"It is remarkable that all the diseases arising from drinking spirituous or fermented liquors, are liable to become hereditary even to the third generation, increasing, if the cause be continued, till the family becomes extinct."

The Second Report of the Board of State Charities of Massachusetts, signed by Dr. S. G. Howe as chairman, and among others by Dr. Nathan Allen as one of its members, contains a paper upon "Alcohol as a cause of Vitiation of Human Stock," which treats the subject scientifically and yet most impressively. What we have further to say upon this topic can not be better said than by condensed selections from this able paper.

"A prolific cause (of this vitiation) is the common habit of taking alcohol into the system, usually as the basis of spirits, wine, or beer. The effects of alcohol upon the senses, and even upon the bodily functions, vary according to the medium in which it is conveyed; but the basis being the same in all, the constitutional effects are about the same.

"If its general use does materially influence the number and condition of the dependent and criminal classes, it is the special duty of those holding official relations with those classes to furnish facts and materials for public consideration.

"It is well known that alcohol acts unequally upon man's nature; that it stimulates the lower propensities and weakens the higher faculties.

"If this process is often repeated, the lower propensities are strengthened by exercise until, by and by, they come to act automatically, while the restraining powers, or the will, weakened by disuse, are practically nullified. The man is no longer under control of his voluntary powers, but has come under the dominion of automatic functions, which are almost as much beyond his control as the beating of his heart. But the habitual stimulus of the brain by alcoholized blood, in ever so small doses, must produce the same kind of results, only in a lesser degree.” . .

The paper then proceeds to show that "persistent functional disturbance at last brings about organic change." It also suggests, in view of the rapidity of its elimination from the system compared with other poisons, "Whether this peculiarity of alcohol does not make its constant use in small doses worse for posterity than its occasional use in large quantities; that is, whether tippling is not worse than drunkenness, as far as it affects the number and the condition of the offspring."

And, in conclusion, they say:

"The facts and considerations just named make clear the sad truth that the children of parents whose systems were tainted by alcoholic poison do start in life under great disadvantage. While they inherit strong animal propensities, and morbid appetites and tendencies, constantly craving indulgence, they have

weak restraining faculties.

Their temptation is greater, and their power of resistance is less than in children of purer stock. They are, therefore, more likely to fall into the pauper or criminal class." *

That this transmission of misery which alcohol effects is attracting more and more the attention of the medical fraternity, may be seen from one of the resolutions passed by the National Medical Association of the United States, at their meeting in Detroit in 1874, in these words:

"That we are of the opinion that the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage is productive of a large amount of physical and mental disease; that it entails diseased appetites and enfeebled constitutions upon offspring; and that it is the cause of a large percentage of the crime and pauperism in our large cities and country."

We may then assume that alcohol, after its work of ruin in one generation, leaves as a heritage of evil to the next weakened and demoralized stock, which—

First. Lessens the physical and mental force, and so reduces the power of industrial production, and makes the man in every way of less worth to the State.

* The same subject is ably treated again in the Ninth Annual Report of the Board, pp. xxix.-XXXIII.

Second. Entails disease and lowers the tone of the public health.

Third. By impairment of vital force, increases pauperism.

Fourth. And by animalizing the moral nature, fosters crime.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE UNIVERSAL ALLY OF EVIL-THE UNIVERSAL ANTAGONIST OF GOOD.

*Not only does this vice (intemperance) produce all kinds of wanton mischief, but it has also a negative effect of great importance. It is the mightiest of the forces that clog the progress of good. It is in vain that every engine is set to work that philanthropy can devise, when those whom we seek to benefit are habitually tampering with their faculties of reason and will, soaking their brains with beer or inflaming them with ardent spirits. The struggle of the school, the library, and the church, all united, against the beer-house and gin-palace, is but one development of the war between heaven and hell."CHARLES BUXTON, M. P.

THE vices are at least as sociable as the virtues. But beyond this general affinity the drinking habit sustains peculiar relations to other social evils and crimes. We have already considered its direct influence as a stimulant of crime and its indirect as the great cause of poverty and pauperism. We have also seen how it animalizes human nature and debases human stock. But we have now to notice that it intensifies all the perils of our civilization; and perils which affect the integrity of our national life and the stability of our government.