A CLEAR MIND THE NEED OF THE DAY 333 



commonly mistaken for increased mental activity. Hence 

 the stimulating effect oi alcohol is only apparent and is really 

 due to the partial paralyzing of the vaso-motor center. 



The question whether alcohol is to be regarded as a narcotic 

 or a stimulant has been very much debated, due partially to 

 the difficulty of defining the word stimulant, and partly to 

 the pseudo-stimulating action of alcohol. It is certainly 

 true that many people have believed and still believe that it 

 "gives strength." Indeed there is little doubt that many 

 persons have learned to use it under a genuine conviction 

 that it makes them stronger and even that it makes them 

 think more quickly. But these beliefs are wholly unfounded. 

 Alcohol does not give strength. At the risk of direct in- 

 jury to many internal organs, it will furnish an extremely 

 small amount of heat, although sugar and fat will do this 

 much better. No one who understands the facts would ever 

 use it when he has any hard work to do under the impres- 

 sion that it can under any conditions make him more effi- 

 cient. 



Effects of Alcohol on the Brain. The most noticeable effect 

 of alcohol is that upon the brain. Its use is followed by a 

 feeling of excitement and flow of spirits that resembles very 

 much the result of a stimulant. But this, too, is really due 

 to the fact that its narcotic action has dulled the person's 

 feeling of reserve and self control. He is apt to do anything 

 that comes into his mind or say anything that impulse sug- 

 gests, whereas ordinarily he would think further before speak- 

 ing. Hence he speaks and laughs more easily, and in general 

 acts as if stimulated, when the fact is that he has merely lost 

 the valuable power of self restraint. The man who keeps his 

 brain clear and uninfluenced by alcohol is usually more than 

 a match for the one who has "stimulated" his .mind by wine 

 or other alcoholic drink. 



The action of alcohol does not stop here, however. From 

 the first it dulls the powers of perception and makes one less 



