BEER VERSUS WATER.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1031, 4 January 1882, Page 2

BEER VERSUS WATER.

♦ Sir James Paget writes on ' The Contrast of Temperance with Abstinence.' He tells us that, ' as for the opinions of the medical profession, they are, by a vast majority in favor of moderation, not of abstinence.' The beliefs of reasonable people are also by a large majority on the same side, and this should not be regarded as of no weight in the discussion. The fact that the use of alcohol is a long abiding custom that there is a natural disposition among adult men to drink, raises a presumption that ' such a natural taste lias its purpose rather for good than for evil.' A comparison of the alcohol using nations with with those which abstain, shows that as regards working power, whether bodily or mental the advantage is on the side of those who use alcoholic drinks. "West against east, north against south, the sons of the moderate drinkers arc better men in force <>f body and mind tlnni are the h»'irs of the abstainers. ' Y.y study makes me as sure as L would over venture to )>e on any puestion, that there is not yet any evidence nearly sufficient to make it probable that a moderate hnbi+ivd use of aleoifiii- <!nuk is generally or even to m;i: y ;h:.. v ;ij, iryurloii:; : ai.d

_ _^. — . that thei'e are sulficient iva ;t;;:* ior 'o\lieving that such an habitual use is, on the whole and generally beneficial.'