438 EESPIEATION. 



" Tne volatile elements of alcohol, gin, rum, sherry, and 

 port- wine, when inhaled, lessened the quantity of carbonic 

 acid exhaled, and usually lessened the quantity of air inhaled. 

 The effect of fine old port-wine was very decided and uni- 

 form ; and it is known that wines and spirits improve in 

 aroma and become weaker in alcohol by age. The excito- 

 respiratory action of ruin is probably not due to its volatile 

 elements." 1 



From these facts, it would seem that the most constant 

 effect of alcohol, and alcoholic liquors, such as wines and 

 spirits, is to diminish the exhalation of carbonic acid. This 

 effect is almost instantaneous, when the articles are taken 

 into the stomach fasting ; and when taken with the meals, 

 the increase in carbonic acid which habitually accompanies 

 the process of digestion is materially lessened. Rum, which 

 Dr. Smith found to be a respiratory excitant, is an exception 

 to this rule. Malt liquors seem to increase the exhalation of 

 carbonic acid. With regard to alcohol itself, Dr. Smith 

 says : " The action of pure alcohol was much more to increase 

 than to lessen the respiratory changes, and sometimes the 

 former effect was well pronounced." 3 



Regarding as one of the great sources of carbonic acid 

 the development of this principle in the tissues, whence it is 

 taken up by the blood, Dr. Smith attributes the grateful and 

 soothing influence of tea, coffee, eau suwee, and the other 

 beverages which he classes as respiratory excitants, to their 

 action in facilitating the removal of this principle from the 

 system. The presence of .carbonic acid in the tissues and 

 in the blood produces a sense of malaise, or depression, 

 which we should suppose would be relieved by any thing 

 which facilitates its elimination. It is undoubtedly this in- 

 definite sense of discomfort which induces the act of sighing, 

 by which the air in the lungs is more effectually renovated. 

 This view is sustained by the fact that intellectual fatigue 

 and mental emotions diminish the exhalation of carbonic acid. 



1 Op. cit., p. 731. 2 Loc. tit 



