s observe how alcohol injures women by its
contribution to the male death-rate. Allusion has already been made to a
simple statistical enquiry which I made a few years ago in regard to the
influence of alcohol as a maker of widows and orphans. The results of
that enquiry may here be quoted, having only appeared in the daily press
hitherto. They will suffice to show that alcohol on this ground alone is
a great enemy of women, and especially of wives. The following is the
conclusion published in several papers in England in November, 1908:--

"Some time ago we heard a good deal, both in and out of Parliament,
about the debenture widow whose little all is invested in brewery
securities. There is, on the other hand, the widow so made by
alcohol. I am not aware that anyone has attempted to estimate the
approximate number of each of these two classes. The following is
merely a rude approximation.

It has been stated that there are half a million persons who have
invested money in the licensed trade. Let us allow that half of
these are men. The death-rate of all males, above fifteen years of
age, is slightly over sixteen per 1,000. At the census of 1901, 536
in each 1,000 males aged fifteen years and upwards were found to be
married. Ignoring the differential death-rate of the married as
compared with bachelors and widows, it follows that about 4,100
male investors in the licensed trade die each year, of whom some
2,197 will be married men, leaving behind them the same number of
widows entirely or partly dependent on these investments.

The widows made by drink are nearly six times as many.

Numerous inquiries at home and abroad agree somewhat closely in
stating _14 per cent_. of the entire death-rate to be due to
alcohol. The proportion of one in seven is accepted by Dr. Archdall
Eeid, who considers that all efforts to restrain drinking increase
drunkenness. I do not think the justness of this figure can be
disputed at all, except as an under-estimate. We are here dealing
with male deaths only, and I will do my contention the obvious
injustice of supposing that the proportion of deaths due wholly or
in part to alcohol is no higher amongst men than amongst women. If
one could allow for the existing difference, the result would be
even more terrible.

Taking the figures for 1906 fo