iv INTESTINES OF DRUNKARDS 157 



says : " M. Tenon states in a communication to the Science 

 Section, that in investigating the intestinal tube in several 

 men who during a great part of their lives had been inveterate 

 drunkards, he found it always extraordinarily shortened in 

 comparison with the same organ in all men who had not 

 been addicted to the habit. 



"It is known that great drinkers, or those who have 

 given way to drunkenness, take very little solid nourish- 

 ment, that they scarcely eat at all, and that the liquids which 

 they take in excess and constantly suffice to nourish them. 



" As liquid nourishment, especially spirituous liquors, do 

 not remain long in the stomach and intestines, the stomach 

 and the rest of the intestinal canal in drunkards are no 

 longer accustomed to be distended, just as in persons who 

 lead a sedentary life, who constantly occupy themselves with 

 intellectual work, and who are accustomed to take very little 

 food. Gradually and in course of time their stomach is con- 

 tracted and their intestine shortened. 



" It is not a question here of narrowing and shortening 

 caused by a wrinkling of the parts, which would allow of the 

 usual extension as soon as the intestines, instead of being 

 continually empty, were again filled, but it is a question of a 

 real narrowing and shortening, so that these organs would 

 burst before they were distended to the usual extent. 



"Let a comparison be made between two men of the 

 same age, of whom one is devoted to study and habits of 

 mental work, which weaken his digestion, and has conse- 

 quently become accustomed to eat very little, while the other 

 takes plenty of exercise daily, goes out often, and eats well, 

 and it will be found that the stomach of the first scarcely has 

 any capacity, and that a very small quantity of food fills it, 

 while that of the second has not only maintained its 

 capacity, but even increased it. 



" Here then is an organ which is considerably changed in 



