258 ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



470. True food does not burn in the blood ; it is stored 

 in the cells in the form of very unstable compounds. 

 These compounds break down under the stimulus of oxy- 

 gen and the nerve current, and set free energy. The cells 

 of the nerves and muscles correspond to the furnace and 

 steam chest of the engine. Suppose, instead of pouring 

 benzine into the furnace, you burned it in .the cab or the 

 smokestack. Do you think it would increase the power 

 of the locomotive ? Alcohol is not stored in the cells, nor 

 does it enter into combination to form the energy com- 

 pound, the breaking down of which sets free the energy 

 stored up. Alcohol burns quickly after entering the 

 body ; a large part of it, indeed, never gets beyond the 

 liver, and is burnt in this long suffering organ. But some 

 of it gets into the general circulation, and is distributed 

 throughout the body, irritating the nerve cells and poison- 

 ing them and every other tissue. 



471. Does Alcohol warm the Body as well as a Coat ? 

 It may occur to a user of alcohol to say, "It certainly 

 gives warmth, for it burns ; so it is of some benefit. It is 

 equal to a good overcoat, if it is not food, and like the 

 overcoat, it may save the burning of some of the fuel-food, 

 sugar and fat." Benzine may tear up the machinery, but 

 it certainly gives heat. But suppose you put most of the 

 benzine in the cab just before the furnace door. It will 

 use up the oxygen and furnish carbon dioxid in the draught 

 to the furnace, instead of fresh air. Will this make the 

 fire burn brighter, or will it smother it ? This is exactly 

 what alcohol does ; it uses up the oxygen supplied to the 

 blood by the ever-faithful lungs, and the blood carries 

 carbon dioxid to the brain, muscles, and other tissues. 

 An overcoat does not smother the tissues by using up the 

 oxygen they need. Thus it happens that the drinker's 

 nerves become deadened, his faculties dulled, his mus- 

 cles weak and unsteady. If he drinks much at a time, he 



