SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 282, 18 December 1918, Page 5

SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTERS.

HACK AND AK HIT RATION DEPARTMENT.

Alter four >cars of world strife, at length we sev the dawning of the day of peace. Hut while our hearts are tilled with deep thankfulness, we may not yet relax our efforts to hold up the ideals of i>cace for which we have striven during three years; only as they are recognised and acknowledged, and are made the basis of our national life, ran our hoj>cs and dreams of the establishment of a lasting prate upon earth he realised. At this time more than ever it is needful that these ideals should he emphasised, that thev may become a factor in the laying down of the tonditions of the new world upon which we hojH* to enter. To-day, as of old, it is tiue that “Hatred ceases not by hatred; hatred teases hv law,” only as this is ret ognised anti acted upon can we liooe for a satisfac tnr\ settlement to be arrived at More especially should these ideals he impressed ujxin the minds of our child »t. that when the time shall come for them in their turn to take on the responsibility of e it iron shin, and to do their part in the formation of public opinion, that they may he ,k tutted b\ tfv highest and noblest principles of individual and national life those of mutual service and self-surrender. Let the heritage \u hand down to them !>*• one of love, not of hate, that thev may forget the divisions and animosities of the past, remembering only that they arc all children of one Father, members of one family, amongst whom no strife or hatred should be found. It ma\ he that we women of New Zealand have little voice in the settlement of external conditions, hut we all have the power to help in the moulding of the spirit of the new era, and by keeping our own thoughts l>oaceful and loving, and free from disturbing influences, to do our part in the creation of a thought atmosphere that may tend towards the predominance of that low, forbeara kc. and mutual respect which alone can put an end to the curses of war. I would suggest to ev*ry member of our Union that we should make it a part of our daily thought and prayer, that the settlement now to be made shall he based on love, justice, and righteousness. Such thought and

prayei tluoughou* the Union at this time would become a power lor good, suirounding all who take part in the deliberations with a subtle influence that would tend t<> check .he memory of wrongs, to strengthen the desire of reunion, and to make possible the restoration of such lelations be tween ail nations as would make our soi i.*t and |H»|itn al life worthy of those who hear the name of Christian. So may we rise to the true lit. of Liberty, and so shall tile best and greatest victory of love over hatred, of truth over falsehood, of good over evil he attained. MARIAN JUDSON, N.Z. Supt.

MEDICAL TEMPERANCE

Deal Fellow-Workers,— In looking back through the year, I realise how little demand there has been for the literature of this department. Perhaps it is because the N.Z. Alliance has furnished su< h splendid literature tor tin* Campaign, and we hive been so biis\ with Petition work, that we have lost sight, fo»* the time being, of the ini|x»rtanrc of enlightening the people on tin* medical side of the temperance question. The work of this department is as urgent and necessary as it ever was, and one can scarcely pick up a newsoaper w ithout finding letters, et<., advocating the use of alcohol in the treatment of influenza. F.ven though our Department of Public Health deem' d it advisable to close the hotel* while the epidemic was at its worst, we still find men and women quoting the opinions of some obsolete doctors as to the use of alcohol as a medicine and as a food. The American Medical Association, at its Annual Congress in June, 0)17, passed the following resolution: — “Whereas, it is the unanimous opinion of the Council on Health and Public Instruction of the American Medical Association, that alcohol has no drug value, either as a stimulant, as a tonic, or as a therapeutic agent, and that it has no food value; and whereas its use as a beverage or as a agent is detrimental rather than beneficial to the indiv dual; therefore, hr it resolved that it use in medicine is ixrmissihle only in the preparation and preservation of pharmaceutical products.”

Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, Chairman of the Committee on the Revision of the Phaimaco|H>eia, said that there was no good reason for .retaining whisky and brand) in the Pharniacojioeia, ax so few physicians now prescribe ahoholn. liquors. Port wine and sherr> were left out of the I’hai iuaco|>ocia some \eais ago. Alcohol as .1 diug can be eliminated from the Pharmacol»oeia without in ans clegre" <ii.ppling the efhcienc) ot the doctor's armamentarium. The new evidence against ahohol shows it to he a depressant, not a stimulant. Two very important concerning the ph> .-aologi. cal action of alcohol have been reac lied b> the latest series of tests. Alcohol is the universal narcotising drug. Various other drugs have a narcotic effect upon certain actions, and ale somewhat selective as to the functions whi<h the) will depress. Hut ahohol seems to depress all vital functions, and it appears to he the only one of the narcotics tint has this universal action. 1 would again urge ever) l 11 ion to send for a supply of this um to-date literature. First send for a sample packet, price lod, post free. Then order the leaflets which seem best suitable for your district. The prices range from id to (*1 per dozen, post free. —Yours in White Ribbon bonds, CLARA M. NEAL, Dominion Su.pt. I itzroc Street, Keilding.

NARCOTICS

Dear White Ribbon Sist< h, The time is drawing near when the Superintendent of each department will he expected to send a report of the work done In ea< h Union throughout the Dominion. I shall he glad if you will forward to me, as early,as »>os>iblc, any work attempted by your Unions in the w.iy of suppressing Narcotics during the past year. I had hoped to have written earlier in the year to each Union personally, but it has been a year of years as far as work is concerned, so I ask my White Ribbon sisteis to overlook my seeming neglect, and please send me as full a report as possible on Narcotics.— Yours in White Ribbon bonds, F. A BOXALL. 40, Pirie Street, Wellington.