116 BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. 



pie of primary importance in all alcoholic beverages. The 

 whole class, therefore, and especially in view of the subject we 

 have under consideration, is to be considered in respect of its 

 effect upon the central nervous system and not in regard to its 

 nutritive value. 1 It has been observed by people from afore- 

 time that alcohol in its first effects usually, though not always, 

 increases the activity of mind and body : the senses apparently 

 become more acute, checks upon speech are released, and bod- 

 ily movement is augmented. This phenomenon has been 

 ascribed to the exciting influence of alcohol upon brain cells;, 

 it has been thought to act directly upon the perceptional, idea- 

 tional, and motor regions, inciting them by a kind of irritation 

 or inspiration, to heightened and intensified action. But we 

 get a different conception of the case if we look at it from the 

 point of view of modern neurology. At the risk of wearying 

 the reader, I repeat that an important part of the nervous 

 mechanism is concerned with co-ordinating the activities of 

 mind and body. Higher and more differentiated centers con- 

 trol and correlate lower and more fundamental ones. Now it 

 seems that the influence of alcohol in the organism may be ex- 

 plained most satisfactorily by supposing that it has a general 

 paralyzing effect upon nerve structures, first attacking the in- 

 hibitory system and nullifying its restraining power. This 

 produces temporary exaltation when one is depressed and a gen- 

 eral increase in activity due to the rebound of the system from 

 the constriction that had been placed upon it. But it is well 

 known that as the influence of alcohol increases in the organ- 

 ism the higher mental processes and the more delicate motor 

 co-ordinations are soon attacked; and ultimately even the most 

 fundamental functions are paralyzed when both mind and body 

 fall into a wholly disorganized condition. Intoxication means, 

 considered from one point of view, the temporary destruction 

 of psychical and physical functions w^hich it has taken nature 



1 Since the above was written I have read Prof. Atwater's Report to the Mid- 

 dletown Scientific Association in which he takes the view that alcohol is a food ; 

 but he would. I believe, agree to the statement I have made that its effect upon 

 the nervous system is after all the vital matter for every one of us. 



