4 22 ACTION OF ALCOHOL ON THE 



examined under the microscope, every one knows 

 that they will appear " very granular," and they will 

 have become shrunken and altered much in form ; 

 and it will be found that they will resist disintegra- 

 tion by pressure to a greater extent than in their 

 natural state. By the action of alcohol, the surface 

 of a wound is much altered, and it soon becomes 

 covered with a dry crust. This results from the 

 hardening effects of the alcohol. Some of the rapidly 

 growing particles of bioplasm are quite destroyed, 

 while others become surrounded with an envelope of 

 hardened matter, which prevents the possibility of 

 their absorbing nutriment and giving rise to new 

 particles, and growing and multiplying as rapidly 

 as before. Not only so, but the permeating power of 

 the nutrient fluid itself is reduced by the tendency of 

 the alcohol to coagulate it. The most superficial of 

 the particles of bioplasm would be destroyed by 

 alcohol, though not so quickly, perhaps, as they would 

 have been by the actual cautery, nitrate of silver, 

 sesquichloride of iron, sulphate of copper, etc. 



Of the Action of Alcohol on the Vessels of an In- 

 flamed Part. Next comes a more difficult question 

 for consideration : How does the alcohol cause the 

 vessels of the inflamed part to contract, and permit 

 the flow of less blood through them ? If we press 

 upon the distended vessels of an inflamed part, as is 

 well known, the blood is driven out of them, and the 

 skin becomes quite pale ; but the moment the pres- 



