  The subject you enquire about is one of vital consequence to brain-workers. I am distinctly of opinion that all stimulants are decidedly injurious to the physical system, and that as a consequence they tend to weaken and destroy the mental powers. I believe tobacco to be a more insidious stimulant than alcoholic beverages. It can be indulged in more constantly without visible degradation; but surely it saps the powers of the mind. In this view I gave it up some years ago. Many men say they smoke to make them think. I notice that a number of them seem to think to very small purpose, either for themselves or mankind generally. I am not a total abstainer, and theoretically have had a belief that pure wine ought to be beneficial to the human system. In practice I have not found it so, though I have always been a very moderate drinker. I certainly never drank a glass of wine or any other liquor in view of mental stimulus, and did not know it was ever seriously regarded as having any such effect, except in so far as it might invigorate the body, which I now find it does not do; but in case of sedentary occupations is positively injurious in its effects. Until mankind can rise above beer and tobacco, the race will remain degraded, as it now is, mentally, socially and physically. P.S.—I have never had so large an amount of mental labour on hand as now—three works in the press (including an encyclopedia, whereof all the articles are written by myself), all requiring much thought and research. I am taking no stimulants whatever. CORNELIUS WALFORD. |
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