Moderate Drinking

I have long had tho conviction that thoro is no groater cause of evil, moral aud physical, in this country than the Uso of alcoholic beveragos. Ido not mean by thia that extreme indulgence which produces drunkenness. ïhe habit nal ase of fermented liquore to au extent far short of wliat is neeessary to produce that conditiou, and such as is quite commou in all of society, injures the body and diminishes tho vital power to an extent which I think few people aro awaro of. Such, at all ovents, is the result of observation during moro than tvsenty year.-i of professional lite devotcd to hospital practico, and to private practica in every rank above it. Thus I have no hesitation in attributmg a very large proportion of some of the most painful and dangerous malndii-a which com3 ■Bmïêr ra y notice, as weü a3 thoso which every medical man has to tieat, to the ordinary and daily use of fermented drink taken in thp quantity which is conventioiially deeraed moderate. Whatever may be said in. regard to its nfluence on the mental and moral faculties, aa to the faot above stated, I feol tiiat I havo a right to gpeak witli autbority, and do so solely because it appeara to me a 'ïuty, espscially at this moment, not to be silent on-a-mntterof such extreme importance. My inain object is to expres9 my opinión as a professional man üvrelation to-the habitual employmeiit ot' fermented liquor as a beverage. But if I ventured one stepfurther it would be to express a belief that there is no single habit in th3 country which tends to deteriórate the qualities of the raoe, and M mnch disqualities it forendurauoe in that competition which in the nature ot' thingg must exist, and in which struggle the prize of superiority must fall to the