296 ALCOHOL 



... In that inquiry, 1 conducted over totally different grounds, 

 the deaths of intemperate males of over twenty-five were 30 per 

 cent, of the whole, while 25 per cent, were careless drinkers, some- 

 times taking excess. This being the proportion among adult 

 males, we find no difficulty in believing that about one death in 

 seven is partly or wholly caused by alcohol, omitting for the 

 moment those caused indirectly." 2 



493. Very possibly the above estimate exaggerates the mortality 

 due to alcohol, but that it is very considerable is shown by the 

 statistics of insurance companies. Thus the United Kingdom 

 Temperance and General Provident Institution, the policy-holders 

 of which are separated as sheep from goats into abstainers and 

 non-abstainers, found the mortality amongst the former 71.49 per 

 cent, of the total expected, whereas amongst the latter it was 

 96.66 per cent. In the Sceptre Life Office the percentage was 

 56.86 and 77.61. On the average the members of the Friendly 

 Society of Rechabites, who are abstainers, live longer and have less 

 sickness than Oddfellows and Foresters. The mortality amongst 

 grocers has increased appreciably since they were permitted to sell 

 wine and spirits. English and Russian soldiers, who consume 

 considerable quantities of alcohol, perish more readily of wounds 

 than Afridis and Turks, who consume little or none. Heavy 

 drinkers tend to fall into poverty, the slums of our cities being 

 full of them. Their children, who, if they survive, tend to inherit 

 their characteristics, perish in greater numbers than the offspring 

 of more temperate people. Women drinkers are often immoral 

 and sterile. 



494. Evidently the elimination due to excessive drinking is 

 much greater than that indicated by the returns of the Registrar- 

 General, so much greater that there is every probability that 

 alcohol is an agent of stringent selection. We are able to test 

 this conclusion ; but, first, it is necessary to note that stringency 

 of alcoholic selection varies with time and place. It is greatest 

 when and where drink is most abundant and accessible, and the 

 prevailing social tone most favourable to its consumption. Thus 

 alcohol is more accessible to Italians than to Englishmen and a 

 fortiori to Red Indians ; to coal-porters more than to coal-miners. 



The social tones prevailing during the Victorian era and the 

 Commonwealth were less favourable to its consumption than those 

 which prevailed during the period of the Georges and of the Restora- 



1 Collective Investigation Committee of the British Medical Association. 

 * Alcohol and Public Health, by J. J. Ridge, M.D. London : H. K. Lewis. 



