926 NUTRITION AND HEAT REGULATION. 



This alkaloid has a diuretic action on the kidneys and a stimulating 

 effect on the nerve centers, as is illustrated by its effect in raising 

 blood-pressure by an action on the vasoconstrictor center. The 

 influence of tea and coffee in preventing sleepiness may be referred 

 to this action on blood-pressure. The use of these substances, 

 according to general experience, augments muscular energy and 

 diminishes the sense of fatigue. Cocoa, or the chocolate made 

 from it by the addition of sugar, contains considerable nourish- 

 ment in the form of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, but its stimu- 

 lating effect is referred to the alkaloid theobromin or dimethyl- 

 xanthin, and to some extent possibly to the essential oils developed 

 in roasting. The theobromin exerts stimulating effects similar to 

 those of the caffein, and experiments indicate that in moderate 

 doses of from 20 to 30 grams per day cocoa has no perceptible 

 injurious effect. The methylxanthins are in part oxidized in 

 the body and in part (one-third) excreted in the urine. 



Alcohol. The physiological effects of alcohol are of peculiar 

 interest to mankind, owing to its widespread use, and especially 

 to the disastrous results following its intemperate consumption. 

 Those who employ it in excess are in danger of acquiring an alco- 

 holic thirst or habit toward which the body possesses no counter- 

 acting regulation. When food is eaten in excess we experience a 

 feeling of satiety which destroys the desire for more food, and the 

 same regulation prevails in the case of water. With alcoholic 

 drinks, however, the desire may continue long after the alcohol 

 taken has begun to exert an injurious action upon the tissues. 

 The evil effects of excessive use of alcohol are so continually demon- 

 strated upon man that there is no need for experimental investi- 

 gations to establish this fact. Pathological examination of the 

 tissues in the case of confirmed drunkards has demonstrated the 

 existence of definite lesions in many of the organs, stomach, 

 liver, heart, nervous system, and have shown that under these 

 conditions it acts as a tissue poison.* This result is exhibited 

 not only in cases of chronic alcoholism in which these lesions 

 have developed gradually, but also in cases of acute alcoholism 

 resulting from excessive doses. On the other hand, it is known 

 that many individuals use alcohol in moderate doses throughout 

 life with no noticeable evil result, but, on the contrary, with possible 

 benefit, particularly in advanced life. The matter of practical 

 importance and interest is to determine the physiological role of 

 moderate doses of alcohol. Does it serve a useful purpose, acting 

 as a food or stimulant, or is it a poison in all doses to a greater or 

 less extent ? The literature upon the subject is very large and 



* See Welch, "The Pathological Effects of Alcohol," in "Physiological 

 Aspects of the Liquor Problem," vol. ii., 1903. 



