PRIZE ESSAY.

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 343, 18 January 1924, Page 6

PRIZE ESSAY.

The Helensville W.0.T.l ’. offered prizes for l>cst essavs on “The Effects of Alcohol on the Body.” The following, by Mollle Meinhold, won Ist prize in Standard VI.: — Alcohol is an excretion of the yeast germ, the lowest form of life; and it is a well-known fact that if 14 per dent, of alcohol is put into beer or wine it is toxic in its effect, and will kill the yeast germs. Therefore it follows that if the toxic excretion of yeast will ki'l yeast, the toxic excretion of any form of life will poison itself and every form of life of a higher order. Thus it is proved that alcohol is a poison to every form of animal and vegetable life. It has been definitely established that alcohol acts as a dangerous poison to the brain and other tissues of the hi. man lxxly, and that the effects of this poison are largely responsible for a great proportion of the insanity an 1 feeble mindedness of the world. Brides the brain and other tissues, al* o hoi affects the liver if taken habituaily. nd causes it to become hard and shrivelled (what is termed a “nutmeg” liv *r>. resulting in its not being able to perform its task of making bile properly, consequently bad indigestion. While under the influence of aleoho'. all control of the nerves is lost, and a man may do and say things while suffering from alcoholic poisoning that h>* would never do if he were in his right mind.

Formerly alcohol was thought to be a stimulant, but that idea is now abaui oncd, ami it is now classed among narcotic poisons or drugs; although it is sometimes used in the case of temporary weakness, it should never be used by working people, athletes, or soldiers about to march. The primitive lea of alcohol as a stimulant arose from the apparent quickening and strengthening of the mental and physical functions when alcohol is taken in. to tne body, but this effect is produced \.y the fact that there are two systems of nerves in the body, the action diminishing nerves and impulse nerves. The alcohol affects the former first, because hey are the weakest, and makes them move more quickly. However, this quickening of the inhibitory nerves incurs great loss of energy; therefore, whenever alcohol is taken into the tody, the body is being steadily weakened. For us who have never seen the poverty, illness, and utter dejection of the slums, it is hard to realise what ravage alcohol in the form of liquor can perform. Most of tile discomfort endured by the slum families is caused directly or indirectly by drink —little children crippled and starving, whole families living in one small room, girls and boys forced to steal that their fathers, and even their mothers sometimes, may get drink. Beer, beer, and plenty of it, is what they want! Alcohol was first manufactured that people might take it in small quantities and enjoy it. for it is harmless if taken moderately. (We think Mollie is mistaken here. Expert opinion condemns small quantities of alcohol. Ed. “W.R.") It takes II per cent, to kill tin* yeast germs, but, like so many other things, it has created a yearning for itself among men, and changed from a blessing to a curse. To sum up, then, alcohol if taken intemperately Incomes a poison which dulls the perception, impairs the memory, decreases accuracy, endurance, and working ability—a drug which, when taken habitiually, must result in an early death.