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10
Decline in Deaths from Drinking.
It is gratifying to know that very few deaths were recorded
during the year from excessive drinking. It has frequently
been pointed out in these Reports that the adverse influence
upon the public health of drinking is indirect. It is reflected
in high infant mortality, neglect of, and cruelty to children.
The waste of money in drink which ought to be spent on the
necessaries of life is, apart from actual drunkenness, a great
source of injury to the public health, accentuating the miseries
and suffering of poverty.
Everyone who deals with mortality statistics very well
understands that the registered deaths by no means represent
the actual number caused by the excessive use of alcohol. It
is notable, however, that while acute alcoholic poisoning, acute
alcoholic mania, delirium tremens, chronic alcoholic neuritis,
and alcoholic paralysis are generally ascribed in the death
returns to alcoholism, yet there are many other diseases to
which alcohol is the attributing cause, which are not so included.
For to these may be added diseases of the stomach, such as
gastric catarrh, chronic dyspepsia and dilatation of the stomach;
of the liver, such as congestion, cirrhosis and fatty liver; of the
kidneys, such as chronic nephritis. The results of coroners'
inquests also show that alcohol is the contributing cause to
other deaths.
In conclusion, it is pleasant to report that the Staff of the
Public Health Department have carried out their duties during
the year with remarkable conscientiousness, and have been of
the greatest assistance to me. I beg to add my sincere thanks
to your Committee for their kindly and courteous consideration
to the Staff and myself.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
W. H. Whitehouse.