DIGESTION 147 



than in any other organ. It first becomes enlarged, owing to 

 congestion from obstruction of the circulation and excessive 

 growth of the connective tissue. One result of this overgrowth 

 is compression and diminution in size of the cells which secrete 

 the bile. Another result is a hindrance to the flow of blood 

 through the liver. The organ is not only diminished in size, 

 but it becomes hardened and roughened an appearance which 

 has given it the name of hob-nailed liver or drunkard's liver. 

 This condition not only interferes with the proper formation 

 of bile, but it obstructs the return of blood from the organs in 

 the abdomen, and we have dropsy as a consequence. 



56. The Effects of Alcohol on the Kidneys. The action of 

 alcohol on the kidneys is similar to that which takes place in 

 the liver. The first effect of repeated stimulation by alcohol 

 is an increase of the natural secretions of the organs, but this,, 

 continued' over-action, in obedience to a universal law, after- 

 ward results in a diminished secretion and in injury to the 

 substance of the kidney. " Granular degeneration," one of 

 the forms of Bright's disease, takes place. The kidneys are 

 unable to perform efficiently the duty of removing impurities 

 from the blood ; urea, and other noxious materials accumulate, 

 and the whole system is poisoned. 



57. The Effect of Tobacco on Digestion. Very few persons 

 are able to take up the habit of smoking without first experi- 

 encing the sickening effect of tobacco upon the stomach. The 

 use of tobacco has a perverting influence over the salivary 

 glands, causing the secreted fluid to become so watery as to 

 deprive it of its property of converting starch into cugar. In 

 the case of some persons this amounts to a serious impairment 

 of digestion, and can be relieved only by the abandonment of 

 the offending substance. 



The habitual use of tobacco has a tendency to leave the 

 mouth and throat in a condition of unnatural dryness, and this 

 has the effect of an artificially produced thirst which has, in 



56. How are the kidneys affected by alcohol ? 



57. What effect of tobacco on digestion ? Upon the mouth ? What are the " twin 

 vice*"? 



