FOOD AND DEINK 111 



health. And how much worse is the practice of taking the 

 various forms of alcohol when the person so taking them is in 

 good health and merely indulges in drinking for the purpose 

 of bringing about a temporary stimulation. And worse than 

 all the others is the practice of those who not only indulge in 

 these stimulants themselves, but who ask others to join in 

 with them under the name of good-fellowship^ when none of 

 them are to be benefited by so doing, but rather all of them 

 are in danger of being injured by the act. 



53. This practice, last referred to, is often mistakenly 

 spoken of as a sign of generosity, and is ordinarily called 

 "treating." It is wholly indefensible from a physiological 

 point of view, being harmful both to body and mind; and 

 from a social point of view is without its equal for the evil 

 that it has wrought and is capable of working. The " social 

 glass " and the " treat at the bar " count a hundred victims to 

 every other single one that can be traced to any other mistaken 

 practice of human society. It is in regard to the evils that 

 flow from this false show of generosity and geniality that the 

 minds of the young should early be instructed. It is a well- 

 established fact that, in some people, alcohol has the power to 

 create a craving for more. Their nervous systems become so 

 easily poisoned by its use that they must have more, and they 

 have not the will-power to resist the temptation. This ten- 

 dency to be so easily poisoned is also hereditary in some fami- 

 lies, producing drunkards for several generations. 



54. Moderation Societies. " Moderation societies " have been 

 organized to check the evils of " treating," but they have not 

 met with success, and it is not to be expected that they will, 

 for there can be no moderation in the use of this dangerous 

 drug except in the way mentioned at the beginning of this sec- 

 tion, namely, as a prescribed medicine. As Dr. Alden has 



with the displays of wealth and luxury upon our sideboards, but in the 

 medicine-chest along with hasheesh, henbane, opium, stramonium, and 

 so forth, labeled as a POISON ! " Dr. A. F. Kinne. 



53. What is said of treating ? Is alcohol deceptive ? 



54. What is said of moderation societies ? 



