On the relation between intemperance and mental disease / by Bedford Pierce.

  • Pierce, Bedford.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the relation between intemperance and mental disease / by Bedford Pierce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    16/18 (page 16)
    Education. Haschish (Indian Hemp), Ether, all seductive and narcotic, and all producing, when taken habitually, mental and moral degradation. It is, therefore, necessary to consider the two other factors in the production of intemperance that I have already mentioned, before any complete solution of the question is possible, viz.—the environment that leads to drunkenness and the inherited defects that predispose thereto. Vast and difficult as the questions are, I look forward to the future with hope, believing that much is possible and will be done. Even a prophet of the first magnitude could not, in the few moments available, indicate what must be done to arrest the degenerative tendencies affecting such a large number of our race. I may say, however, that to me the education of the young appears to be the most hopeful means of attaining the end we have in view. We are now entering upon an era full of promise in this direction, and we can with good reason expect that every child throughout the country will receive physical education as well as mental training, and that all will learn something of the laws of health, of the necessity for fresh air and exercise, and also the importance of keeping under control appetites of every kind. Wemayalsoexpectthat all our children will be taught something of the evil effects of excessive drinking and the reasons why they themselves should abstain. Such instruction must be wisely and moderately given, for I feel sure any exaggeration of the dangers may defeat the end in view. But, besides this definite instruction, I think we are justified in looking to the education of the future to contribute largely to the development of the race,