EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON NERVOUS SYSTEM. 251 



Effects of Small Doses of Alcohol on Mental Opera- 

 tions. The common, but erroneous, idea is that alcohol 

 stimulates the brain to a higher degree of activity. There 

 does appear to be an exhilaration for a short time, but this 

 is undoubtedly due to the increased flow of blood to the 

 brain ; for the liquor has paralyzed the smaller blood- 

 tubes, thus allowing the brain to be flushed with blood. 

 But careful experiments show that any temporary increase 

 in mental activity, following small doses of alcohol, is 

 always at the expense of accuracy and power, and that 

 its effects cannot truly be called stimulating. And this 

 period of exhilaration is extremely short-lived. In de- 

 scribing his methods of work, Helmholtz said that slight 

 indulgence in alcohol instantly dispelled his best ideas. 

 Professor Gaule states that once during the strain of an 

 examination he suddenly stopped his wine and beer, and 

 was surprised to find how much better he could work. 

 An eminent professor in Leipsic once said that the Ger- 

 man students could do twice as much work if they would 

 let their beer alone. Dr. August Smith has found that 

 moderate, non-intoxicant, doses of alcohol lowered his 

 ability to memorize as much as 70 per cent. 



Permanent Effects of the Continued Use of Alcohol. 



" The long-continued use of quantities not immediately so 

 disastrous, produces various structural changes, which are 

 often markedly perceptible ; and in chronic alcoholic dis- 

 ease, hardening of the brain structure, increase of the con- 

 nective tissue, with diminution of the proper brain cells, 

 thickening of the membranes, and effusions of serous fluid 

 into the ventricles or cavities, are among the appearances 

 often found. All these changes are usually accompanied 

 with inflammatory and other degenerative processes, with 



