TOLERANCE OF STIMULANTS. 383 



lasts for days, and is not allayed until the stomach 

 has had twenty-four hours' complete rest from work, 

 or until free action of the alimentary canal and all the 

 glands that pour their secretions into it has been 

 promoted by a dose of mercury. It is, after all, not 

 improbable that this most unpleasant action of alcohol 

 indicates a highly sensitive but not unhealthy action 

 of the nerves of the stomach, and that tolerance of 

 wine and spirits is due to a change which has been 

 induced in the finest nerve fibres in consequence of 

 which their sensitiveness has been impaired. The 

 tolerance of opium, tobacco, and some other poisons is 

 probably to be explained in the same manner. Nor is 

 tissue change limited to the nerves of the stomach ; 

 for it is an unquestionable fact that many of those 

 persons who habitually subject their tissues to the 

 influence of alcohol and tobacco, or both, at an early 

 age, soon exhibit distinct signs of change in many 

 tissues of the body. They look older ; and, indeed, 

 physiologically speaking, their tissues are considerably 

 older, and have deteriorated in a much greater degree, 

 than would have been the case if they had not been 

 exposed to the action of the substances in question. 



It is very remarkable how great a difference, as 

 regards the capacity for the assimilation of alcohol, is 

 observed in the same person when in ordinary good 

 health, and when suffering from even a slight cold. I 

 have observed this many times in my own case. When 

 in health a very small quantity of wine will disagree, 



