ATHG colleagues:

    I have been researching for a book on how the ³social history of
drinking² is reflected in songs& poetry from the ancient Greeks to the end
of the 19th century. See my two summaries in the December 2000 issue of
S.H.A.R.  My final bout of research concerns
the social history behind themes of nearly 200 songs on drink from the
American frontiers:
mainly from cowboys, loggers & sailors. A major theme among these male
work-groups is Œfighting¹ so that I am reviewing key studies of alcohol &
aggression, sociobiology of fighting in our primate cousins & lab studies on
synergism of testosterone & alcohol. I am intrigued with the fact that
alcohol can enhance either conviviality or aggression (sometimes both
tendencies simultaneously).

    I¹d like to correspond with others who have  reviewed either the
historical or psychological dimensions of the drinking-fighting linkage. It
appears that many Americans share a special heritage of violence - not so
much caused by alcohol but often using alcohol-assisted rituals, which are
often documented in folklore. I am preparing an essay for ³Perspectives in
Biology & Medicine² to try out my bio-social ³perspective² & would be
pleased to send drafts to those willing to give me constructive criticism.

    Sincerely,  David Ingle,  39 Pratt St., Framingham, MA 01702