DR. BAKEWELL AND DRINKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9306, 15 September 1893, Page 3

DR. BAKEWELL AND DRINKING.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir,—Dr. Bakewell is quite right in his two arguments. Spirit and beer drinking has greatly decreased in late years in New Zealand, and the rate of mortality shows it to be the healthiest country in the world. A good example of cause of effect. We have now only to deal with those whose interests make them deaf to moral suasion, and first by the direct veto, and ultimately by prohi; hibition, to complete the good work; and then doctors will not be required. The second argument about the Arabians is equally forcible. The article in Chambers' " Cyclopedia," from which the doctor read, so calmly, in the recent debate, states that very little is known of Arabic culture before the time of Mohammed. That prophet died in 632. In the Koran he "rigorously forbade the drinking of wine, which includes all strong and inebriating liquors, as giving rise to more evil than good." Scarcely a century had elapsed after Mohammed's death, and Islam reigned supreme over Arabia, Syria, Persia, Egypt, the whole of the northern coast of Africa, even as far as Spain;" and their success continued " until the crescent was made to gleam from the spires at St. Sophia, at Constantinople, and the war cry, ' Allah il Allah' resounded before the gates of Vienna." These successes continued till 749. Then began the most brilliant period of Arabic culture. Their progress in geography, history, philosophy, medicine, physic, and mathematics is ably described in the article on " Arabian Language and Literature." This splendid story of a nation awaking from barbarism, and gaining brilliant successes in war, science, and literature, from the seventh to the thirteenth century, is an illustration of the results of prohibition, to which .Dr. Bakewell has wisely called attention. But the article informs us that " the brutal fanaticism of the Turks nipped the blooming promise of the East." It is to this and not to their abstinence from wine that we must attribute the present degradation of the Turks. It is not the only example of fanaticism and national degradation existing side by side. When we add to these two arguments the Doctor's denunciation of " nipping," and his graphic account ot the whisky-drinkers going about with incipient diseases in their constitutions without knowing it, he has established his claim to be a first-class teetotal advocate. Let him take for his motto, "Total abstinence from that which is evil and the moderate use of that which is good," and he will be a great success. lam not -surprised that the brewers and publicans declined to send Dr. Bakewell on a lecturing tour, but the offer is worth the consideration of the Prohibition League.—l am, etc., C. P. NEWCOiMBE.