Study and Stimulants Part 11

The problem you have undertaken to solve is, indeed, one of intense importance and interest, and all who can ought to help its solution in the interests both of science and morality. I feel thankful for the honour you have done me in inviting my opinion on the subject. As a teetotaler I abstain wholly from intoxicating drinks and stimulants, and discourage the use of the same in others. From boyhood up to the present time--I am now 44--I have never been in the habit of drinking or of smoking, nor did it ever occur to me that such habits were essential to health or helpful to brain work. It is my firm conviction that neither the head nor the hand derives any fresh power from the use of stimulants. It is only habits already contracted which give to alcohol and tobacco their so-called stimulating properties, and engender a strong craving for them, which those who are not enslaved by such habits never experience. I must not, however, place alcohol and tobacco on the same level. The latter is comparatively harmless; the former is a prolific source of evil in society, and often acts like deadly poison.

KESHUB CHUNDER SEN.

July 29, 1882.

M. JULES SIMON.

Some twenty years ago I had occasion to study the condition of the working cla.s.ses, when I did not fail to observe the pernicious effects produced upon their health and morals by the use of Strong liquors. I remember that one of the most painful results of my inquiry was that whilst some look for pleasure in the abuse of intoxicating liquor, others, unable to procure sufficient food, seek to blunt the edge of their appet.i.te by drinking a little brandy. As my researches were made so long ago, my testimony will now be of little value. Everything changes in twenty years, and I would fain hope that during this period a change for the better has taken place in the habits of the people. I have not much to say on the use of tobacco. I believe that when taken in excess, it has a stupefying effect. I know that it may act as a poison, for a friend of mine, a member of the Senate, who has just died, a.s.sured me repeatedly that he was dying from the effects of constant smoking.

I look upon the use of tobacco, as a practice much to be deprecated, as its tendency is to separate men from the society of women.

JULES SIMON.

March 8, 1882.

PROFESOR SKEAT.

As to the benefit of alcohol and tobacco, my opinion is that there is no _general_ rule. As for myself, my experience is, that the less stimulant I take, the better--I have given up beer with benefit to myself, and I have almost given up wine. I take, on an average, about five gla.s.ses of claret per week, more by way of luxury than of use.

Tobacco I never use, as smoking seems to me to be rather a waste of time.

WALTER W. SKEAT.

March 18, 1882.

M. BARTHELEMY ST. HILAIRE.

I have no difficulty in making known to you my views on the effects of tobacco and alcohol. I believe both to be extremely injurious, as they are the cause of many diseases, even when taken in small quant.i.ties, and much more so when indulged in to excess. I have never used them personally, but I have only too often observed their baneful influence on individuals of my acquaintance. I do not even consider wine to be harmless, especially as it is most usually adulterated. I have abstained from it for many years, indeed for nearly a lifetime, with great advantage. In our climate none of these stimulants are needed, and I very much question whether they are more necessary elsewhere.

Accept my thanks for the questions you have addressed to me.

B. ST. HlLAIRE.

Feb. 24, 1882.

MR. W. SPOTTISWOODE, D. C. L., LL. D., PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

In reply to your enquiry, I beg to say that I have never smoked, and that I take wine only at meals, and in moderation. I have never observed any noticeable effect from wine so taken on mental work, but should think it quite insignificant.

W. SPOTTISWOODE.

DR. C. W. SIEMENS, D. C. L., F. R. S.

My experience has only extended to a very moderate use of alcohol and tobacco. I find that even the most moderate use of tobacco is decidedly hurtful to energetic mental effort. With regard to alcohol, a very moderate amount does not appear to depress the mental condition, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, but I find that although I never indulged in its use I can do very well without it, and I am doing with less and less. Under certain conditions, however, I find that alcohol has a beneficial effect in restoring both mind and body to a state of power and activity.

C. W. SIEMENS.

Dec. 4th, 1882.

MR. G. BARNETT SMITH.

I should probably not be accepted as an authority upon the tobacco question, as I have never smoked a pipe or cigar in my life. As to the use of alcohol, the moderate quant.i.ty I have taken has not been detrimental to me, and, in consequence of the state of my health, it has sometimes been necessary. No doubt a larger quant.i.ty of stimulant than is essential is taken by many literary men, and by other cla.s.ses of the community; but a moderate quant.i.ty would, I believe, be found beneficial by most writers. Of course, if a man finds that he can do quite as well without alcohol, he is undoubtedly wise in discarding it.

G. BARNETT SMITH.

March 28, 1882.

M. TAINE.

I regret that it is not in my power to give you the information you ask. I have not made the question a study, and have no fixed opinion about it. All that I can say is that I have never made use of alcohol in any form as an essential stimulant. Coffee suits me much better.

Alcohol, so far as I can judge, is good only as a physical stimulant after great physical fatigue, and even then it should be taken in very small quant.i.ties. As for tobacco, I have the bad habit of smoking cigarettes, and find them useful between two ideas,--when I have the first but have not arrived at the second; but I do not regard them as a necessity. It is probable that there is a little diversion produced at the same time, a little excitement and exhilaration. But every custom of this kind becomes tyrannical, and the observations which accompany your letter are very judicious. Among the men of letters and men of science around me there is not one to my knowledge who in order to think and to write has recourse to spirituous liquors; but three-fourths of them smoke, and almost all take before their work a cup of coffee. I have seen English journalists writing their articles by night with the aid of a bottle of champagne. With us, the articles are written in the day time, and our journalists have, therefore, no necessity to resort to this stimulant.

H. TAINE.

March 28, 1882.

MR. ANTHONY TROLLOPE.

I have been a smoker nearly all my life. Five years ago I found it certainly was hurting me, causing my hand to shake and producing somnolence. I gave it up for two years. A doctor told me I had smoked too much (three large cigars daily). Two years since I took to it again, and now smoke three small cigars (very small), and, so far as I can tell, without any effect.

ANTHONY TROLLOPE.

Feb. 11, 1882.