THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF KEEPING WELL 413 



This knowledge made possible the manufacture of alco- 

 holic drinks in large quantities and in considerable variety. 

 Alcoholic indulgence was now no longer the pastime of the 

 few, but the privilege of all. Its evil effects followed as a 

 matter of course ; and as these became more and more ap- 

 parent, there began the struggle to restrict the consumption 

 of alcohol which has continued with varying success to the 

 present time. 



Counts against Alcohol. The statements found in differ, 

 ent parts of this book relative to the effects of alcohol upon 

 the body may here be summarized as follows : 



1. Alcohol has an injurious effect upon the white cor- 

 puscles of the blood and lessens the power of the body to 

 resist attacks of disease (pages 35, 98). 



2. Alcohol injures the heart and the blood vessels 

 (page 56). 



3. Alcohol causes diseases of the liver and kidneys and 

 interferes with the discharge of waste through these organs 

 (pages 210, 212). 



4. Alcohol interferes seriously with the regulation of 

 the body temperature (page 271). 



5. Alcohol is one of the worst enemies to the nervous 

 system (pages 326, 332-334, 336, 337). 



6. Through its effect upon the nervous system and 

 through its interference with the production of bodily 

 energy (page 195), alcohol greatly diminishes the efficiency 

 of the individual. 



7. The taking of alcohol in amounts that apparently do 

 not harm the tissues is, nevertheless, liable to produce a 

 habit which leads to its use in amounts that are decidedly 



harmful. 



Alcohol and the Social Environment. Our social environ- 

 ment includes the people with whom we are directly or 



