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163
Appendix m. III.
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 Syphilis, 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.
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 and
placarded all over France by order of the Government, 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.
(9). 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 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
whilst his passions are excited; hence, the number of
crimes which occur under its influence.
(4). Spirits, as usually taken, rapidly produce alcoholism, but
milder alcoholic drinks, as beer, and even cider, drunk
repeatedly every day produce, after a time, alcoholic
poisoning with equal certainty.
(5). The habit of drinking leads to the ruin of families, the
neglect of social duties, disgust for work, misery, theft and
crime. It leads also to the hospital, for alcohol produces
the most various and most fatal diseases, including
Paralysis, Insanity, diseases of the stomach and liver and
and Dropsy. It also paves the way to Consumption, and
frequenters of public houses furnish a large proportion of
the victims of this disease. It complicates and aggravates
all acute diseases; Typhoid Fever, Pneumonia and
Erysipelas are rapidly fatal in the subject of alcoholism.
(6). The sins of alcoholic parents are visited on the children; if
these survive infancy they are threatened with Idiocy or
Epilepsy and many are carried away by Tuberculous
Meningitis or Phthisis (Consumption).
(7). In short, alcoholism is the most terrible enemy to personal
health, to family happiness, and to national prosperity.
By order of the Borough Council,
L. JENKINS JONES, Mayor,
SIDNEY DA VIES, M.D., Medical Officer of Health.