THE ACTION OF ALCOHOL 559 



In all of these experiments the amount of alcohol taken was 

 small, in no case sufficient to induce any of the more evident 

 symptoms of intoxication. It is therefore of great interest to 

 find in the later publications of Kraepelin's laboratory, that 

 distinct impairment of the psychical powers was found to 

 persist for a much longer time than would be anticipated ; the 

 average efficiency was not regained until from twelve to twenty- 

 four hours had elapsed after the alcohol had been taken. If 

 this proves to be true in the case of persons who have acquired 

 a tolerance for alcohol, even moderate drinkers are never 

 completely normal, their mental powers never recovering 

 entirely from one dose of alcohol before the next is taken. 



The results of these investigations on the mental state under 

 alcohol, as well as many others which I have not discussed, 

 appear to place the theory that alcohol acts as a narcotic upon 

 a firm basis. I do not hold that it is absolutely determined, but 

 some more satisfactory evidence must be brought forward in 

 favour of the stimulation theory before it can be considered as 

 a rival to that of Schmiedeberg. And this evidence must define 

 what functions are stimulated, and must not be a repetition of 

 the old statement, that the tone and vigour of the nervous 

 system are maintained by alcohol. 



But if the chief or even the whole action of alcohol on the 

 brain were proved to be a narcotic one, this would not preclude 

 its use in therapeutics. For here the chief object in the use of 

 alcohol is not to induce but to repress cerebral activity, and the 

 alleged stimulant action arises from a confusion of ideas ; a 

 similar confusion is met with in regard to opium, which was 

 also regarded as possessing stimulant properties which recom- 

 mended its use in acute diseases accompanied by cerebral 

 symptoms. The result of both drugs is in reality cerebral 

 depression, which manifests itself in a condition of euphoria. 

 The disease often loses its strongest ally when the anxiety and 

 worry of the patient are allayed by alcohol. He feels less 

 concern and more resignation, not because his soul rises 

 triumphant through the stimulant action of alcohol, but through 

 his brain being less capable of dwelling on his disabilities, 

 because it is partially narcotised. 



Alcohol, therefore, is not to be regarded as exercising any 

 unique action on the brain in disease, but resembles the other 

 narcotics, and as a remedy must be compared with these. And 



