298 THE HUMAN MECHANISM 



Some cases of apparent stimulation are really due to the 

 fact that alcohol, when taken in the form of wines and dis- 

 tilled liquors, sets up an irritation in the mucous membrane 

 of the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach, which reflexly excites 

 the heart to greater activity or for the time being reflexly 

 stimulates the nervous system. Such stimulation is, however, 

 transient and, as the alcohol is absorbed into the blood, gives 

 way to depression and even stupor. 



It is neither possible nor necessary to state here in full 

 the reasons which have led to what seems to the authors 

 the erroneous view that alcohol in small doses is a -stimu- 

 lant and only in larger doses a depressant and hypnotic. 

 Enough has been said to show that there are at least two 

 opinions about the matter: that even if alcohol is at times 

 a stimulant, it is an uncertain stimulant, and that its excita- 

 tion is liable to give way at any time to depressing effects. 

 A critical examination of the literature on the subject has 

 failed to demonstrate to us a direct stimulating action of 

 alcohol on any of the functions, such as the beat of the 

 heart, respiration, digestion, etc. At tunes, especially in sick- 

 ness, alcohol may be useful; but the evidence tends to the 

 conclusion that where it exerts any physiological action 

 on the healthy body at all, that action is usually depress- 

 ing. This is notably true as to the beat of the heart, as to 

 respiration, and as to the ability to do muscular work. 



We have dwelt at length upon this question in order to 

 disabuse the student's mind of the idea that alcoholic drinks 

 can be safely depended upon as an aid in the performance 

 of work. Few causes are more effective in leading to the 

 abuse of alcohol than the idea that when one finds difficulty 

 in doing a thing it may be accomplished more easily by 

 having recourse to beer or wine or whisky for their " stimu- 

 lating" effect. In general, so far is this from being the 

 truth that the person seeking such aid is really using a hyp- 

 notic and depressant. Obviously he would be acting more 



