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48
Towards the end of the year the Borough Council caused a placard
pointing out the dangers of excessive alcoholic drinking to be
published in the district. The following is a copy of the placard
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF HACKNEY.
PHYSICAL DETERIORATION AND ALCOHOLISM.
The Report of the Committee presented to Parliament by
command of His Majesty states that the abuse of Alcoholic Stimulants
is a most potent and deadly agent of Physical Deterioration.
Some of the highest medical authorities are of opinion that alcoholic
persons are specially liable to Syphilis, Tuberculosis, and all inflammatory
diseases.
Evidence was placed before the Committee showing that the
effects of physical training on young men are to convince them that
in abstinence is to be sought the source of muscular vigour and
dexterity.
The Lunacy statistics show a large and increasing number of
admissions of both sexes which are due to drink.
The following facts are published in order to carry out the recommendations
of the Committee, and to bring home to men and women
the fatal effects of the abuse of alcohol on physical efficiency.
1. Alcoholism is a chronic poisoning, resulting from the habitual
use of Alcohol (whether as spirits, wine or beer), which may
never go as far as drunkenness.
2. It is a mistake to say that those doing hard work require
lants. As a fact no one in health requires alcohol as either
food or tonic.
3. Alcohol is really a narcotic, dulling the nerves like laudanum or
opium, but is more dangerous than either in that often its
first effect is to weaken a man's self control while his passions
are excited; hence the number of crimes which occur under
its influence.
4. Spirits, when taken in excess, rapidly produce alcoholism ; but
milder alcoholic drinks, as beer, and even cider, drunk
repeatedly every day, may produce after a time alcoholic
poisoning with equal certainty.