ALCOHOL AND LONGEVITY 203
does the consumption of alcoholic liquors in modera-
tion influence the duration of life, either in an adverse
or a favourable sense ? The answer is that, not only
is there no thoroughly reliable evidence upon the
point, but that it is impossible that satisfactory evi-
dence can ever be obtained.
THE INFLUENCE OF EXCESSIVE INDULGENCE IN
ALCOHOL.
It is stated by Professor Raymond Pearl* that the
first person to attack the problem of the mortality
of persons addicted to the immoderate use of intoxi-
cating drinks was the distinguished actuary, F. G. P.
Neison (1851). Neison’s material was drawn from
schedules, filled out by medical men on the basis
of personal knowledge and observation of individual
cases, and it related only to excessive drinkers, or so-
called drunkards.
The actual number of individuals concerned was 357,
and their mortality rate was found to be 3-25 times greater
than that of the general population at the same ages.
The actual duration of life of drunkards of various
ages, as compared with the expected duration, is
shown in the following Table:
Ace of Drunkare.
2
20 year:
"0
40
Actual > at'on -
“ec* 4 Duration
of Life.
ars
Ea
* Cf. E. H. Starling, “ The Action of Alcohol on Man,” 1923,
D. 220.