272 RELATION OF FOOD TO NUTRIMENT. 



erroneous as it is common. Alcohol taken in very moderate quan- 

 tity increases the activity of the circulation, causing the heart to 

 beat more rapidly, the pulse to become faster and fuller and the 

 arteries and arterioles to dilate (thus producing a characteristic 

 flushing of the face); it increases the secretion of urine, stimulates 

 the appetite, aids digestion, excites the nervous system and exhil- 

 arates the intellectual and emotional faculties. But the price to be 

 paid for all this may be too high, and the habitual use of even a 

 moderate quantity may lead slowly but surely to degenerative 

 changes. Those who drink alcohol, with any of its various admix- 

 tures, are in a greater or less degree injured by it, especially the 

 young and " full-blooded." 



Taken in large quantities, the immediate effect of alcohol is 

 depressing and narcotic. It produces paralysis of the minute 

 arterioles of the circulatory system, so that they lose some of their 

 contractility and become dilated with the flowing blood. This is 

 seen in flushing of the face. But all the internal organs are simi- 

 larly affected, so that there is general vascular engorgement and 

 consequent derangement and exhaustion. Simultaneously, in conse- 

 quence of its affinity for water, it alters the condition of the blood, 

 causing arrest of chemical changes and alterations in the composi- 

 tion and forms of the corpuscles. Then there follows an affection 

 of the spinal cord, involving enfeeblement of nervous stimulus and 

 a corresponding deficiency of control over certain muscles. A tot- 

 tering gait is an indication of this. The brain-centers are then 

 affected, the controlling influence of the will and judgment are lost 

 and the emotions and instincts are not held in due subordination. 

 This is followed by complete collapse of the nervous functions, the 

 senses becoming all benumbed and consciousness lost. 



Immoderate Drinking The ultimate effect of immod- 

 erate drinking is complete degeneration, and this degeneration is 

 certainly not confined to those who are notoriously intemperate, or 

 may be designated drunkards. Women who are accustomed to take 

 wine in quantities which they would not deem immoderate and who 

 would be shocked at the imputation that they were drinking too 

 much, have proved unfortunately that they have really taken to ex- 

 cess. The appetite is impaired, digestion is arrested, dyspepsia 

 follows, sleeplessness is produced, muscular power, especially of the 

 legs, is enfeebled, the organic tissues suffer direct deterioration in 

 their structure and a diseased state/is set up in the internal organs. 

 The heart is enlarged, its relative parts being thrown out of pro- 

 portion, its orifices dilated, its valves stretched, its filamentous 

 cords dilated and its walls thickened. The liver also undergoes 

 structural changes ; it becomes enlarged by the production of albu- 

 minoid and fatty deposit or by the increase of connective tissue, 

 and finally there supervene contraction and atrophy of the canals 

 and cells, forming tnat gnarled condition known as " gin-drinker's 

 liver." The kidney is deteriorated by fatty modifications and it 



