260 ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



he was wholly under its influence, the wild or maudlin talk, 

 the loss of all self-control, the quarrel with the best friend, 

 and the abuse of wife and children, and afterward the 

 drunken stupor. If he did recognize these effects, he would 

 stop the use of the poison. If remembered at all, they are 

 only as an unreal dream that is not a part of his life. A 

 man once fell into a fire while intoxicated, and just as fall- 

 ing into cold water will sometimes sober a man, the pain 

 and danger brought him to his senses ; he realized what 

 alcohol was doing for him and never drank again. The 

 various inebriate cures, so called, are founded on the prin- 

 ciple of making the patient disgusted with alcohol by 

 secretly adding some nauseating drug to the drink, thus 

 giving the man the belief that alcohol is making him sick. 

 As long as the belief in the repulsiveness of its effects re- 

 mains, the man can abstain ; but most drunkards relapse 

 into their old ways. Their bodies have been already 

 ruined, and they have no strength of will left. When 

 they once drink again, the association of alcohol with 

 the agreeable emotions previously mentioned is renewed 

 and the power of the habit reasserts itself. 



474. Time for Eating. Different nations have various 

 habits of eating. The number of meals varies from two 

 to five, or even eight, meals daily. Such facts show the 

 adaptability of the stomach to different habits. It is an 

 organ which readily forms habits, and is greatly benefited 

 by regularity. If a person avoids disturbing the stomach 

 between meals and allows it needed rest, both appetite 

 and digestion are promoted. Three meals a day seem 

 to be needed, especially by hard workers. The Greeks 

 ate two meals a day, and developed the most beautiful and 

 perfect bodies in the world, as shown by the statues left 

 by them. 



475. Very active exercise tends to hinder the work of the 

 stomach, but facilitates that of the intestines. For a half- 



