Abel E L
Department of Obstetrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2001 Mar-Apr;36(2):131-4. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/36.2.131.
Medical historians have searched for evidence that the characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were recognized long before its modern description in 1973. This search has often focused on the 'gin epidemic' in 18th century London, and especially William Hogarth's Gin Lane, which some authors allege reflects an awareness of the facial characteristics of the syndrome. While the 'gin epidemic' undoubtedly resulted in the increased birth of weak and sickly children, claims about Hogarth's awareness of the stigmata of the FAS are unfounded. The birth of weak and sickly children, and the high infant mortality rates associated with this period, long preceded the 'gin epidemic' and were primarily due to disease, starvation, exposure, and deliberate infanticide.
医学史学家一直在寻找证据，以证明早在1973年对胎儿酒精综合征（FAS）进行现代描述之前，该综合征的特征就已被人们所认识。这项研究常常聚焦于18世纪伦敦的“杜松子酒泛滥”，尤其是威廉·贺加斯的《杜松子酒巷》，一些作者声称这幅画反映了人们对该综合征面部特征的认识。虽然“杜松子酒泛滥”无疑导致了体弱多病儿童出生率的上升，但关于贺加斯意识到胎儿酒精综合征特征的说法是毫无根据的。体弱多病儿童的出生以及与这一时期相关的高婴儿死亡率，早在“杜松子酒泛滥”之前就已存在，主要是由疾病、饥饿、暴露在外和故意杀婴造成的。
