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第63章

the use and need of the life of carrie a. nation-第63章

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strengthened somewhat the position of those who held that change
is not infrequent; but he concluded that the portion broken up while in the
body served as a food。 A closer examination of his own experiments
showed that the portion oxidized had gone to form other compounds in
the system which were possibly more harmful than if it had all passed
off unchanged。 Dr。 Max Kassowitz; professor in the University of Vienna;
said; after Dr。 Atwater's statement had been published: 〃For the animal
and human organism; alcohol is not both a food and a poison; but a
poison only; which like other poisons is an irritant when taken in small
doses while in larger ones it produces paralysis。〃 In connection with
the fact that alcohol is simply a poison; it may be worth stating; that the
original meaning of the word 〃intoxicated〃 was 〃poisoned。〃 After reading
Dr。 Atwater; the Russian Commission for the study of alcoholism;
after two years' work; said: 〃The claim that alcohol is a food in any
proper sense of the term is not sufficiently proved。〃 In the St。 Paul
convention spoken of; politics obtained a foothold; and some weak resolutions
in favor of the army canteen were adopted but not even the champions
of the canteen were willing to subscribe to the statement that alcohol is
ever a real food。

Just previous to our last convention much noise was made through
the daily press concerning a finding of some English scientist to the effect
that an acquired tendency cannot be transmitted to offspring。 We were
told that this would upset the theory that children inherit a craving for
intoxicants from intemperate parents; and 〃the moralists and reformers
would have to readjust this logic on these points。〃 In the annual report
of the president of the Union a year ago; attention was drawn to the fact
that those who indulge in this sort of sophistry have not read what the
teachings of temperance workers have been on the subject。 Such was not
the opinion of the scientists making the report; for it says 〃Children of
drunkards are liable to be mentally and physically weak and tend to
become paupers; criminals; epileptics and drunkards。〃 It will be seen
from what has been said that this is the position we have held all along。
Dr。 Davis; the dean of American physicians opposing the use of alcohol;
has published during the year a number of articles showing the impossibility
of alcohol's being of service as a medicine; and has dwelt especially
upon its harmful effects in fevers; diseases in which it is still much
prescribed。 The two influential temperance societies composed of American
physicians have; during the past year; kept up the agitation against
alcohol as a medicine; and good is coming from it; as gradually medical
journals are giving more and more space to the question。 The following
international manifesto has been issued by the leading physicians of the
world:


          INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL MANIFESTO。

〃The following statement has been agreed upon by the Council of
the British Medical Temperance Association; the American Medical Temperance
Association; the Society of Medical Abstainers in Germany; the
leading physicians in England and on the continent。 The purpose of this
is to have a general agreement of opinions of all prominent physicians
in civilized countries concerning the dangers from alcohol; and in this
way give support to the efforts made to check and prevent the evils from
this source。

In view of the terrible evils which have resulted from the consumption
of alcohol; evils which in many parts of the world are rapidly increasing;
we; members of the medical profession; feel it to be our duty; as
being in some sense the guardians of the public health; to speak plainly
of the nature of alcohol; and of the injury to the individual and the
danger to the community which arise from the prevalent use of intoxicating
liquors as beverages。

We think that it ought to be known that:

1。 Experiments have demonstrated that even a small quantity of
alcoholic liquor; either immediately or after a short time; prevents perfect
mental action; and interferes with the functions of the cells and
tissues of the body; impairing self…control by producing other markedly
injurious effects。 Hence alcohol must be regarded as a poison; and ought
not to be classed among foods。

2。 Observation establishes the fact that a moderate use of alcoholic
liquors; continued over a number of years; produces a gradual deterioriation
of the tissues of the body; and hastens the changes which old age
brings; thus increasing the average liability to disease (especially to
infectious disease;) and shortening the duration of life。

3。 Total abstainers; other conditions being similar; can perform more
work; possess greater powers of endurance; have on the average less sickness;
and recover more quickly than non…abstainers; especially from
infectious diseases; while altogether escape diseases specially caused by
alcohol。

4。 All the bodily functions of a man; as of every other animal; are
best performed in the absence of alcohol; and any supposed experience
to the contrary is founded on delusion; a result of the action of alcohol
on the nerve centers。

5。 Further; alcohol tends to produce in the offspring of drinkers an
unstable nervous system; lowering them mentally; morally and physically。
Thus deterioration of the race threatens us; and this is likely to be greatly
accelerated by the alarming increase of drinking among women; who
have hitherto been little addicted to this vice。 Since the mothers of the
coming generation are thus involved the importance and danger of this
increase cannot be exaggerated。

Seeing; then; that the common use of alcoholic beverages is always
and everywhere followed; sooner or later; by moral; physical and social
results of a most serious and threatening character; and that it is the cause;
direct or indirect; of a very large proportion of the poverty; suffering;
vice; crime; lunacy; disease and death; not only in the case of those who
take such beverages; but in the case of others who are unavoidably associated
with them; we feel warranted; nay; compelled to urge the general
adoption of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as beverages;
as the surest; simplest; and quickest method of removing the evils which
necessarily result from their use。 Such a course is not only universally
safe; but it is also natural。

We believe that such an era of health; happiness and prosperity would
be inaugerated thereby that many of the social problems of the present
age would be solved。〃

The year has been marked by more detailed examination of the
effects of alcohol upon the human system; with the result that progress
towards its eventual overthrow as a medicine has been distinctly made。
The greatest reforms are brought about quietly; but truth is mighty and
does prevail。 It will take time but gradually all will come to feel the
suggestive power in the fact that 〃The table of nature is spread; and
bountifully spread; for all its millions upon millions of guests; but wine
and strong drink are not on the table。〃


     SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY ON BEER
 (From speech by SENATOR J。 H。 GALLINGER; M。 D。; January 9; 1901。)
          OPINIONS OF LEADING PHYSICIANS。

The alarming growth of the use of beer among our people; and the
spreading delusion among many who consider themselves temperate and
sober; that the encouragement of beer drinking is an effective way of
promoting
the cause of temperance and of aiding to stamp out the demon rum;
impelled the Toledo Blade to send a representative to a number of the
leading physicians of Toledo to obtain their opinions as to the real damage
which indulgence in malt liquors does the victim of that form of intemperance。

Every one is not only a gentleman of the highest personal character;
but is a physician whose professional abilities have been severely tested;
and received the stamp of the highest indorsement by the public and their
professional brethren。 More skilful physicians are not to be found anywhere。
We have not selected those of known temperance principles。 What
they say of beer is not colored by 

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