42 SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FIELD-WORK. 



But now suppose a very powerful mental impression be made, 

 say the circumstance of a succession of ditches in front, and 

 a mad dog behind ; if the stimulus of terror be sufficiently 

 strong, you may leap on till you drop senseless. Alcoholic 

 stimulus is a parallel case, and is not seldom pushed to the 

 same extreme. Under its influence you never can tell when 

 you are tired ; the expenditure goes on, indeed, with unnatural 

 rapidity, only it is not felt at the time ; but the upshot is you 

 have all the original fatigue to endure and to recover from, 

 plus the fatigue resulting from over excitation of the system. 

 Taken as a fortification against cold, alcohol is as unsatisfac- 

 tory as a remedy for fatigue. Insensibility to cold does not 

 imply protection. The fact is the exposure is greater than 

 before ; the circulation and respiration being hurried, the waste 

 is greater, and as sound fuel cannot be immediately supplied, 

 the temperature of the body is soon lowered. The transient 

 warmth and glow over, the system has both cold and depres- 

 sion to endure ; there is no use in borrowing from yourself 

 and fancying you are richer. Secondly, the value of any 

 stimulus (except in a few exigencies of disease or injury) is 

 in proportion, not to the intensity, but to the equableness and 

 durability of its effect. This is one reason why tea, coffee, 

 and articles of corresponding qualities, are preferable to al- 

 coholic drinks ; they work so smoothly that their effect is often 

 unnoticed, and they "stay by" well ; the friction of alcohol is 

 tremendous in comparison. A glass of grog may help a vet- 

 eran over the fence, but no one, young or old, can shoot all 

 day on whiskey. I have had so much experience in the use of 

 tobacco as a mild stimulant that I am probably no impartial 

 judge of its merits : I will simply say I do not use it in the 

 field, because it indisposes to muscular activity, and favors re- 

 flection when observation is required ; and because temporary 

 abstinence provokes the morbid appetite and renders the weed 

 more grateful afterwards. Thirdly, undue excitation of any 

 physical function is followed by corresponding depression, on 

 the simple principle that action and reaction are equal ; and 

 the balance of health turns too easily to be wilfully disturbed. 



