3l6 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



nishes a quick stimulation which at once excites the brain to great 

 activity. Thus it is enabled to do brilliant work while the effects of 

 the alcohol last. In half an hour the poisonous effects assert them- 

 selves, and the man's condition is worse than ever. Good food and a 

 regular life would give such a man a continuous store of energy with 

 which he could perform brilliant work day after day. Alcohol is such a 

 poor substitute for the food that it enables him to work only for a few 

 moments at a time. 



574. Stage of disturbed action. The stimulation of a 

 drink of alcohol is uncertain, and, at best, lasts only for a 

 few minutes. Alcohol uses oxygen which would otherwise 

 be available for the brain cells as well as for the other 

 cells of the body. An ounce and a half of alcohol a day 

 will begin to interfere with oxidation and to disturb the 

 brain, and far less will do so if it all is taken at once. 



575. Moral effect Alcohol weakens and disturbs the 

 action of the brain cells, beginning with those most 

 highly developed. These are thoughts of our relation to 

 other men. So a person beginning to be under the influ- 

 ence of drink will be selfish and inconsiderate of others. 

 He will insult his friends and get angry without cause. 



576. Effect upon his judgment. The judgment or 

 reasoning concerning the effect of one's acts upon himself 

 is the next to be disturbed. He becomes daring and 

 careless. He proposes impossible plans in business. If 

 he has a tendency to commit a crime, he will do it now. 

 Many a thief or murderer has gotten himself into this 

 state of drunkenness to enable him to commit his crime 

 recklessly. If a man has a tendency to swear or to be 

 unkind, he will show it, for the restraint of judgment is 

 gone. The blunted judgment takes no note of coming 

 danger or of business failure. Many a man drinks to 

 drown trouble. 



