BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. 347 



797. The brain controls the actions of all the muscles, 

 and supplies them with the stimulus of motion through the 

 nerves which connect them together. The muscles are thus 

 completely dependent on the brain for their vitality arid their 

 energy. They can have no more life and energy than that 

 controlling organ has to give them. If it is impaired, the 

 power of muscular contraction is diminished. When the 

 brain is pressed and incapable of action, the muscles are 

 palsied and the limbs motionless. An injury of the head, 

 which destroys sensibility, paralyzes the frame; and then the 

 sufferer can neither stand nor move, for all voluntary action 

 is suspended. It is the brain that directs every contraction 

 of the muscles, and, by its complete discipline, harmonizes 

 their actions so that the desired motions are produced in 

 the limbs; and thus the movements of the musical performer, 

 the skilful mechanic, and of the writer, are executed with 

 beautiful precision. ( 636640, p. 276.) But if any thing 

 disturbs the brain, and suspends or impairs its balance of 

 action, it loses this control over the muscular actions, and 

 they become irregular. 



798. Alcohol, in any of its forms, excites the brain and 

 nervous system, and disturbs their actions, and impairs or 

 suspends their control over the muscles. For this reason, 

 the drunken man reels or staggers ; he is unable to direct 

 his feet and put them in the appointed places. Some of the 

 muscles may contract too much, and others too little, and 

 carry his feet too far, or not far enough, to one or the other 

 side ; or they may not contract even sufficiently to hold him 

 up, and then he falls to the ground. When he attempts to 

 work with his hands, he finds the same difficulty, the same 

 want of control over the muscles that move the arms, hands, 

 and fingers. He cannot direct them and the tools which he 

 holds with the desired precision, and therefore often fails of 

 striking the proper point. He may strike where he least 

 intended, and do injury to his work or to his own person. 

 The muscles of his tongue, also, suffer in the same way, ind 

 he articulates indistinctly. 



