Page:George Archdall Reid 1896 The present evolution of man.djvu/334

322

"This return shows that the drinkers had more than three times as much sickness as the abstainers in proportion to their number. But in these instances the numbers are small, and must, therefore, be received with caution; they only have weight as they correspond with other and larger returns.

"88. The army and navy present the most hopeful field for the settlement of this point, because in these services the men are under strict observation, and under practically the same conditions in other respects. The number of abstainers in the Indian Army is now over 17,000, and there are considerable numbers in the army at home. There are also a great many abstainers in the navy, almost every ship having representatives. It is therefore very desirable that an inquiry should be instituted, certain diseases being omitted which would unfairly handicap the non-abstainers, for there can be no doubt that total abstinence is more practised by the steadiest men in other respects, though it is also true that the fact of abstaining assists in promoting self-respect and continence, other things being equal.

"89. I have before referred to the returns from the Madras European soldiers in 1849, which showed the admissions to hospital to be —

"90. I have also mentioned the returns from 387S abstainers and 8829 non-abstainers in the Indian Army in 1885–6, showing more than twice as high a percentage of admissions to hospital among the latter. To these may be added the following from Indian Army hospital returns—