142 ELEMENTARY BIOLOGY 



whisky was stopped by the Russian government, on the 

 recommendation of the miHtary authorities, because the drink 

 was found to interfere with the efficiency of the soldiers. 

 Since the government there had a monopoly of the industry, 

 it was a comparatively simple matter to bring about the change. 

 In spite of the many years of custom and habit, the sudden 

 withdrawal of alcohol brought about quick adjustments in the 

 form of better workmanship and happier living, even during 

 the progress of the war. Restrictions were placed upon the 

 manufacture and consumption of alcohol in the other warring 

 countries. In this country the chief problem seemed to center 

 at first about the wisdom of permitting so much grain and 

 other food materials to be converted into alcoholic beverages 

 while we were confronted with a shortage of essential food- 

 stuffs. Later it became necessary to prohibit the manufacture 

 of alcoholic drinks both to save the material and men for more 

 urgent work and to protect military and civil workers from 

 the effects of alcohol. 



The war experience no doubt had an important influence 

 upon the decision of American legislatures to adopt the pro- 

 hibition amendment to the Constitution. 



