558 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



an idea into movement. And many ergographic experiments 

 appear to show that small quantities of alcohol have the effect 

 of temporarily increasing the capacity of doing muscular work, 

 especially when the subject is fatigued. This augmentation is 

 only transient, and the total work done in the course of the day 

 is considerably reduced by alcohol, as has long been demon- 

 strated in the case of forced marching. These might suggest 

 the view that the motor cells are first put in a state of greater 

 activity by the direct action of alcohol on them, but another 

 explanation is equally applicable, namely, that an ordinary 

 movement is hampered by a series of associations, and that 

 when these are destroyed by alcohol the movement may be 

 carried out more quickly. At the same time, the associations 

 in ordinary life not only retard the movement but also restrict 

 and direct it, and the result of their absence under alcohol is 

 shown by the awkwardness and inaccuracy with which the 

 movement is executed. 



It is noteworthy that in these experiments those mental 

 processes which were ordinarily performed readily were less 

 retarded than others in which the subject was less practised and 

 which required more effort. That is, the powers most recently 

 acquired and most readily lost are those on which alcohol first 

 acts, while those operations which have become habitual are 

 less impaired. This is in complete accord with what is observed 

 in the earlier stage of intoxication or exhilaration. The most 

 recent acquisitions in adult life are the power of self-control 

 and the feeling of self-respect, which are manifested in regard 

 for the conventions of life, and in the prudence which leads one 

 to avoid many procedures which in earlier life might have been 

 indulged in without reproach. And under alcohol these are 

 the first mental processes to be disordered. In vino Veritas, 

 in intoxication the natural man is exposed, stripped of the 

 trammels of convention, and robbed of the fruits of experience 

 and education. 



Many other results of these experiments are of interest, but 

 cannot be entered en here. One feature which bears a familiar 

 aspect, and which was brought out clearly in many instances, 

 is the confidence of the subject of the experiment that his efforts 

 were unusually successful under alcohol, while the impartial 

 record showed results far below the level attained during 

 abstinence. 



