A FRENCH VIEW OF ALCOHOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2466, 2 December 1886, Page 2

A FRENCH VIEW OF ALCOHOL.

_ In the last number of the Reyue Soieft" tifique appears a remarkable paper on " Alcohol and Alcoholism," which presents statistics and conclusions of a very startling nature. The author, M. Fournier do Flaix, affirms that tho outcry against alcohol is utterly unmerited, as it does far more good than harm. To demonstrate- this M, do Flaix furnisheß tabular statements to show that not only in tho French departments, but in all other countrios, the birth rate is lower and the death rafco higher wherever the consumption of alcohol is small. It is further argued from these figures that neither criminalty nor suicide is in proportion to alcohol consumqtion. For instance, in tho Seine et Oise the consumption of alcohol is just about half what it is m the Seine Inferieure, yet the suicido rato is doublo what it is in the former. In England, again, more alcohol is consumed than in France, and yet in France tho birth rate, the death rate, and the statistics of crime and suioido, are loss favorable than in England. The comparison for Italy, Spain, Sweeden,- Norway, Denmark, Russia. Amtria, and Germany show analogous results. MdeFlaix'sconclusion is that it is the nation with tho most vital powers the greatest wealth, and the best morals who consume the most alcohol. Alcohol, ho piaintainß to be an alimentary element, whose consumption should dopend directly upon the requirements of the climate. The late Prime Minister, among others, is cited by M. de Flaix in support of his thesis. Ho says:—" Mr Gladstone takes overy day two glasses of claret at luoh and two 'at dinner, with a glass of port wine. His alcoholic consumption has been estimated by his son at seven gallons a year, which would be three and a half times tho average consumption per head in England, and four and a half timea the average in Europe."