286 ANNUAL KECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



gas take fire and burn with a yellow flame. By subjecting 

 this to a chemical examination, it was found to consist, with 

 other substances, of a considerable portion of marsh gas, not 

 previously known as a product of the stomach. 18 A, 3Iarch 

 10,1876,658. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF ALCOHOL. 



Dr. Lander Brunton, in a summary of a memoir before the 

 Medical Society of London, regarding the physiological ac- 

 tion of alcohol, states that in small quantities it increases the 

 secretions of the gastric juice, and thus aids digestion. How- 

 ever unnecessary this may be in health, it is useful for the 

 feeble and debilitated. Second, it increases the force and 

 frequency of the pulse. Third, a large dose diminishes diges- 

 tion by the too great irritation of the stomach. Fourth, it is 

 capable of producing death by reflex action. Fifth, after ab- 

 sorption in the blood it diminishes the power of oxidizing 

 the red globules of the blood. This is useful in lowering the 

 temperature; but when this is done suddenly or very fre- 

 quently it causes an accumulation of fat and a fatty degen- 

 eration of the organs. Sixth, it undergoes a sort of combus- 

 tion in the organism, and maintains the increase of weight 

 of the body. In this respect it may be considered as a food. 

 Seventh, it" taken in large doses, a portion is excreted in an 

 unaltered condition. Eighth, it dilates the blood-vessels, in- 

 creasing the force and frequency of pulsations of the heart 

 by its action on the central nerves, and facilitates intellectual 

 and physical action. It does not give any greater power, 

 but renders a man capable of keeping more energy in reserve. 

 It can thus furnish assistance to eftbrt of short duration, but 

 not for prolonged exercise. Ninth, it has the same efiect 

 upon the heart ; but in disease alcohol frequently relaxes the 

 pulsations of this organ instead of accelerating them, thus 

 economizino- the enersiv instead of wasting: it. Tenth, in di- 

 lating the vessels of the skin, alcohol cools the surface at the 

 expense of the internal organs. It is thus injurious when 

 taken during exposure, but after such exposure it is nseful 

 as tending to prevent the congestion of the internal organs. 

 Eleventh, the symptoms of intoxication are due to a paraly- 

 sis of the nervous system; the brain and the cerebellum are 

 first afiected, then the protuberance, and finally the medulla 



