The Effects of Alcohol, ly J)r. Wm. A. Hammond. 



49 



of motion was attended with a diminution of the intra- 

 cranial pressure, and was probably directly dependent 

 thereon. I n-peatod this very instructive experiment 

 twice with similar results. The deductions to be made 

 from iliem are that the first symptoms which result 

 from the iugestion of alcohol ar ' due to the presence of 

 .his substance in the brain, while the later phenomena 

 are in part at least tne results of cerebral congestion. 

 DISEASES CONSEQUENT ON USING ALCOHOL. 



The lecturer then proceeded to show the sequence of 

 ymptoms in man resulting from talcing alcohol into the 

 ysteui. This consideration was more particularly applied 

 to the effects upon the nervous system, showing the suc- 

 cessive symptoms supervening with increasing amount 

 of doses and describing the various stages from transi- 

 tory excitement to complete intoxication. The effects 

 of doses of alcohol given to animals were noted in de- 

 tail. A valuable portion of the address was a discussion 

 of the separate conditions of delirium treuiens. and of 

 the diverse methods of cure indicated by such difference; 

 in the one class of case the tree administration of 

 alcoholic stimulants being necessary to save the patient, 

 while m the other class of cases such stimulants would 

 only aggravate the disease. The characteristics of 

 chronic alcoholism were then discussed, and the various 

 symptoms considered. The causes of the destructive 

 effects of alcoholic liquors are then investigated and Dr. 

 Hammond thinks it probable that their impurity adds to 

 their baneful properties. He goes on to say: It is very 

 certain, however, that chronic alcoholic intoxication 

 very rarely, if ever, ensues on the moderate use of the 

 light German or French wines, or of those made in this 

 country, when they are not fortified by the subsequent 

 addition of spirit, and that it is still less apt to ensue 

 from the temperate use of malt liquors. The diseases of 

 the nervous system, which, in addition to those men- 

 tioned, the excessive use of alcohol induces, are very 

 numerous. In an address such as this, the most that I 

 can do is simply to enumerate them. When I say that 

 ti of all other causes is most prolific in exciting de- 

 rangements of the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves, 

 I make a statement which my own experience shows to 

 be correct. I have already spoken of the remarkable 

 affinity which alcohol has for the substance of which 

 these organs are composed. Experiments hitherto have 

 only related to the brain, but I am able to show you that 

 the spinal cord and the nerves likewise absorb alcohol 

 to equally great extent. 



For ten days I fed a rabbit largely every day with 

 bread soaked in whisky. In the course of that time the 

 animal received nearly a pint of good Bourbon whisky, 

 and beyond being somewhat stupefied, it did not ap- 

 pear to be seriously inconvenienced. At the end of ten 

 days the animal was killed. I then removed the spinal 

 cord and all the large nerves, and treated them sepa- 

 rately with distilled water after cutting them into simll 

 pieces. They were then thrown upon a filter and 

 strongly pressed. The three separate portions of liquid 

 extract were then distilled several times, and finally 

 treated with quicklime and again distilled. In these, 

 the test tubes, I have the products. This marked A is 

 the distillate from the brain ; this marked B is from the 

 spinal cord, and this C, which, as you notice is scarcely 

 more than a drop, is from the nerves. 



ALCOHOL IK THE SPINAL CORD AND NERVES EX- 

 HIBITED. 



The odor is of itself almost sufficient to show that 

 each consists of alcohol, but we have in the solution of 

 bichromate of potash in sulphuric acid, a more trust- 

 Worthy test. To show you how delicate it is, I take a 



test tube containing a little of the test and pass into It a 

 current of air slightly impregnated with the vapor ot 

 alcohol. As you perceive the chiiracteristic reaction, 

 the production of a green color at once ensue-:. 



Now, I tako the test, tube murked A which contains 

 the distillate from the rabbit'* brain and I iillow a drop 

 or two of the test liquid to mingle with it. A dark 

 green color is at once produced, and it is rendered visi- 

 ble to every one in the room as I disturb the mixture 

 with a little distilled wp.ter. 



Next, I take the tube marked B winch contains tho 

 liquid derived from the spinal cord. It is smaller in 

 quantity than that from the brain, because the cord H 

 much smaller than the brain. I pour on it a drop of trio 

 test liquid, and again you see the bright emerald green 

 color is formed. 



Finally, we examine the distillate from the nerves. 

 The quantity here is extremely small, but tho tost shows 

 it to be alcohol. So far as I know alcohol has never been 

 bfore detected in the spinal cord or substance of tho 

 nerves of animals which had been fed with it. Neither 

 has it been found in these organs in man. That it is 

 there, however, in alcoholics, there can be no doubt. 



We are now prepared for the long list of diseases and 

 disorders of the nervous system produced by the exces- 

 sive use of alcohol. The catalogue is made up from my 

 uotc-Dooks, and is based on cases occurring in my pri- 

 vate and hospital practice : 



OF THE BRAIN. 



Cerebral congestion. 



Cerebral hemorrhage with its consequences, apoplexy and paralvsij. 

 Meningeal hemorrhage. 

 Cerebral thromhobis. 

 tiofieuiug of the uiain. 

 Aplmsia. 



Acute cerebral meningitis. 

 Chronic cerebral meningitis. 

 Abscess of (he brain. 



Multiple cerebral sclerosis, one of those diseases of which tremor Is t 

 characteristic symptom. 

 Every variety of insanity, including general paralysis. 



OF THK SPINAL CORD. 



Siiinal cnnsesrion. 



Antero lateral spinal sclerosis. 



Posterio-spinal sclerosis (Locomotorataxia). 



CEKEBRO-SPINAL DISEASES. 



Epilepsy. 



Chorea." 



Multiple ce-ebro-spinal sclerosis, another of those affections character- 

 ized by tremor. 



Athetosis. a remarkable disease which I was the first to tescribe, and 

 which is now well recognized both in ihis country and in Europe. The 

 case on which mv description was based was one in which tue patient 

 was in the habit of Qriiiking sixty glasses of uin daily. 



OP THB NERVES. 



Anaesthesia. 

 Paralysis aeitans. 

 Neurxlgia in all .- ituationu. 

 Neuritis. 

 Neuro-sclerosis. 



It will be noticed that sclerosis or hardening is a con- 

 dition of all parts of the nervous system which alcohol 

 probably often produces. It is doubtless tho result of the 

 direct action ot alcohol on the nervous tissue. 



In addition to being the exciting cause of many diseases 

 of the nervous system, alcohol probably predisposes to 

 various others in which no direct relation can be traced. 

 Neither does its action stop here, for the descendants of 

 persons addicted to the excessive use of alcohol are lia- 

 ble to various disorders of the nervous system. 

 WHAT CONSTITUTES EXCKSS. 



Doubtless you have observed that my remarks relative 

 to the evil consequence of alcoholic potations have been 

 based upon tho excessive use. It would be only fair for 

 vou to ask me what constitutes excess! And if you did, 

 I should answer that, in the abstract, I do uot know, 

 any more than I know how much tea or coffee any one 

 of you can drink with comfort or advantage, how many 

 cigars you can smoke without passing from good to bad 



