A C TION OF AL COHOL ON BIOPLASM. 425 



probably, as these particles increase in number, an 

 increased proportion of pabulum is diverted from all 

 parts of the body to the "focus of inflammation," 

 where they are multiplying. We know positively 

 that a determination of common salt does actually 

 take place to this spot ; and it is therefore perfectly 

 reasonable to infer that other matters are in the 

 same way diverted from their usual destination, and 

 absorbed here, instead of being used up in the ordi- 

 nary changes occurring in the normal state. (Med.- 

 Chir. Trans., vol. xxxv, 1853.) I have already spoken 

 of the pabulum which in a fluid state transudes 

 through the stretched walls of the blood-vessels, and 

 feeds the particles of bioplasm which in inflammation 

 lie just outside them. Not only are the capillaries 

 more readily permeated by reason of the stretching 

 and consequent thinning of their walls, but the fluid 

 in the blood vessels possesses a greater tendency to 

 permeate animal membrane ; so that it would seem 

 but reasonable to consider whether anything can be 

 done to diminish this by altering the character of the 

 fluid itself. 



Let us now consider how alcohol acts upon the 

 elementary parts of the living organism, and in order 

 to render the arguments upon which my views are 

 based intelligible, it will be as well to direct the 

 reader's attention in this place to some points which 

 may have been already referred to more than once 1 in 

 this volume. 



