30 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



destroyed by large quantities. Secondly, as to the expression of 

 sensation in motion, small doses of alcohol increase the quickness 

 of that expression; large doses make it slower and more slow, 

 until at last there is no expression. Thirdly, as to the movements 

 themselves, small doses make them more rapid, but less sure of 

 attaining the end sought ; large doses tend to make movements 

 impossible. And popular experience bears witness to the truth 

 of these three statements, only the masses can not understand 

 how the rapidity with which action follows impression and rapid- 

 ity of action itself are increased by small doses, but decreased by 

 larger quantities ; and the friends of alcohol have claimed that 

 the difference between small and large doses is real, not of de- 

 gree, and really distinguishes the moderation of the wise man 

 from the madness of the foolish. But science has proved that 

 this contradiction is only apparent. The same increased rapidity 

 of expression of a sensation is noticed when the brain is stupe- 

 fied, and the greatest rapidity results when the brain is entirely 

 separated from the other centers. Reflex action is more sudden 

 and more rapid than brain action. So the influence of alcohol is 

 exactly as if the brain were cut away. The man no longer stops 

 to consider the whole situation, to make use of impressions of 

 former experiences stored away in his brain, or weigh present ob- 

 ligations, and the sly saloon-keeper well understands this. The 

 man who would engage another in a brawl or cajole a secret from 

 him knows well how alcohol dethrones reason and loosens the 

 tongue. And as more and more is taken, the stupefying influence 

 reaches lower and lower, until at last even reflex action is imper- 

 fect and slow. 



If this then is the influence, where is the pleasure in it ? It is 

 not my object, however, to depict the dangers and consequences 

 from such disturbance of brain functions, but to ask only in what 

 then consists the pleasure which alcohol brings us ? The fact 

 that so many men seek this condition, even passionately seek and 

 value and prefer it to others, must have deep psychological 

 ground. I will only say in passing that men differ as to the 

 particular time of richest delight, some choosing the very be- 

 ginning, others the time when sleepiness and forgetfulness have 

 come, still others the perfectly senseless condition ; but the influ- 

 ence of alcohol is still the same, sometimes on a smaller, some- 

 times on a larger portion of the nervous system. How does it 

 increase the feeling of happiness ? The body uses its powers in 

 resisting the outside forces which act upon it. Normally, there is 

 a balance between body and environment. If environment pre- 

 vails we are discouraged; if we are able to prevail, our spirits 

 rise and our happiness grows. And it is not for the moment only, 

 but we compare the accumulated impressions of the powers out- 



