It is right, before entering on this question, to say that under the word alcohol I mean specifically the alcohol which ordinarily enters into wines, beers, spirits, and upon which their action as stimulants deI would deal now with one part of the pends. There are many other substances science side of the alcohol question, and included now, by chemists, under the term which, put in very simple language, would alcohols, such as methylic, butylic, and stand as follows: Is alcohol good for the amylic alcohols; and there is another sinhealth of man and the lower animals? gular alcohol called mercaptan, or sulphur Does it give them strength, readiness for alcohol, in which the element sulphur rework, endurance for work, length of days, places the element oxygen of common alhappiness? To answer the question relat- cohol. Certain of these other alcohols — ing to the lower animals first, we may, I those above named particularly I have think, come to the safe conclusion that al-made, also, subject of physiological study; cohol is not good for animals under the and the report of their action would afford rank of man. Calves fed on gin-balls scope for an article that could not, I think, barley meal and gin-are very soon pre- fail to be of interest to scientific readers

whose tastes lean towards physiological | the actual degree of vascular excitement research. But, as it will be simplest to induced by alcohol, and my results were begin with the alcohol that is best known, full of interest. They have, however, been and for good or for evil is most potent in entirely superseded by the observations the world in our time, I confine, on this made on the human subject by Dr. Parkes occasion, myself to it-ethylic or common and Count Wollowicz. alcohol.

the same percentage of excess as the mean of the six days.

Admitting that each beat of the heart was as strong during the alcoholic period as in the water period (and it was really more powerful), the heart on the last two days of alcohol was doing one-fifth more work.

Adopting the lowest estimate which has been given of the daily work done by the heart, viz., as equal to 122 tons lifted one foot, the heart, during the alcoholic period, did daily work in excess equal to lifting 158 tons one foot, and in the last two days did extra work to the amount of 24 tons lifted as far.

The period of rest for the heart was shortened, though, perhaps, not to such an extent as would be inferred from the number of beats; for each contraction was sooner over. The heart on the fifth and sixth days after alcohol was left off, and apparently at the time when the last traces of alcohol were eliminated, showed in the sphygmographic tracings signs of unusual feebleness; and, perhaps, in consequence of this, when the brandy quickened the heart again, the tracings showed a more rapid contraction of the venticles, but less power, than in the alcoholic period. The brandy acted, in fact, on a heart whose nutrition had not been perfectly restored.

rated, and the vessels were enlarged,

and the effect was so marked as to show that this is an important influence for good or for evil when alcohol is used."

By common observation the flush seen on the cheek during the first stage of alcoholic excitation is supposed to extend merely to the parts actually seen. It cannot, however, be too forcibly impressed on the mind of the reader that the condition is universal in the body. If the lungs could be seen they, too, would be found with their vessels injected; if the brain and spinal cord could be laid open to view they would be discovered in the same condition; if the stomach, the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, or any other vascular organs or parts could be laid open to the eye, the vascular enlargement would be equally manifest.

In course of time, in persons accustomed to alcohol, the vascular changes, temporary only in the noviciate, become confirmed and permanent. The bloom on the nose which characterizes the genial toper is the established sign of alcoholic action on vascular structure.

Recently some new physiological enquiries have served to explain the reason why, under alcohol, the heart at first beats so quickly and why the pulses rise. At one time it was imagined that the alcohol acted immediately upon the heart, stimulating it It is difficult, at first glance, to realize to increased action, and from this idea the excessive amount of work performed false idea, I should say― of the primary by the heart under this extreme excite- action of alcohol, many erroneous conclument. Little wonder it is that, after the sions have been drawn. We have now labour imposed upon it by six ounces of learned that there exist many chemical alcohol, the heart should flag; still less bodies which act directly by producing a wonder that the brain and muscles which paralysis of the organic nervous supply of depend upon the heart for their blood the vessels which constitute the minute supply should be languid for many hours, vascular circuit. These minute vessels and should require the rest of long sleep when paralyzed offer inefficient resistance for renovation. It is hard physical work, to the stroke of the heart, and the heart in short, to fight against alcohol; harder thus liberated, like the mainspring of a than rowing, walking, wrestling, carrying heavy weights, coal-heaving, or the treadwheel itself.

