DIGESTION. 77 



. When diluted with water, alcohol is readily absorbed, and 

 carried by the blood to every part of the body. No organ or 

 tissue is safe from it. Unless it can be shown that alcohol 

 possesses elements of nutrition, or furnishes material for the 

 production of heat, its presence is useless. If useless, it can- 

 not but be harmful. Anything in the system which can 

 serve no useful purpose must, of necessity, be in the way; 

 and if anything is present which interferes with the functions 

 of life, efforts will be put forth to get rid of it. Such is the 

 case when even a small quantity of alcohol is taken. The 

 lungs, the skin, and the kidneys are at once engaged in 

 expelling it. It taints the breath, it exudes from the skin, it 

 saturates the whole system with its odor. We have already 

 said that food, in order that it may nourish the body, must 

 be changed. Now, if alcohol escapes from the body without 

 any change, it is clear it cannot be a food, and the question, 

 "Is alcohol a food 1 ?" can readily be answered. The study of 

 physiology leads to this conviction, and scientific truths can- 

 not be ignored. As to alcohol being a factor of heat, it has 

 been clearly demonstrated that it reduces the temperature. 

 Experience among soldiers and seamen in high latitudes has 

 abundantly shown that the extremes of cold are better en- 

 dured without, than by the use of, spirits. 



The absence of anything useful, and the burden it places on 

 the powers of nature to cast it out, supply safe grounds upon 

 which to declare alcohol a poison to the human system. 



28. Effects of Alcohol on the Stomach. Alcohol has 

 a strong affinity for water, and if applied to the skin will 

 extract its moisture, leaving it shrunken and hard. The 

 stronger it is the greater the effect. When taken into the 

 stomach, it will have a similar effect upon its mucous lining. 

 When first taken, if in small quantities, such, for example, as 

 might be called temperate drinking, it irritates the mucous 

 coat, causing the blood-vessels to dilate, This increased flow 



