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68
ALCOHOLISM.
The following translation of a Government document which is posted
up in all the public offices in France was widely distributed throughout
the Borough of Southwark. During the year a copy was left twice at
every tenement in the district, whilst large circulars were posted in
prominent parts of the Borough—
"Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
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.
Alcoholic persons are specially liable to Tuberculosis and all
inflammatory disorders.
Evidence was placed before the Committee showing that in abstinence
is to be sought the source of muscular vigour and activity.
Certain Insurance Tables show that of 61,215 men, between the ages
of 25 and 65, 1,000 die in one year, but in abstainers only 560 die in the
same period.
The lunacy figures show a large and increasing number of admissions
of both sexes which are due to drink.
The following facts recognised by the medical profession are published
in order to carry out the recommendation of the Committee and to bring
home to men and women the fatal effects 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
stimulants. As a fact no one requires alcohol as either food
or tonic.
(3) Alcohol is in no sense a food and cannot repair the tissues. It
is really a narcotic, dulling the nerves like laudanum or
opium, but it is more dangerous than either in that often its
first effect is to weaken a man's self-control whilst his
passions are excited; hence the number of crimes which
occur under its influence.