DIVERSITY OF OPINION ON THE DRINK QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9523, 3 September 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

DIVERSITY OF OPINION ON THE DRINK QUESTION.

The vexed question of alcoholism (says Science Sittings) is as fiercely disputed to-day as ever, not alone by laymen, but it is one of those matters over which even doctors differ One day we hear of some eminent practitioner having emptied a magnificent cellar of wine into the sewers, and the nest day comes an appeal from the local hospital for a fund to provide wine as nourishment for the patients. It is not surprising that the public mind is a little unsettled as to the merits of the question when the opinions of tke authorities are so conflicting. We only refer to the matter here because of a most interesting canvass that has been made among the physicians of New York. Every practitioner was asked to reply to the question, " Is the moderate use of wine and beer injurious to the health of grown persons ?" There are 2900 physicians practising in New York city, and out of these only 675 replied. The answers are described under the following heads ; —Negative 435, semi-negative 88, affirmative 152—that is that the largest number do not believe that the moderate use of wine and beer is injurious to the healthof grown persons. There is every variety of opinion and every qualification of opinion expressed. Thus one gentleman thinks that no alcohol should be allowed under any circumstances, except on the advice of at least two physicians. The same geutlemau adds:—"l would not advise with any physician that I knew was in the habit of drinking wine or beer habitually." On the other hand a physician nearly 80 years of age has taken wine from his childhood, and says:—"l was well acquainted in Hungary with a physician 106 years old, who was able to visit patients and give a very good lecture on maleria medica. He drank wine twice daily, Boz at each time, and I have heard him say many times that without wine he would not live a minute." These opinions, so diametrically opposite, are quite valueless. Men will continue the habit that suits them best until something more accordant is laid down.

— The practice of cremation is on the increase in Germany. In addition to the crematorium which has been in operation at Gotha, since 1877, and where from 500 to 600 bodies are now cremated every year, a new establishment of the same kind has been consecrated at Ohlsdorf. Another crematory will bo opened in October at Garlsruhe, making the third in Germany. — Leuwcuhoek has computed that 10,000 threads of the web of a full-grown spider are not larger than a single hair of a man's beard. He calculates that when young spiders begiu to spin, 4-00 of their threads are not larger than one from a full-sized insect. If this be a fact, 4,000,000 webs of a young spider are not as large as a single hair from a man's face.

— The biggest braiu on record was that of the Russian novelist, Tourgucnoif, which weighed 2012 grammes. How large it was is seen from the fact that the average human brain weighs 1584- grammes. In point of size that of Cuvior, the naturalist, comes next. It weighed 1800 grammes.

— Tlio people of Belgium number over 5,500,000, and yet, with such a population, there were only 123,050 electors in Uie entire kingdom.