MEDICAL OPINION ON ALCOHOL.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 388, 18 November 1927, Page 1

MEDICAL OPINION ON ALCOHOL.

Some time ago, realising the importance of understanding the action of alcohol upon the human frame, and knowing that the general public had a right to look to the medical profession for expert advice, the ‘‘Practitioner,” the leading monthly Medical Journal, published a ‘‘Special Alcohol Number.” In this volume they publish articles by leading men in the profession in the Mother Country, and as the Editor says, the writers of these various articles are undoubtedly the most eminent company ever assembled within the covers of a medical journal. Many of our White Kibboners are busy mothers of families, and comparatively few are women of leisure. Some of the articles are long, some are highly technical, but that this expert testimony should be given to our readers just at this time, we feel is very necessary. We have not attempted to condense, but have just quoted the sentences in which these experts have given their summarised opinion upon different points. If it stimulates some to read the entire articles, they will he the gainers. The first is a short article by the Editor. EDITORIAL. “The subject of our present issue is one of suprem » importance to civilised humanity and- as a national question is of momentous concern to every class of the community/’ “At this juncture, when the need of an authoritative exposition of the really intrinsic features of the question is felt by all thinking people who are genuinely concerned for the well-being of the present generation and the future of the race, when a fresh attempt to solve the battling problem and discover a way’ to the equitable re-adjustment of their harassing political inheritance is recognised by conscientious statesmen as a responsibility which cannot long be evaded, it is essential that an arraignment of the facts be made by medical authorities who have studied the subject under all conditions.” “And the article closes thus:— “We desire sincerely to thank our distinguished contributors—undoubtedly the most eminent company ever assembled within the covers of a medical journal. ’

In the following articles the extracts made are verbatim, and every writer is speaking for himself. ALCOHOL IN MEDICINE. (By Sir Humphrey Kolleston Bart, President lloyal College of Physicians, of Ixindon.l “Medicine, like civics, is prone to fashion; three generations ago bleeding was going out of favour to be succeeded in due course by U. B. Todd's alcoholic stimulation, which in its turn, waned long ago, as is shown by the practice and alcohol bills of the hospitals.” “From the bulk of physiological investigations on the action of alcohol, it appears that alcohol is a depressant rather than a stimulant, and that its effects are more likely to be injurious than beneficial.’’ “Numerous experiments prove that alcohol impairs resistance to infection.” It is not chimerical to throw out a warning that a latent craving for alcohol or a phychosis which would otherwise not have developed, may he activated by the medicinal administration of alcohol after acute disease.” “Alcoholic drinks should be employ*d with great caution on account of the danger of converting the individual into an addict.” THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM. (By Sir Arthur Newsholme, K.C.8., M.D., F.R.C.S.) “The amount spent on drink in 192 8 was equal to the total interest on the National Debt; it xvas more than the aggregate amount spent on imperial defence, education, and national health, including unemployment insurance; it was four times as much as was spent on xvar pensions; and more than four times as much as the aggregate amount spent on the relief of the poor, and old age pensions. The amount spent on drink, would have paid ihe rental of every house, farm, shop, factory and estate, in (Ireat Britain. Evidently, then, there need be no housing problem were there is no drink problem.” “At the w’orking years of life. 25-65. in England and Wales, 951 more men annually die among those engaged in manufacturing and retailing alcoholic drinks, than die among the same number of men otherwise occupied. Life Insurance and Friendly Society experience tells a similar story. Among abstainers the deathrate is low’er at nearly every age-group than among

non-abstainers. Experience shows that abstainers are less liable to accident, and recover more rapidly from the effects of accident than others . . . The lloyal Commission on Veneral Diseases (1916) summed up as tollows:—‘Abundant evidence was given as to the intimate relation between alcohol and venereal disease. Decrease in the use of alcohol will be an important factor in diminishing the prevalence of venereal disease.’ ” “It is clear from the varying evidence of infant mortality in different wards of towns, and in different towns, that an intimate relationship exists between alcoholic indulgence in parents and high mortality among their children, or permanent deterioration in health and physique of the surviving children.” ALCOHOL AND INSANITY. (By Sir Frederick Mott, K.8.E., M.D., F.R.S., I'.K C.IM “Chronic alcoholism is the cause of a considerable proportion of the suicide in this country, probablv of as much as a fifth of the total amount. Chronic intoxication is responsible for about three-fifths of the homicidal

crimes in England, and that in rather less than half the cases of sexual crime either chronic alcoholism or simple drunkenness is the causal condition, the latter being more usual in rape on adults, while the violation of children is more often an offence of the chronic drunkard.” ALCOHOL IN ITS RELATION TO LIFE ASSURANCES. (By Sir Richard Douglas Powell Bart, K.C.V.D., M.D., L.L.D., F.R.C.P.) “Alcohol is of little value as an habitual food and cannot be taken as such without the special disadvantages and dangers of its action as a drug.” “The great point to bear in mind is the frequency with which alcohol is taken. Thus, the ‘nipping’ habit, in which it is taken, although it may be in small doses, several times a day. some of them necessarily without food, is tiie wont form of alcoholism short of gross excess, from the longevity point of view; since there has been no time for the removal of the alcohol, and the blood and tissues are subjected to its influence throughout the day.”