LECTURE ON ALCOHOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 5

LECTURE ON ALCOHOL.

The Rev. J. S. Hill delivered the last I but one of the winter course of lectures in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association last night. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. F. Battley occupied the chair, and, in introducing the lecturer, he said he regarded the Rev. Mr. Hill as the most useful worker they had in connection with the Christian Association. Theßev. Mr. Hill.inhis lecture, read thedescriptionofanumberof interesting experiments with alcohol by scientific men, quoted receipts from a book, entitled "The Manufacture of Liquors, Wines, &c., Without the Aid of Distillation, Arranged and Prepared Expressly for the-Trade." He said that in Auckland this manual might never be used, but he might be allowed to question the genuineness of much of the imported wines. Mr. Hill quoted from Sir James Paget, Dr. Andrew Clark, Dr. Richardson, and others on the taking of alcohol. He referred to opinions of high authorities in favour of moderation as against total abstinence ; but these authorities, the lecturer said, gave their

judgment on physiological grounds, and not from a moral or spiritual standp >mt. The ways in which alcohol affects the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, and lungs were described, and the moiit prominent diseases produced by alcohol were enumerated. The lecturer spoke briefly on the hereditary effects of alcohol. Mr. Hill stated that every year 120,000 premature deaths occurred through drink. He said that according to statistics intemperance was increasing in the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland and England. Dr. Kerr stated that intemperance had attained such terrible proportions amongst women in England that It should raise a blush of shame on the cheek of the patriot as well as the Christian. Interesting statistics on various points connected with hiß subject were thtn given. In conclusion, Rev. Mr. Hill said if the object I of awakening the interest of the audience to the medical aspect of the subject bad been attained, it would convey its own practical advice. Tamper not with the laws of your organic being, he said. "Do thyself no harm" was not less a moral law than Thou shalt not kill." On the motion of Mr. T. Buddie, a vote of thanks was accorded the Rev. Mr. Hill for his interesting aad instructive lecture.