CHAPTER XIV 

 NARCOTICS AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 



255. How alcohol affects the mind. Alcohol may 

 weaken any part of the body, but this is of minor impor- 

 tance compared with its liability to ruin the mind and 

 character of men. If alcohol is swallowed, but little can 

 be found anywhere in the body at the end of an hour. 

 But in its destruction it causes the albumin of the body to 

 give rise to poisonous substances, which circulate every- 

 where among the cells. These poisons are probably what 

 affect the nervous system of drinkers. 



256. Alcohol and the spinal cord. Because alcohol at 

 first makes the heart beat stronger, it drives more blood 

 through the spinal cord. This makes the nerve cells act 

 more quickly, so that a person is bright and active, and 

 feels as though he were stronger and more skillful than 

 usual. He is ready to try foolish things and dangerous 

 acts in order to show his skill. He notices every sound 

 and movement and jumps at slight noises which do not 

 usually annoy him. So he says he feels nervous and he 

 takes more drink to quiet his nervousness. Finally he 

 gets enough alcohol to weaken his cells so that they cannot 

 notice anything, or send proper orders to feed the cells. 

 Then he is dead drunk, and is in danger of his life. 



257. Alcohol and thought Alcohol affects the brain in 

 much the same way that it does the spinal cord. At first 

 the blood flows more rapidly and makes the brain more 

 active. A drinker is full of thoughts and is talkative, but 



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