220 PHYSIOLOGY. 



excretory organs, especially tending to overwork, and con- 

 sequently to break down, the liver and the kidneys. 



The Danger of Moderate Use of Alcohol. Thus far we 

 have mainly considered the question whether alcohol is or 

 is not useful in supporting the energies of the body. It 

 is time to ask another question, What effect does the con- 

 tinued use of alcohol have upon the body ? 



No one denies that the use of alcohol may, and often 

 does, create an appetite for more, and that this appetite 

 frequently becomes uncontrollable. If one eats a sufficient 

 amount of bread to-day, he does not, in consequence, crave 

 a larger amount to-morrow. But the appetite for alcohol 

 grows. The law of its use is the law of increase, until the 

 terrible alcohol habit is formed. History is full of ac- 

 counts of men who thought they could stop it when they 

 chose. The man who says that he can take it or let it 

 alone usually takes it. The grip of the alcohol habit is 

 well nigh as relentless as the grip of death. 



There is one safe rule : Totich not, taste not, handle not. 



Alcohol as a Poisonous Drug. Alcohol should be 

 classed with the poisonous drugs (e.g. opium, arsenic, chlo- 

 roform, belladonna, strychnine, etc.). We know that they 

 are very dangerous substances. 



Diseases produced by Alcohol. The organs most di- 

 rectly affected and altered in structure by alcohol are the 

 stomach, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and nervous system. 

 Even moderate drinking may affect any of these organs. 

 Tremor of the muscles, especially noticeable in the hands, 

 is often observed. This tremor reaches its extreme in the 

 terrible disease known as delirium tremens. The heart 

 often undergoes fatty degeneration, fat replacing part of 



