TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 90

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

ALCOHOL AND CONSUMPTION. The Christchurch Consumption Hospital lS to be opened shortly. Prevention is better than cure. We commend to those who dread the disease the study of extracts from an able paper by M. Jules Eriiile Metger. : Dr Jacques Bertillon, contributor to the Journal of Paris, gave on this very serious subject a lecture at the Academy of Medicine of Paris.

One hundred thousand deaths' every year is what consumption costs France—nearly all of them permature, for it is in the prime of life that tuberculosis annihilates the immense majority of its victims. In Paris, two-thirds of the deaths between 20 and 39 years of age (5151 out of 8960 deaths) axe due to this scourge. Consumption is the worst enemy humanity has. • To learn how to fight this awful calamity we must begin by r knowing what are the causes fostering its development, or in another sense, have statistics as comolete as possible. Now for the first time! the Home Secretary of France has published these. are not perfect yet. giving no details, not even the age of the dead. They only give the number for each department, separating towns from the country; but even with their shortcomings they are very instructive. We must thank M. Mirmont, who, inspired by what is done in all foreign countries (Russia and Turkey excepted), has tabulated these statistics.

One hundred and fifty thousand is the estimated annual number of deaths through consumption in France. " T have always,' said Dr Bertillon, "thought this number exaggerated. Iri fact, the new statistic? put its number at 87.091; but there are reasons for believing that this is a little under the actual number, and that 100,000 will be nearer the truth."

Consumption, according to this, is more frequent in France than in most European nations, except England (and Italy, if numbers are taken into consideration). It "s more frequent in South. Germany, and especially in Austria and Hungary, than 'ii our country. In all lands it constitutes a terrible Plague. The danger is not equal to all. In certain occupations, one is little exposed to it; in others, incoia - parably more.

VICTIMS OF THEIR TRADE There is in relation to phthisis a vast difference between publicans and other Bhobkeepers afflicted with the disease. They all have, as a rule, similar ways of living on many points—generally badly housed, confined, • and subject to many emotions brought on by business worry. But an essential difference divides them. The publicans are obliged to live from morning to night in an alcoholised atmosphere. Even when they try to remain sober they absorb the alcohol through the lungs, and one could say through the pores of their skin. Far from me to throw any discredit on a tradesman whose honesty is not less than.that of any other tradesman. The brutality of numbers has the advantage in that it never exaggerates, but simply states facts. Publicans, who make their living from the sale of alcohol, will only thank us for showing them a danger which is inherent to their calling. The publicans' deaths are twice the number of those of other tradesmen. We must pity them greatly that they are victims of their calling. To tell the truth, they are more subject to most other diseases as well (except, perhaps, cancer, which does not appear to be so much affected by alcohol). ■ It is a well-known fact that cirrhosis of the liver is generally caused by alcohol when taken daily even in moderation. Alcohol strikes victims at the liver, and it must be acknowledged that twice as often it strikes them at the lungs—either as tuberculosis or broncho-oneumonia. Why is it so? Dr Villemin, an army doctor, demonstrated that phthisis or consumption is contagious, and is due to a microbe. Everyone absorbs the phthisis microbe and many others, but- our organism is armed to fight against this enemy. But those suffering from debility through some cause- or other, and principally the; abuse of alcohol, have lost the ! strength; to fight its effect. Alcohol, says the Faculty of Medicine's Masters, makes the j bed. of consumption. • . - ' MEN WEAKER THAN WOMEN. ■ A table given shows plainly' the' hold of the disease on men and women. One

would think thai the weakness of women would makf thuro more subject than men to the disease, for -it is more difficult for women to earn their living, and many have to suffer and fall victims of anaemia. Yet in Paris and other capital towns it is the strong sex who can least : - esist the consumption microbe. Adult males contract consumption twice or three times as. often as women of the same age. In young people about 15, when the two sexes are equally sober, the numbers are about similar. Then the vulnerability of the male sex increases with age until about. 50. . Tuberculosis exhausts its power of mischief in, old age rather slowly, because it has already carried away in jounger age most of those liable to contract the disease.

To resume, the essential cause of phthisis or conumption is the microbe thought of by Villemin and shown by Koch. A healthy organism is armed to repel the bacillus, while, on the contrary, it will, master all those who are in debility. Of all causes of such weakness, and they are many, alcohol shows itself as the most fatal. "FIGHT THE GOOD-FIGHT." WHAT DRINK DOES. Yes, I belonged to the Temperance party long before the plan of campaign was so highly organised or the front of battle so extended as it is now. A member of a Band of Hope, joining so many years ago, and at so tender an age, that I have quite forgotten the date. Still, it was its pledge made me a teetotaller. It was seeing things. I was very young when two waves of cholera swept over country and town, and few were the houses where the death angel did not spread his wings. Rightly or wrongly, brandy was used in most cases; and hot then knowing the degrading nature of drink, I have, with wonder and horror, seen the draught which was supposed to arouse anew the soark of life, and give a last chance to the patient, drunk up by the strong. After a time I went to live with one who, to.use a phrase of Mrs Beecher Stowe's, was very streaky. One of the streaks was a violent temper, and we all knew that' the morning after a carouse the danger-signal would be hung out. Yet he was not singular in his conduct. To drink was a custom woven with the life of the district. It had been, was, and would be, as natural as winter snow or summer rain; its excesses only to be guarded against. This was the belief of many; thank God. not all. Wife and children were good imitators of husband and father; but oddly enough he reasoned that- what was right and proper for him was not so for them. Many and violent were the scenes which took place. Passion roused to white heat, blazing high; then lying low. ready to spring up aA a word: never extinct. Life was not easy in such a place, as the following anecdote will show :

" Jeannie. Jeannie! the pigs are squealing. Give them something to eat. Give them the cabbages, and give them the lot."

Jeannie hastened to obey; but, using her discretion, went but sparingly at the cabbages. /Rut sh« was not unobserved. .''. Give them the lot," screamed the tipsy mistress. * - -•/'' ••

" John, John! what shall I do? She bids me cut all the cabbages, and what will the master sav?"

" The master ! And who's master save me? Off you go, if you don't do my bidding."

" We'll see vo\i right with the master," said John, walking on. But when the drink was out, it was hard to persuade the mistress she had given the order for such work. 'Market day came, and the master and his son had, been attending. Nothing could be done in the way of buying or selling without the drink. A pound in the price of an animal or of a ouarter of wheat was a consideration. What about the time and monev spent haggling and drinking ? That did not count—that was frood- fellowship. ' So the' two set out for home, and got. in some fashion. The tran was taken by John, and they went for supoer.

But market day did not come every dav, and it had been kept at home as well as in town.

'' Mother, you've sugared my tea with -Epsom salts. I can't drink it. I'm going to bed." i,

" Stop, woman," cried her husband. " you're putting butter in my tea. I have brought my son home in my' arms drunk, and find at- the head of my table my wife the same. Burn the candle at both ends, and we'll soon come to a halt." " Jeannie, Jeannie. bring the Bible. It's a comfort when the master misunderstands me." And with dim eyes and trembling hands she took the Book from the girl. These were the scenes to be seen in a middle-class household where children were reared and servants were, shall we say. trained? No pledge was needed aftee such sights to close my lips against drink; and as drink has not vet changed its nature, nor its fruits become anyways different from what they were in bygone days, may we each and all band together against it, and fight the good fight. Sobriety.