§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has received a Memorial from Dr. B. W. Richardson and Dr. Ridge, on behalf of the British Medical Temperance Association, stating that one-tenth of the mortality is due to the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and praying for an official inquiry into the matter; and, whether he intends to do anything in reference to this matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have received the Memorial alluded to in the hon. Member's Question. The Memorial prays for an. inquiry, which shall confirm or disprove the pernicious effects of alcoholic drinks on the national vitality. The Government have no reason to suppose that a fresh inquiry would add anything to the conclusions arrived at by the Select Committee of the House of 265 Lords on intemperance, which reported in March, 1879, that there did not appear to be any theory as to the physiological properties of alcohol so generally accepted by the Medical Profession as to warrant its being adopted as a basis for legislation.