108 ALIMENTATION. 



effete products were simply retained in the blood and not 

 removed by the proper organs. 



It is also demonstrated that when the system is so nour- 

 ished that the weight is stationary, the moderate ingestion 

 of alcohol, for a short time, will cause an increase in weight 

 corresponding with the diminution in the quantity of the 

 excretions ; with, however, some disturbance of the general 

 health and the mental faculties. 



The loss of weight consequent upon insufficiency of food 

 may be temporarily arrested and the unpleasant symptoms 

 relieved by the use of alcohol in moderate quantity. 



The gain in weight following over-ingestion of food is 

 increased and the disturbance of the system aggravated by 

 the use of alcohol. 



If the observations showing the elimination of alcohol 

 from the system be taken as conclusive, it is evident that 

 this agent influences nutrition in its passage through the 

 organism, and that its immediate effects are of a transitory 

 nature. It cannot be considered as an alimentary principle, 

 or as capable of supplying the place of articles which are 

 actually assimilated. The proper amount of mental and 

 physical exercise, tranquillity of the nervous system, and all 

 circumstances which favor the vigorous nutrition and de- 

 velopment of the organism physiologically increase, rather 

 than diminish, the amount of the excretions, correspondingly 

 increase the demand for food, and, if continued, are of per- 

 manent benefit. Alcohol, on the other hand, diminishes the 

 activity of nutrition. If it be long continued, the assimila- 

 tive powers of the system become so weakened that the 

 proper quantity of food cannot be appropriated, and alcohol 

 is craved to supply a self-engendered want. The organism 

 may, in many instances, be restored to its physiological con- 

 dition by discontinuing the use of alcohol ; but it is generally 

 some time before the nutritive powers become active, and 

 alcohol, in the mean time, seems absolutely necessary to 

 existence. 



