332 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY 



decidedly impaired. In the liver a peculiar disease called 

 cirrhosis sometimes appears, the liver becoming hardened and 

 enlarged. The kidneys become enlarged by the formation of 

 useless connective tissue which encroaches upon the kidney 

 proper and weakens its action. The heart is sometimes en- 

 larged and weakened. The blood vessels are permanently 

 dilated, producing for example, the red nose which often 

 marks those addicted to alcohol. Accompanying indulgence 

 in some forms of alcoholic drinks there is a tendency to the 

 formation of an abnormal amount of fat, which is only an 

 incumbrance and tends to interfere with the normal func- 

 tioning of certain organs. It is usually deposited in the 

 abdomen but may be stored around the heart, tending to 

 check its free action and produce heart troubles. All of 

 these phenomena are abnormal, and indicate that alcohol 

 deranges the body functions. Physicians recognize alcohol- 

 ism as a very real and very serious disease brought on by the 

 use of alcoholic drinks. When small amounts only are taken 

 derangements are less evident, although the difference is 

 probably in degree rather than in kind. 



In all cases alcohol has some action on the brain, and the 

 nervous system as a whole is the one most affected by it. 

 Here its influence seems to be from the first that of a narcotic, 

 since it always tends to dull the brain activities. One of its 

 first effects is to stupefy the vaso-motor center. We have 

 learned that this center governs circulation in general, al- 

 ways acting in such a way as to keep the small arteries partly 

 closed, and thus regulating the amount of blood sent to dif- 

 ferent parts of the body. When this center is dulled the 

 small arteries relax and the blood rushes through them faster 

 than usual, the cheeks become flushed and the skin warmed; 

 thus what appears to be an increased activity is really an 

 effect of the narcotic action of alcohol on the brain. This 

 increase of blood flow also affects the brain itself, causing a 

 feeling of excitement, a certain hilarity of spirits which is 



