20 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
freely in alcoholic drinks, become affected by pulmonary 
consumption, it is found that (in spite of their harmful alcoholic 
excess) the mortality from this disease is less among those who 
drink heavily than in the more moderate imbibers. The alcohol 
appears to effect under certain circumstances a neutralization 
of tuberculous poison in the system; it acts further by serving 
to block up the blood-vessels around the diseased parts of the 
lungs, thereby isolating these infective parts; so that (as 
certain modern physicians pronounce) in all probability a 
plentiful (but not immoderate) use of alcohol promises true 
benefit for cases of actual tubercular consumption. 
We may conclude generally that alcohol is an unnecessary 
article of diet for persons in complete health (though a moderate 
use of natural, sound wine seems to augment the agreeables 
of life). As regards the form in which alcohol may be best used, 
malted liquor seems most suitable for youth, wine for middle 
life, and spirits to be reserved for the aged. It cannot be said 
that alcohol is favourable to the production of perfectly sound 
brain work. Out of 124 instances (leading men in literature, 
science, and art) who were consulted on this question, none 
ventured to seriously recommend alcohol as a useful aid to the 
performance of mental labour. It is rather under conditions 
just short of health—in overwork, fatigue, and feeble old age— 
that the beneficial effects of alcohol become most marked, and 
chiefly by aiding digestion: therefore it is most profitably 
taken with meals only, in such quantity, and of such sort, as are 
best borne by the individual patient. But for aged persons 
with whom, by reason of their arteries being stiff through 
senility, and their circulation otherwise impeded about the 
surface of the body, a laborious action of the heart occurs under 
alcohol, with a liability of its walls to become dilated, then 
this is certainly questionable, particularly in the shape of ardent 
spirit; possibly some generous, well-matured wine of subdued 
alcoholic strength may be more safely allowed. 
With regard to the taking of alcohol with water at night as 
grog for inducing sleep, when this has become difficult, or 
disturbed, any such practice is ordinarily a mistake. For natural 
sleep the brain should be comparatively bloodless; but a 
spirituous beverage as a night-cap produces quite the opposite 
effect ; if the grog is strong, a measure of narcotism, and stupor 
_ may simulate sleep, but the penalty will be exacted afterwards 
