ALCOHOL IN RELATION TO BIOLOGY 517 



the mucous linings, both of which favor the attacks gf various 

 diseases. 



Alcohol reduces the control centers and so the circulatory 

 organs "run away"; they are NOT stimulated. One might as 

 well talk about stimulating a steam engine by removing the gov- 

 ernor. Yet this is a very common error. 



Alcohol is never a stimulant, but always a narcotic, producing 

 its results by its interference with nerve control in every case. 

 " No amount of alcohol, however given, can increase the amount 

 of work done." - Dr. Woodhead, Cambridge University. 



Aside from its interference with the normal distribution of blood 

 and consequent pre-disposition to colds and inflammations, its ex- 

 cessive use may permanently harden the arteries (arteriosclerosis), 

 or affect the heart muscles (fatty degeneration), though these are 

 not so important from a biologic standpoint as the more general 

 effects which even occasional use produces. 



Effect on Respiration. The interference with blood regulation 

 is particularly harmful in the lungs, causing inflammation and 

 diminishing resistance to pneumonia and congestive diseases. At 

 the same time connective tissue is increased and the actual lung 

 capacity is lessened. A curious chemical result also ensues; 

 alcohol is so easily oxidized, that it uses oxygen actually needed 

 to release the energy from real foods. This appears to be a " stimu- 

 lation " of the breathing process, when as a matter of fact, the 

 added air is not sufficient to oxidize the alcohol alone. The final 

 result is loss of energy from the unoxidized food in addition to the 

 heat wasted by way of the skin, as shown above. 



Effect on Excretion. This improper oxidation, and interference 

 with blood flow and skin functions produce excess of uric acid and 

 other wastes for the kidneys to dispose of, resulting always in 

 impaired function and sometimes in serious disease. Rheumatism, 

 Bright's disease, and fatty degeneration of the kidneys may be 

 caused or encouraged by excessive use of alcohol. 



Effect on Nervous System. As has been shown, alcohol's prin- 

 cipal line of attack is by way of the nervous system and it is here 

 that its effects are most notable and most serious. In the evolu- 



