Lord Houghton opened the Social Science Congress at Norwich on
Wednesday in a lengthy and over-discursive speech, which, however, had points in it. One, and perhaps the most important, was made it propos of the failure of the licensing laws. Lord Houghton pointed out that alcohol was the failing of the nobler and stronger populations of the world, that it exhibits itself in strong and nervous constitutions, and that it appears in modera- tion to prevent waste of tissue. He thought its excessive use should be studied by the medical profession, who are already aware that there are drugs in the pharmacopeia by which the taste can be satisfied without any bad results. That is, we believe, true of several of the bromides, the use of which is entirely unknown to the body of the people, and there may exist a drug which will instantly stop the bemusing power of alcohol ; but we doubt if Lord Houghton allows sufficient force to the pleasure of drinking, or whether a drug could be discovered which would give the full pleasure, yet inflict no harm. It is, however, in this direction that inquiry is needed, as. almost all drunkards at some time in their lives make an effort to stop their habit, and would be materially assisted by anything which relieved them of their "sinking." It is curious that in civilised states the use of the great prophylactic against drinking, the one which, perhaps, preserves Mohammedans and Hindoos, theincessant consumption of milk, has become impossible:
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