594 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



an ethnic result mediocrity of type. The individuality of the 

 Bingle man is merged in that of the social group. In fine, con- 

 trast of race is swallowed up in nationality. This process has as 

 yet only begun in western Europe. In the so-called upper classes 

 it has proceeded far, as we shall see. We shall, in due course of 

 time, have to trace social forces now at work which insure its 

 further prosecution not only among the leaders of the people, but 

 among the masses as well. The process will be completed in that 

 far-distant day when the conception of common humanity shall 

 replace the narrower one of nationality ; then there will be per- 

 haps not two varieties of head form in Europe, but a great com- 

 mon mean covering the whole continent. The turning of swords 

 into plowshares will contribute greatly to this end. Modern in- 

 dustrial life with its incident migrations of population does more 

 to upset racial purity than a hundred military campaigns or con- 

 quests. Did it not at the same time invoke commercial rivalries 

 and build up national barriers against intercourse, we might hope 

 to see this amalgamation completed in a conceivable time. 



EXPERIMENTS ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL, 



MADE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE 



COMMITTEE OF FIFTY. 



By C. F. HODGE, Pn. D., 



ASSISTANT PROFESSOK OF PHYSIOLOGY, CLABK UNIVEESITY. 



THE following is Dr. J. S. Billings's statement on behalf of 

 the committee : " This paper contains an account of some 

 research work which has been done for the Committee of Fifty for 

 the Investigation of the Liquor Problem, and it is to be regarded 

 as merely a preliminary report to be considered in the final con- 

 clusions which may be reached in the future by the Committee of 

 Fifty itself." 



On my own part I desire to express to the Committee of Fifty 

 my deep sense of appreciation for the support which has made the 

 following researches possible. To the members of the Subcom- 

 mittee on Physiology, Drs. Bowditch, Billings, Chittenden, and 

 Welch, my especial thanks are due for hearty and sustained 

 interest and prompt assistance at every turn of the investigation. 

 Under their stimulus and guidance it has been throughout the 

 keenest pleasure to work, even upon a problem so beset with preju- 

 dices that the slightest contamination of the atmosphere of pure 

 science, in which such work, if ever effectual, must be done, 

 would have rendered even the will to undertake it impossible. 



