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100
1907]
ALCOHOLISM.
This disease caused the deaths of 28 persons, of whom 10 were males and 18
were females. Of these persons, 4 died from it in its acute form, three being
males and one a female, while from its chronic form 7 males and 17 female;
perished. Thus we find that more females than males, 18 as against 10, died
from the disease. It is probable, however, that the registration of the cause of
death is not always correct in the case of the males, as no doubt the disease
gets cloaked under the heading of other diseases which alcohol has set up. Apart
from the diseases of the liver and kidneys, which are frequently due to alcohol,
other diseases are also induced. Thus Cancer of the Œsophagus, and of the
stomach, not infrequently arise from it. Cerebral thrombosis is not an uncommon
result, and that there is an epilepsy which is developed as a result of
chronic alcoholism, is beyond all doubt. Gastric Catarrh is of course a very
general result, while haematuria is not uncommon ; the hearing too is sometimes
affected, while conception during a state of drunkenness or of chronic
alcoholism, frequently gives rise to congenital deafness in the children.
Mental disease repeatedly arises and nervous disease is all too frequent.
Alcohol also often affects the embryo child by injuring the condition of
pregnancy; so here we see that alcoholism gives rise to other diseases.
A German writer recently remarked that among the causes of accidents, the
influence of holidays and Sundays must not be under-estimated, and is most
marked in the building trade, where a large number occur on Monday, and the
chief factor at work in this is alcohol. How far this obtains in England the
writer cannot state, as he does not recollect at the moment any discussion of
the subject, but there can be no doubt that the nervous condition of men after
a bout of drinking on Saturday and Sunday would render the drinkers more
liable to an accident than at any other time.