While the heart is thus labouring under the action of alcoholic stimulation, a change is observable in the extreme circulation that circulation of blood which by varying shades of colour in exposed parts of the body, such as the cheek, is visible to the eye. The peripheral circulation is quickened, the vessel distended. We see this usually in persons under the influence of wine in the early stage, and we speak of it as the flush produced by wine. The authors I have already quoted report upon it in definite terms. "The peripheral circulation (during alcoholic excitement) was accele

clock from which the resistance has been removed, quickens in action, dilating the minute and feebly-acting vessels, and giving evidence really not of increased but of wasted power.

The phenomena noticed above constitute the first stage of alcoholic action on the body; we may call it the stage of excitement; it corresponds with a similar stage or degree caused by chloroform.

If the action of alcohol be carried further, a new set of changes are induced in another part of the nervous system - the spinal system. Whether this change be due simply to the modification of the circulation in the spinal cord, or to the direct action of the alcohol upon the nervous

matter, is not yet known, but the fact of peculiar modification proceeding in respect change of function is well marked, and it to the temperature of the body. For a consists of deficient power of co-ordina- little time the external or surface tempertion of muscular movement. The nervous ature is increased, especially in those parts control of certain of the muscles is lost, that are unduly charged and flushed with and the nervous stimulus is more or less blood. But it is to be observed that in enfeebled. The muscles of the lower lip respect to the mass of the body the tenin the human subject usually fail first of dency is to a fall of temperature. In the all, then the muscles of the lower limbs, progress towards complete intoxication and it is worthy of remark that the flexor under alcohol, however, there are, as we muscles give way earlier than the exten- have already seen, three degrees or stages. sors. The muscles themselves by this time The first is a stage of simple exhilaration, are also failing in power; they respond the second of excitement, the third of more feebly than is natural to the galvanic rambling insesibility, and the fourth of stimulus; they, too, are coming under the entire unconsciousness, with muscular depressing influence of the paralyzing prostration. The duration of these stages agent, their structure temporarily changed, can be modified in the most remarkable and their contractile power everywhere manner by the mode of administration; reduced. This modification of the animal but whether they are developed or recovfunctions under alcohol marks the second ered from in an hour or a day, they are degree of its action. In this degree, in always present except in cases where the young subjects, there is usually vomiting, quantity of alcohol administered is in such and in birds this symptom is invariable. excess that life instantly is endangered or Under chloroform there is produced a de- destroyed. In the first or exhilarative gree or stage of action holding the same stage the temperature undergoes a slight place in the order of phenomena. increase; in birds a degree Fahrenheit, in The influence of the alcohol continued mammals half a degree. In the second still longer, the upper portions of the cer- degree, during which there is vomiting in ebral mass, or larger brain, become impli- birds, or attempts at vomiting, the tempercated. These are the centres of thought ature comes back to its natural standard, and volition, and as they become unbal- but soon begins to fall; and during the anced and thrown into chaos, the mind third degree the decline continues. The loses equilibrium, and the rational part of third degree fully established, the temperthe nature of the man gives way before ature falls to its first minimum, and in the emotional, passional, or mere organic birds comes down from five and a half to part. The reason now is off duty, or is six degrees; in rabbits from two and a half fooling with duty, and all the mere animal to three degrees. In this condition the instincts and sentiments are laid atrocious- animal temperature often remains until ly bare. The coward shows up more cra- there are signs of recovery, viz., conscious ven, the braggart more braggart, the bold or semi-conscious movements, upon which more bold, the cruel more cruel, the igno- there may be a second fall of temperature rant more ignorant, the untruthful more of two or even three degrees in birds. In untruthful, the carnal more carnal. "In this course of recovery I have seen, for invino veritas" expresses faithfully, indeed stance, the temperature of a pigeon which even to physiological accuracy, a true con- had a natural standard of 110° Fahr. redition. The spirits of the emotions are all duced to 102°. Usually with this depresin revel, and are prepared to rattle over sion of force there is a desire for sleep, each other in wild disorder; foolish senti- and with perfect rest in a warm air there mentality, extending to tears, grotesque is a return of animal heat; but the return and meaningless laughter, absurd promises is very slow, the space of time required to and asseverations, inane threats or childish predictions impel the tongue, until at last there is failure of the senses, distortion of the objective realities of life, obscurity, sleep, insensibility, and utter muscular prostration. This constitutes the third stage of alcoholic intoxication. It is the stage of insensibility under chloroform when the surgeon performs his painless task.

