The last word concerning the alcohol question will certainly be said by modern science. Experiments concerning the physical effect of that stimulant, conducted in the exact and dispassionate modern spirit, have been in progress for years--practically all, by the way, reaching the result that the direct effect of alcohol is injurious to the healthy human body. Now the inquiries of social psychology open a new field for debate. Does society, in its still crudely developed condition, demand and always secure a stimulant of some kind? If so, are the stimulants it obtains in default of alcohol more harmful, broadly considered, than is alcohol itself? These questions are novel and striking ones; and Dr. Muensterberg brings to their discussion perhaps the highest skill available for his view of the subject. It is unnecessary to say that, by presenting this view, McClure's Magazine does not therefore endorse it. And it is still more unnecessary to say that the opinions and conclusions of Dr. Muensterberg do not need the endorsement of any publication or individual to make them of general interest and consequence to the American public. * * * * * Transcriber Notes The Table of Contents and the List of Illustrations were added by the transcriber. Hyphenation and quotation marks changed to standardize usage. All other original punctuation and spelling preserved as written.