39 o ACTION OF STIMULANTS 



taken, only a small but very variable amount is 

 excreted as alcohol, but that the larger proportion, at 

 least in the case of most organisms, is changed in the 

 system ; not simply acted upon by other things in a 

 state of change, rts may be effected out of the body, 

 but actually taken up by the living matter or bioplasm, 

 and appropriated. Though probably not applied to 

 the nutrition of tissues, its elements may perhaps be 

 re-arranged by the bioplasm of the liver-cells to form 

 some of the constituents of bile, sugar, fatty and 

 amyloid matters, and by other forms of bioplasm the 

 alcohol may be converted into other substances. 



OF THE ACTION OF STIMULANTS IN SEVERE CASES 

 OF FEBRILE AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES, AND 

 OF THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THEIR AD- 

 MINISTRATION is BASED. 



The general principles which should influence us in 

 conducting the treatment of fever have been discussed 

 at some length. Although probably every practitioner 

 will admit that some cases of febrile disease will 

 make a good recovery without being subjected to 

 any medical treatment whatever, few will be disposed 

 to deny that even in the mildest attack, judicious 

 medical care is of advantage to the patient. And 



the emerald-green reaction with bichromate of potassium and strong 

 sulphuric acid. It yields iodoform. This body was found after six 

 weeks' total abstinence from alcohol, and was detected in the case of a 

 teetotaller. 



