TWO- FOLD ACTION OF ALCOHOL. 403 



the two cases already alluded to, which have been 

 recently recorded by Dr. Wilson Fox. Alcohol is the 

 most powerful remedy we possess, and probably the 

 only one by which we are enabled to save life in 

 desperate cases cf fever. 



When considering the circumstances which lead to 

 death in seveje cases of fever, I showed that the 

 failure of the heart's action, the alteration in the 

 composition of the blood, and the obstruction of the 

 capillaries, and the consequent interference with the 

 process of nutrition, all contribute to bring about a 

 fatal result. Now in slight cases frequent doses of 

 alcohol tend to prevent these occurrences, and when 

 the attack is severe, to mitigate its severity, to post- 

 pone the occurrence of the dangerous phenomena, 

 and to prevent them from progressing to such an 

 extent as to render a fatal result probable. 



Alcohol, then, exerts a two-fold action when given 

 in cases of fever. It acts directly upon the nerves of 

 the stomach, and through these excites almost 

 instantly increased contraction of heart. The less 

 direct action of alcohol is much more complex, and 

 occurs more slowly, for before it can exert the indi- 

 rect influence I refer to, it must be absorbed by the 

 blood and circulated with it to all parts of the body. 

 Although I have drawn attention to the facts upon 

 which my views concerning the important indirect 

 influence of alcohol are based, the subject is of such 

 vast practical importance, that I shall offer no apology 



