DATA RELATING TO THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AMONG BRAIN WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

BY

J. S. BILLINGS, M. D.

DATA RELATING TO THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AMONG BRAIN WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

EARLY in 1895 a circular letter of inquiry was sent to about 1500 men in the United States engaged in mental work of a high class. The list included the leading members of the legal, medical, and clerical professions, distinguished scientific men and educators, prominent business men, and managers of great corporations. To this circular 892 replies were received, and the data from these replies have been compiled in the following tables.

An attempt was made to obtain returns from physicians with regard to the habit of use of alcoholic drinks and its effects upon the health of families under their charge, but the results were of little value. The records of 230 persons were received, of whom 31 per cent. were affected with chronic disease. The proportion thus affected was for the total abstainers 11.6 per cent. and for the moderate drinkers 31.5 per cent. Nearly all of the returns came from a few physicians who are prominent advocates of total abstinence.

There is no great difficulty in obtaining opinions of physicians as to the effect of the use of alcoholic liquors; but when it comes to filling out forms for each one of their patients, there are very few who are willing to take the trouble to do this.

Dr. Robert T. Edes, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee a number of reports received from the Massachusetts State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity, in connection with an inquiry sent out to physicians of that State in 1879 with regard to hereditary effects of the use of alcohol. These reports have never been collated. Dr. Edes stated that the facts were too few and too vague to be of value, and nothing was done with them.

The following tables indicate the minimum proportion of users of alcoholic drinks among successful brain workers in this

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country. The total abstainers and moderate drinkers probably reported in greater proportion than the regular drinkers.

It will be seen that the percentage of total abstainers was lowest among the physicians (1.4 per cent.), and highest among the clergymen (54 per cent.), and that the percentage of regular drinkers was greatest among the business men (26.5 per cent.).

Of the total abstainers 10.3 per cent. reported themselves as affected with indigestion, acute rheumatism, or nervous disease of some kind. Of the occasional drinkers 6.8 per cent. report themselves as thus affected, and of the regular moderate drinkers 9.2 per cent. report as being thus affected. The regular moderate drinkers used mainly claret and light wines; the occasional drinkers used chiefly whiskey and beer.

As regards the percentage of those reporting themselves as being in bad health, it should be remembered:

1. That the opinions of persons as to their own health have little scientific value.

2. That those who know that they are affected with serious chronic disease were less likely to furnish reports than those who believed themselves to be sound.

3. That the questions were sent chiefly to men known to be actively engaged in their professions or business and not broken down by ill health.

4. That the physical and mental qualities which tend to make a man specially successful in professional or business life include a more than ordinary power of resistance to various agents which may injure health.