MARRIAGE BAN ON DRUNKARDS.
Dr. T. B. Hyslop, the distinguished alienist, who was for some years medical superintendent of Bethlem. Hospital, has published a book discussing problems of insanity that may well become the centre of disccussion and perhaps controversy among both medical men and the laity. Alcoholism is one of the subjects dealt with in the book, which is entitled “The Borderland.” Dr. Hyslop says:— “We see so many evidences of degeneration resulting from alcoholism in parent* that I am strongly of opinion that just as the habitual drunkard is deprived of his liberty ... so the existence cf the alcoholic habit should be considered as a bai to patrimony.
“Any person who has made alcohol a necessity, or is unable to resist the temptation to indulge In alcohol, may attain to a certain degree of success in mind or in pocket, but, biologically considered, the world * ouio have been the better had lie not born into it; and. needless to say. ♦he marriage of such an' one Is, in my opinion, a biological sin, and ought to be barred by law. For practical purposes, three convictions for drunkenness should debar such persons from the risk of polluting the community by the propagation of degenerates.” of degenerates.’
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/WHIRIB19260418.2.9
Bibliographic details
White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 370, 18 April 1926, Page 5
Word Count
207MARRIAGE BAN ON DRUNKARDS. White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 370, 18 April 1926, Page 5
Using This Item
Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand is the copyright owner for White Ribbon. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this journal for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. This journal is not available for commercial use without the consent of the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this journal, please refer to the Copyright guide
Log in