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SCIENTIFIC BASIS. IN a paper read to the Society for the Study of Inebriety on Tuesday, on The Scrie itific BasitS of Drink Cooitrol," Lord d'Abernon pointed out that no efforts to deal with the social problem of alcoholism could be successful unless they took due account of the physiological facts under- lying that problem. Great progress had been made during the last three years in the scientific study of alcohol and—what was even more important—in the endea- vour to substitute impartial inquiry for the previous methods of unsupported assertion and mutual recrimination. Dr. E. Mellanby's exhaustive rese-arches into the intoxicating action of alcohol had been confirmed in their essential points as regards the human subject by the inde- pendent investigations of Dr. H. M. Vernon, Professor McDougall, and Miss May Smith. Chief Principles. The facts which we owe to this scientific work might be said to be in general con- cord with the results of practical adminis- trative experience during the last three They provided enfficiejitly clear ill- dications of the chief principles to be fol- lowed in framing a sciencuuculiy tound system of liquor control. In a broad view there were three main ends to be sought by such a system, namely (1) avoidance of the continuous drinking of alcoholic liquors, which is apt to occur with un- interrupted drinking hours; (2) discourage- ment of the use of beverages of excessive alcoholic strength; and (3) avoidance of drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. Or to express it more briefly, we might t'ay that the governing principle of physio- logical control should be discontinuity of drinking hoiars and dilution of aicohol, in- cluding the specially important sort of dilution affected by food. The lesson of war-tune restrictions on the liquor traffic might be stated shortly as follows: the question "how the nation drinks" is even more important than the question how much it drinks." Regu- late on eound physiological lines the modes and times and circumstances of drinking, and, within reasonable limits, the amount of consumption may with confidence be left to the operation of ordinary economic forces. ¡ Intelligent Regulation. This was a conclusion which should be full of encouragement for those who be- lieve that the use of alcohol can be regu- lated. For it was quite evident that the intelligent regulation of the conditions of drinking, though it might require more knowledge, more thought, and more study than a simple limitation of the amount drunk, would be less unpopular and wo-,ila have many practical advantages. Uniiens recourse was had to rationing, to which there were obvious objections, a policy of restricting the supply of alcoholic beve- rages must give rise to rush drinking and to inequality of distribution, and would almost inevitably open the door to corner- ing and to the operations of the profiteer, It tended to combine the maximum Q' irritation to the public aaid the maximum lotss to the revenue with the minimum of beneSt to real temperance. On the other hand, if by the method of regulation on physiological principles WJ could occme adequate results for the health and sobriety of the nation, the-lie re-uhts would be obtained with less apparatus, with lees risk of creating alternative evils., with less disturbance to trade and less abrupt violation of the habits of the community. Further, the means by whicn these ends might be achieved were com- patible with and would even be aided by appropriate taxation which should go a long way to re-establish national finance, either by relieving it of the cost of war pensions, or in one way or another paying off a large proportion of the indebtedness due to the war.

MUCH ACCOMPLISHED. THE R.T.S. IN its 120th annual report for the year ended March 31, 1919, the Religious Tract Society has much of interest to its many supporters. The total missionary income of the Society for the year was £ 21,892, and the total missionary expendi- ture £ 22,034, the deficiency being met out of trade funds. Grants to the War Fund to the number of 1,554 were made during the year at a cost of £ 2,445. And thosugh after the signing of the armistice in November, 1918, the need for a constant supply of Gospel I literature remained, yet the donations almost ceased. The Committee, however, sanctioned the continuance of free grants to all applicants, and the year closed with the War Fund R227 in debt. The total number of 'languages in which grants were made from this fund during the war was forty-two. At home those who in past years have looked to the R.T.S. for help in their home mission or parochial work have found the Society as ready to help during the last year of the war as ever before. In Europe the Society has continued to take advan- tage of the new opportunities created by the war. The conviction of the most ex- perienced workers all over Europe is that there never was such an opportunity for the spread of Christian literature. Will the Society's friends provide the means to take advantage of it? From the East goid work is reported too. The Call to Arms was- anew-red by twenty-nine members of our staff during the war, of whom nine have been 1-illed, says the report. A tablet bearing all the men's names has been placed in a con- spicuoue place in 4, Bouverie-fitreet, where most of them worked. Speaking of R.T.S. publications the re- porter says that never were the Society's general tracts in-greater demand than at ) present.. V Ij

Don't Pinch your Husband There's no need to pinch in food, if you make plenty of hot meals- with E.D.S. E.D.S. contains the meat. Just make a delicious, hot, tasty stew from cold vegetables and a. I d. packet of Edwards' Desiccated Soup. Edwards Desiccated Soup saves the meat, and saves the money, too Pre-war qualit r—12d. packet—get some # f Js(mkcdgMa% # s M # w m Pain caused by Neuralgia depar s almost instantly under the pllji 800 oing influence of Therm-,g n. When applied to the affeeteJ 3? ar *a 1 herm >gene bring* swi t elief by its quieting action on the yf qu veri >g nerves. Thermogene also provides the surest means of vastf MM relief for W. f! n H TISM '0 caj T COI.DS #1 UM$A iO SORE THROATS BRONCHITIS SPRAIN 5 SCt., ffGA MUSCULAR PAfNS PLHUR¥SY* mm PNEUMONIA* jZ A?8i) seek Medioftt W advice. And a HuaJreJ Kiaircd Aiitnen^s, 71 Doctors everywhere recommend Thermogen:-Nature's First Aid. mi ^0^ Look for the familiar orange-coloured box in the Ctiem sts' windows. Idft /'tC THERMOGENE CO., LTD., Haywrds Heath, Sussex. AM | I CUa^IIVE W4DDING r THE MACONOCHIE M. & V. RATION IS A READY FOR SERVICE DINNER which meets the requirements of all classes by virtue of its excellence, cheapness and usefulness. Being already cooked, it can be served cold at once, or by placing the tin in boiLng water for 20 minutes you have a hot delicious meal. V The Contents are Fresh Beef without tlone Potatoes, Haricot Beans, Onions, Carrots, and Rich Gravy. L VO.en served hot, add J pint hot water I to the gravy. There is sufficient in the tin (with a few extra potatoes) for a small f aniily., 1/6 PER TIN OF. ALL GROCERS EVERYWHERE MACONOCHIE BROS., LTD. LONDON, E. 14 14 —— — J