THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL. 115 



the nervous system than any other part of the body. 

 It has been found in sufficient quantities in the brain 

 to distill it from the brain tissue. Its abundance in 

 the nervous tissue is probably due to the amount of 

 water which nerve tissue contains, and for which 

 alcohol has a remarkable affinity or greed. As stated 

 elsewhere, if alcohol is poured in a cup contain- 

 ing the white of an egg , it will harden or coagulate 

 it. The tissue of the brain is similarly affected and 

 made less sensitive. This loss of feeling is called 

 paralysis. It also causes inflammation as seen here 

 in the first plate of this chart. Compare the appear- 

 ance of the two hemispheres of this important 

 organ, one side represents the brain in health and 

 the other as affected by strong drink. 



THE BRAIN IS THE SEAT OF THE MIND. 



If alcohol effects its tissues as we have 

 >< L iieii<-eK. i earne( j i n the preceding topic, we may 



understand to some extent at least, how the habitual 

 use of alcoholic drinks causes temporary insanity; 

 and men are made silly in their actions, boastful in 

 conversation and unmanly in every respect. That 

 part of the brain which controls the voluntary mus- 

 cles shows the effects of stimulants very promptly. 

 The hand trembles and shakes "like a leaf." Walk- 

 ing soon becomes a difficult task. The control of 

 the lips is lost and a quivering is the result. The 

 tongue becomes ungovernable, and the poor toper 

 becomes an object of pity, as he staggers through 



