78 FOOD ANJ) JJULNK. 



42. What is the physiological action of alcohol ? Its first 

 and most evident action is stimulation : this effect is tran- 

 sient, and is followed by a variable degree of depression. 

 At first it sharpens the appetite and quickens digestion, 

 but its habitual use impairs both. This stimulation is 

 efficient in giving the system an artificial strength during 

 some temporary derangement, and in enabling the endur- 

 ance of unusual fatigue or exposure. The experience of 

 Dr. Hayes, and other explorers of the polar regions, is that 

 alcohol does not enable the body to resist the influence of 

 cold, but, on the contrary, is always injurious. 



43. Another property it has in common with tea and 

 coffee. It supports the powers of life, economizes food, and 

 retards the waste of tissues ; in other words, it " banks the 

 fires," and prevents their burning wastefully. On this 

 principle we explain the restorative influence of wines or 

 liquors during exhausting diseases, in convalescence, and 

 after excessive labors of mind or body. 



44. Pure alcohol, or an excessive quantity of ardent 

 spirits, is an undoubted poison, and has been frequently 

 known to produce fatal results. Stimulants in moderate 

 quantities have been thought to increase strength, and in 

 this view they have been called "alcoholic foods." This is 

 not now conceded by scientific men. The prevailing opin- 

 ion is, that they serve no useful purpose as an article of 

 diet, and that their beneficial influence is limited to cases 

 where the system is enfeebled, where some unnatural de- 

 mand is made upon the vital powers, or where the supply 

 of food is insufficient. Hence, while alcohol has not the 

 power to build up, it may obstruct the process of pulling 

 down. 



42. Describe the aciton of alcohol upon the human system? Experience of 

 Dr. Hayes and others ? 



43. Another property of alcohol ? How do we explain the restorative influence 

 of wines and liquors ? 



44. Alcohol, a poison? Moderate stimulants ? Prevailing opinion ? Hence? 



