ABSTRACT
The fallacy of Teetotalism lies in overlooking the fact that quantitative differences can produce qualitative differences. When people say, “Oh, this is only a question of degree,” they forget how frequently questions of degree involve questions of kind. Life is only possible under incessant stimulus. Organic processes depend on incessant change, and this change is dependent on stimuli. The stimulus of food, the stimulus of fresh air, the stimulus of exercise, are called natural, beneficial; the stimulus of tea and coffee is called agreeable, refreshing, and so forth; the stimulus of Alcohol seems selected for special reprobation without cause being shown, except that people choose to say it is not natural. The tacit assumption of Teetotalism is that we are living under perfectly healthy conditions, with hereditary strength of organism, with abundance of excellent food, with stomachs equipped for efficient exercise.
