised legislation to deal with the evil. This is sensible. It is as useless to expostulate with alcoholics as it is with any other lunatics.