FOOD ACCESSORIES AND DRUGS 295 



them, however, lies in the action of the ethyl alcohol upon 

 the system, and we shall confine our discussion to the effects 

 of this substance. The problem is by no means a simple 

 one, because these beverages are used in so many different 

 ways by different people. Moreover, the results of their use 

 differ according to the constitution of the person using them 

 and according to his other habits of life. Sweeping assertions 

 are too frequently made, in good faith, only to be found false 

 by experience in special cases, and in this way harm is done 

 where good was intended. For example, it is often asserted 

 that alcohol used in any amount whatever is a poison to the 

 healthy organism. If this be so, it is the only known drug 

 of which this is true. Dr. John J. Abel, from whom we 

 shall extensively quote, says on this subject: "All poisons 

 are capable of being taken without demonstrable injury in 

 a certain quantity, which is for each of them a special 

 though sometimes very minute fraction of their toxic or 

 lethal dose. , There is no substance which is always and 

 everywhere a poison." Alcohol is a drug and, like many 

 drugs, may be and frequently is used in poisonous doses, 

 but it must not be supposed that its real danger lies 

 in the fact that it always exerts a poisonous effect on 

 the body. 



12. The physiological action of alcohol. As to the imme- 

 diate action of alcohol on the body we may say that it 

 belongs in the same general class of drugs as the ether and 

 chloroform used for anesthesia; in other words, its general 

 action is that of a hypnotic or anesthetic. To quote again 

 from Dr. Abel: 



An exhilarating action is an inherent property of these substances 

 in certain doses. Occasionally the physician meets with persons who 

 have formed the habit of inhaling chloroform from the palm of the 

 hand or from a lightly saturated handkerchief. The inhalation is 

 usually carried on for a short time only, and its object is to induce a 

 pleasant form of mental stimulation. Only occasionally is the inhalation 

 of chloroform carried on until helpless intoxication occurs. 



