CHAPTER VIII 



ALCOHOLIC SELECTION 



Alcohol, a selective agency — Analysis of the craving for drink 

 — The three factors — The inborn factor is transmissible, 

 the acquired factors are not — -The confusion of post with 

 propter hoc — Application of the Lamarckian and the Dar- 

 winian doctrines. 



It is plain, then, that just as men differ in every 

 other peculiarity, so they differ — and differ greatly 

 — in their capacity for enjoying indulgence in 

 alcohol. Some are satisfied with very moderate 

 indulgence ; others crave for the deepest intoxi- 

 cation : between the extremes lie all shades of 

 drinkers. It is plain, also, that, as a rule, men 

 drink in proportion to their desires. Lastly, we 

 see that alcohol is a poison. It is only reasonable 

 to conclude that alcohol poisons to the greatest 

 extent those who drink deepest of it. 



It is true that some men are able to tolerate 

 much greater quantities of alcohol than others. 

 Nevertheless, even he whose tolerance is the 

 greatest is more injured by a large than by a small 



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