Show an eminent english doctor on drinking sir henry thompson lias has addressed the fo lowing letter to the archbishop of canterbury 1 I have long had the conviction that there is no cc reater cause of evil moral and physical in this country than the use of alcoholic be beverages verges I 1 do not mean by this that extreme indulgence which produces drunkenness the habitual use of fermented liquors to an extent far short of what is necessary to produce that condition and such as is quite common in all ranks of society injures I 1 ures tile the body and arid diminishes the mental nw power to an in extent which I 1 think few people are aware of such at all events is the result of observation during more than twenty years of professional life devoted to hospital practice and to private practice in it every rad rat rank ilk lik above it til thus us I 1 have no hesitation in attributing til a very large proportion of some of the most painful and dangerous maladies which come under my notice as well as those which every medical man has to cicat to the ordinary and daily use ue of fermented drink taken in the which is conventionally deemed moderate whatever may be said in regard to its evil influence on the mental and moral faculties as to the fact above stated I 1 feel that I 1 have a right to speak with authority and I 1 do so solely because it appears to me a duty especially at this moment not to be silent on a matter of such extreme importance I 1 know full fuli well how unpalatable is such sueh truth and how a declaration brings me into painful conflict I 1 had almost said with the national sentiments and the time honored and prescriptive usages of our race cherishing such convictions I 1 ire lre rejoice to observe an endeavor to organize on a large scale in the national church a special and systematic ma antic plan for promoting temperance and I 1 cannot but regard igard this as is all an event of the highest significance I 1 believe that no association in this country lias has means to influence society in a favorable direction at all comparable to that existing in the english church and the example and teaching of its ity clergy may do moro mom than any of the other associations which have long labored with the same samo object to diminish the national ignorance on this subject and the tho consequent national vice ny aly main object is to express my opinion as a professional man in relation to tho the habitual employment of fermented liquor asa as a beverage bevenage c but if I 1 ventured one step further it would be to express a belief that there is no single habit in this country which so much tends to deteriorate the qualities of the race and so much disqualifies it for endurance in that competition which in the nature of things must exist and in which struggle tho the prize p riz I 1 e of superiority must fa fall fali I 1 I 1 to the best and to the strongest |