THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE in 



Otherwise, it must be held that all races were 

 originally diseased, and that, while some are still 

 diseased, others have been more or less cured by 

 the use of alcohol — a somewhat paradoxical 

 conclusion. The fact is, however, that this 

 constitution of mind is not a diseased condition. 

 It was perfectly normal in primitive man, and was 

 quite harmless to him before the discovery of 

 alcohol. Afterwards it became exceedingly and 

 increasingly harmful. In the modern civilised 

 world it ensures, in a great number of cases, the 

 elimination of the individual who has it. 



Among most savage tribes alcohol in strong 

 modern solutions does not select the fit for survival : 

 all are unfit. It slays without discrimination. But 

 in the ancient world things were different. At first 

 alcohol was manufactured only in small quantities, 

 and in the very weak solutions in which most 

 modern savages are alone able to prepare it. Only 

 those who had the best opportunities of obtaining 

 alcohol could have been eliminated ; only those with 

 the strongest craving did get eliminated. Under 

 the circumstances, it was not easy to drink to 

 excess. But, as the methods of manufacturing 

 alcohol improved, the stringency of alcoholic 

 selection increased. To-day South Europeans, and 

 even North Europeans, are able to prosper and 

 multiply, though afflicted by a supply of alcohol 



