BODY CONTROL AND HABIT FORMATION 369 



The Relation of Alcohol to Efficiency. — We have already seen 

 that work is neither so well done nor is as much accomplished by 

 drinkers as by non-drinkers. 



A Massachusetts shoe manufacturer told a recent writer on 

 temperance that in one year his firm lost over $5000 in shoes 

 spoiled by drinking men, and that he had himself traced these 

 spoiled shoes to the workmen who, through their use of alcoholic 

 liquors, had thus rendered themselves incapable. This is a serious 

 handicap to our modern factory system, and explains why so many 

 factory towns and cities are strongly favoring a policy of " No 

 license " in opposition to the saloons. 



''It is believed that the largest number of accidents in shops and 

 mills takes place on Monday, because the alcohol that is drunk 

 on Sunday takes away the skill and attentive care of the work- 

 man. To prove the truth of this opinion, the accidents of the 

 building trades in Zurich were studied during a period of six 

 years, with the result shown by this table " : — 



(From Tolnian, Hygiene for the Worker.) 

 Shaded, non-alcoholic ; black, alcoholic, accidents. 



Another relation to efficiency is shown by the following chart. 

 During the week the curve of working efficiency is highest on 

 Friday and lowest on Monday. The number of accidents were also 

 least on Friday and greatest on Monday. Lastly the assaults were 

 fewest in number on Friday and greatest on Sunday and Monday. 

 The moral is plain. Workingmen are apt to spend their week's 

 wages freely on Saturday. Much of this goes into drink, and as a 

 result comes crime on Sunday because of the deadened moral and 



HUNTER, CIV. BI. 24 



