TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21216, 23 December 1930, Page 3

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Published by arrangement with the United Temperance Reform Council. ALCOHOL AND THE HUMAN BRAIN. 111. 2 - 01il SELF-CONTROL HINDERS A MAN’S BEST WORK. Because alcohol spoils the steadiness of the hand, the sharpness of the eye, the accuracy of judgment, the quickness of thought and action. Tt A story . told of Paganini, the great Italian violinist, who* having given a senes of musical recitals, Was addressed by a friend and critic thus:— * You have played those wonderful passages, requiring the greatest fineness of touch, absolutely without fault, except on two nights this week, but on those nights you slightly blurred certain notes. Why was it? ” “Ah! ” replied the great violinist, “before going to the platform on those two n Jghfs I was pressed to take just a glass of Wine. I felt conscious myself that 1 had failed in the most difficult passages.” Even a small dose of alcohol impaired the accuracy of his playing. A brain damaged by alcohol can no more do good work than a watch With damaged Wneele can keep good time. Look at these shooting tests. HITTING THE BULL’S-EYE. , Six Swedish expert marksmen engaged in a shooting test extending over 30 days, During the first and third series they had no alcohol. During the second series they had two-thirds of a Wine glass of brandy half an hour before shooting, and a similar amount before going to bed at night. These were the average results; First 10 days, no alcohol: 30 shots, 23 bits. Second 10 days, with alcohol; 30 shots, three hits. Third 10 days, 110 alcohol: 30 shots, 26 hits. 3. THE LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL INJURY T ° ACCIDENTS Alcohol destroys the power. 1. To see danger. 2. To avoid danger, an d at the same time lessens alertness, spoils judgment, and causes hesitation aim unsteadiness. A second’s delay sometimes provep fatal, and terrible disasters on sea and laud have often followed the making of a Wrong decision at a fime of danger or stress because perhaps only a little alcohol has been taken which has clouded the judgment and delayed the quickness of thought and action. In these days of swift machitiery and quick travelling, clear braiils and alert senses are essential. Alcohol is the frequent cause of many serious accidents resulting in death. On the Glasgow tramways there Were 17' accidents in four hours on November 28, 1916, and in every case the person was under the influence of drink. Remember, then—your best Work demands a clear brain; a clear brain demands no alcohol. In these days no boy or girl can afford to t&ke anything that might hurt the best of his Or her possessions—a good brain —and so lower the standard of its work, atid the amount of its output. ‘ “ A man who. has to do brain work, cannot do his best work if he takes alcohol.”—Professor Sims WoOdhead. ALCOHOL CAUSES INSANITY. Thousands of persons lose their reason and are confined to lunatic asylums and mental hospitals because they have allowed an “enemy into their raoUths to steal away their brains.” Alcohol is 6fiC of the chief causes of insanity. The first glass is often the first step ddwn the hill. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. WHY WE SHOULD NOT DRINK. THEM. Seven reasons by Dr E. PearCe Gould, F.R.C.S.:— 1. They are not necessary for Any man, woman, or child. 2. Their daily use results in imperfect action of the brain. 3. They interfere with the full use of the muscles. 4. They render the body tnord liable to disease and less able to recover. 5. They affect not only the person Who drinks; for the loss of judgment and control may endanger _ the lives of others, and give rise to unkindness and cruelty. 6. The example of one person drinking —even a very little—may lead others In dnnk. 7. Total abstinence from alcoholic drink makes for full development and use of brain and muscle, promotes good health, ahd can never be the cause of anybody else coming to harm. —Rechabite Points. ALCOHOL AND THE HEART. Speaking at the annual meeting of the • ri , Medical Association at Edinburgh m 1927, Professor John Hay, of LiverP, 0 .?. 1 University, said: “ The general public still had implicit faith in alcohol as the cardiac stimulant, and it was evident that there were some members of their profession who even now believed that alcohol m some peculiar way—in its Specific action—increased the efficiency of j 8 ° ar - no specific evihftd been advanced in favour of the ™ t alcoholm its specific action was a direct efitdiac stimulant, and he was convinced # that the diagnosis in any particular patient was rendered graver fIJ e ? 6ated ddßes of alcohol adminisf a ff d te Went or counter-act cardiac taiime. .Like modi doctors of his age, he was trained to prescribe alcohol freely vY 6 . 1, s l iile ye&rs that, as the result of clinical observation, he began ValUd of of re , no d °lbt in his mind now that alcohol* given to fortify &* h n saw £