ALCOHOL. 21 
by reactionary depression. Only will a moderate allowance 
of alcohol at night be beneficial, when the general circulation 
is so weak, and inefficient at the end of the day, with depressed 
vitality, coldness, and feeble action of heart, that blood stagnates 
passively about the brain for lack of sufficient power to propel 
it onwards from the heart, and nervous centres. Under such 
a condition of things, then alcohol may be judiciously given, 
and will promote better sleep on rational grounds. 
Boswell, talking to Dr. Johnson about the ethics of drinking, 
said, respecting himself, “‘I am a lover of wine, and therefore 
curious to hear what you say remarkable about drinking.” 
This was apropos of a story as to Dr. Campbell quaffiing thirteen 
bottles of Port at a sitting. ‘‘ Sir,” said Dr. Johnson, “if a 
man drinks very slowly, and lets one glass evaporate before he 
takes another, I know not how long he may drink. Nevertheless, 
wine gives a man nothing, but only puts into motion what has 
been locked up in frost. A man should so cultivate his mind 
as to have without wine that confidence, and readiness which 
wine gives.” Someone then suggested, “It is a key which 
opens a box, but the box may be full, or empty.” “‘ Nay, Sir,” 
said Johnson; “conversation is the key; wine is a picklock 
which forces open the box, and injures it.” 
Dr. Thudicum, in his Treatise on Wines, avers: ‘“‘ We have 
never known an authentic case of delirium tremens produced 
by drinking, in whatever excess, natural wine. Further, the 
habitual consumers of natural wine enjoy a remarkable 
immunity from gout, gravel, and such calculous formations 
as arise from the uric acid disposition; but no such immunity 
accompanies the use, or abuse of fortified wines.” : 
Alcohol has surprisingly little effect by itself on the chemical 
processes of digestion. The immunity of the gastric juice 
within the stomach from the action of alcohol thereupon is very 
striking. It is also a decided antiseptic. But with gouty, 
diabetic patients alcohol is likely to act harmfully by delaying 
the disintegration which should occur of starchy, and fatty 
foods into their nutritive elements. Similarly, also, it hinders 
elementary changes in animal foods with gouty persons. Again, 
for female difficulties of monthly function copious hot drinks 
which are non-alcoholic prove most serviceable, by promoting a 
general opening of the skin pores throughout the entire surface 
of the body, and thus relieving internal congestions which are 
