SECT. XXI. ii. OF DRUNKENNESS. 197 



not reafonabJe to conclude, that a perpetual repetition of fo pow- 

 erful a poifon mutt at length permanently affect him ? If a per* 

 fon accidentally becomes intoxicated by eating a few mulhrooms 

 of a peculiar kind, a general alarm is excited, and he is laid to 

 be poifoned, and emetics are exhibited ; but fo familiarifed are 

 we to the intoxication from vinous ipirit, that it occafions laugh- 

 ter rather rhan alarm. 



There is however confiderable danger in too haftily difcontin- 

 uing the ufe of fo llrong a itimulus, left the torpor of the fyftem, 

 or paralyfis, (hould fooner be induced by the omiflion than by 

 the continuance of this habit, when unfortunately acquired. A 

 golden rule for determining the quantity, which may with 

 fafety be discontinued, is delivered in Seel. XII 7. 8. 



1 1 . Definition of drunkennefs. Many of the irritative motions 

 are much increafed in energy by internal ftimulation. 



2. A great additional quantity of pleafurable fenfation is occa- 

 fioned by this increafed exertion of the irritative motions. And 

 many fenfitive motions are produced in confequence of this in- 

 creafed fenfation. 



3 The aflbciated trains and tribes of motions, catenated with 

 the increafed irritative and fenfitive motions, are diiturbed, and 

 proceed in confufion. 



4. The faculty of volition is gradually impaired, whence pro- 

 ceeds the instability of locomotion, inaccuracy of perception, and 

 inconfiltency of ideas ; and is at Jcngth totally impended, and a 

 temporajy apoplexy fucceeds* 



SECT, 



