WHAT IS INTOXICATION?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19206, 24 June 1924, Page 2

WHAT IS INTOXICATION?

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —One is indebted to “Pine Lodge,” in your issue to-day, for the trade definition of drunkenness. “He is drunk who prostrate lies, without the power to drink or rise.” The definition is corroborated by every-day experience about the city. The largo numbers of intoxicated men coming out of the liquor saloons, with their pockets and bags stuffed with bottles of liquor, are not drunk legally, and yet they have lost control of themselves and of their tongues and legs, and their brains are poisoned. With Shakespeare one fools, “Oh, that men should put a thief into their mouths to steal away their brains.” "Pino Lodge” lias given the liquor trade definition of drunkenness. Will you kindly publish a scientific medical definition given by Dr Arthur Evans, and supported by the chairman and influential committee of the British Central Liquor Control Board: •'Alcohol manifested its baneful influence in the brain right from the beginning, and from the very time ho commenced to take it the man was a mentally deranged person ; the drink spoiled the best, it wiped out the restraining influence that God had given them. That was what alcohol did to the brain, and as a result what should be the glory of life became its shame and death.” 1 submit that in these days of motor traffic the facts concerning the effects ot the smallest quantity of alcohol on the brain ought to be made as widely know as possible. The rights of the pedestrians and the careful people driving cars must be protected from the people who think they can take a pint of ale and yet ho in a normal condition.—l am, etc., New Zealander. June 23. THE SHORTEST DAY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— The shortest day is now fortunately over and done with, but for the sake of puzzled amateur astronomers please record that my note stated that the longest night and shortest day respectively wore Saturday night and Sunday, not Sunday night and Monday.—l arn, etc., John C. Begg, Hon. Sec. Astronomical Branch, Otago Institute.