210 PHYSIOLOGY. 



when I have business on hand, there's nothing like water 

 and dumb-bells." 



Alcohol as a Stimulant. " Alcohol is a typical stimu- 

 lant ; it acts as a whip, causing a temporary acceleration 

 of physiological activity. Such acceleration must subse- 

 quently be paid for, the extra expenditure brought about 

 by alcohol entailing diminished capacity for further exer- 

 tion. Alcohol is thus of service only for emergencies of 

 short duration ; it is eminently harmful when prolonged 

 exertion and endurance are required. Like all rapid 

 stimulants, alcohol is in large doses a direct depressant." 

 WALLER. 



Alcohol as a Narcotic. Many prefer to call alcohol 

 a narcotic. In large doses it seems to paralyze the mech- 

 anism regulating the caliber of the arteries ; hence the 

 flushing above noted. 



Alcohol and Water. Alcohol has a strong affinity for 

 water, and extracts it from tissues. When we preserve 

 animal tissue in alcohol, the alcohol abstracts the water, 

 thus hardening and preserving the substance. 



Alcohol a Poisonous Drug. Alcohol should be classed 

 with the poisonous drugs (e.g. arsenic, chloroform, bella- 

 donna, strychnin, etc.), the exact nature of whose effects 

 it is exceedingly difficult to determine. We do know that 

 they are very dangerous substances ; and there is one rule 

 that will apply to them all : Never use them except under 

 the advice of a physician. 



The Effects of Drinking Alcohol. " The most serious 

 and widespread derangement of the natural taste is that 

 caused by alcoholic drinks. Alcohol has been demon- 

 strated to be a poison. Its continued use, even in what 