While these changes in the action of the nervous system are in progress there is a

bring back the natural heat being from three to four times longer than that which was required to reduce it to the minimum.

In these fluctuations of temperature the ordinary influences of the external air play an important part as regards duration of the fluctuation, and to some extent as regards extremes of fluctuation.

These facts respecting fall of temperature of the animal body under alcohol were derived from observations originally taken from the inferior animals; they have been

confirmed since by other observers from! the human subject. Dr. De Marmon, of King's Bridge, New York, has specially proved this fact in some instances of poisoning by whiskey in young children. In one of these examples the temperature of the body fell from the natural standard of 98° Fahr. to 94°, in another to 93 1-2°.

It happens usually, nevertheless, that under favourable circumstances the intoxicated live: the temperature of the body sinks two or three degrees lower, but the alcohol diffusing through all the tissues, and escaping by diffusion and elimination, the living centres are slowly relieved, and so there is slow return of power. If death actually occurs, the cause of it is

faces and arrest of respiration from this purely mechanical cause. The animal is literally drowned in his own secretion.

Such are the stages or degrees of alcoholic narcotism, from the first to the last. And with the description of them, and the order in which they come, my present task is well nigh complete. There arise, however, a few thoughts and suggestions deserving of brief notice.

Through all the three stages noticed in the above, the decline of animal heat is a condensation of fluid on the bronchial sursteadily progressing phenomenon. It is true that in the first stage the heat of the flushed parts of the body is for a brief time raised, but this is due to greater distribution of blood and increased radiation, not to an actual increment of heat within the body. The mass of the body is cooling, in fact, while the surfaces are more briskly radiating, and soon, as the supply of heat-motion fails, there is fall of surface temperature also; a fall becoming more 1. In the first place we gather from the decided from hour to hour up to the occur- physiological reading of the action of alcorence of the fourth and final stage, of hol that the agent is a narcotic. I have which I have now to treat. compared it throughout to chloroform, and The fourth degree of alcoholic intoxica- the comparison is good in all respects save tion is one of collapse of the volitional nervous centres, of the muscular organs under the the control of those centres, and of some of the organic or mere animal centres. It is true that while the body lies prostrate under alcohol there are observed certain curious movements of the limbs, but these are not stimulated from the centres of volition, nor are they reflected motions derived from any external stimulus; they are strange automatic movements, as if still in the spinal cord there were some life, and they continue irregularly nearly to the end of the chapter, even when the end is death.

Through the whole of this last stage two centres remain longest true to their duty, the centre that calls into play the respiratory action, and the centre that stimulates the heart. There is then an interval during which there are no movements whatever, save these of the diaphragm and the heart, and when these fail the primary failure is in the breathing muscle to the last the heart continues in action.

The leading peculiarity of the action of alcohol is the slowness with which the two centres that supply the heart and the great respiratory muscle are affected. In this lies the comparative safety of alcohol: acting evenly and slowly, the different systems of organs die after each other, or together, gently, with the exception of those two on which the continuance of mere animal life depends. But for this provision every deeply intoxicated animal would inevitably die.

one, viz. that alcohol is less fatal than chloroform as an immediate destroyer. It kills certainly in its own way to the extent, according to Dr. De Marmon, of fifty thousand persons a year in England, and ten thousand year in Russia, but its method of killing is slow, indirect, and by painful disease.

2. The well proven fact that alcohol, when it is taken into the body, reduces the animal temperature, is full of the most important suggestions. The fact shows that alcohol does not in any sense act as a supplier of vital heat as is so commonly supposed, and that it does not prevent the loss of heat as those imagine "who take just a drop to keep out the cold." It shows, on the contrary, that cold and alcohol in their effects on the body run closely together, an opinion most fully confirmed by the experience of those who live or travel in cold regions of the earth. The experiences of the Arctic voyagers, of the leaders of the great Napoleonic campaign in Russia, of the good monks of St. Bernard, all testify that death from cold is accelerated by its ally alcohol. Experiments with alcohol in extreme cold tell the like story, while the chilliness of body which succeeds upon even a moderate excess of alcoholic indulgence leads direct to the same indication of truth.

3. The conclusive evidence now in our possession that alcohol taken into the animal body sets free .the heart, so as to cause the excess of motion of which the record has been given above, is proof that