88 PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE. 



the veins, and hence their walls are thinner than the arteries. 

 They also lie nearer the surface of the body, where they are 

 more exposed. But with little pressure there is little danger 

 from loss of blood when injured. 



11. Effects of Alcohol on the Heart. The health and 

 general welfare of our being depend upon the regular action 

 of the heart, and continuous flow of the blood throughout the 

 body. The heart is subject to a variety of derangements. 

 These derangements may be of a temporary nature, and can 

 usually be removed by rest and care ; or they may be due to 

 some change of structure, causing permanent impairment of 

 the functions of the heart. The heart may be temporarily 

 reduced in its action through fear, fright or sudden bereave- 

 ment; while again, there are many emotions attended with 

 increased action of the heart. Certain drinks and various 

 articles of diet increase the heart-beats. General weakness 

 may be manifested by a low or irregular pulse. Digestive 

 disturbances may have a marked effect upon the pulse. The 

 heart is separated from the stomach only by the diaphragm, 

 so that the pressing upward of an over-full stomach may 

 distress it. 



Temporary disorders of the heart have generally an exciting 

 cause, which, if kept up, may lead to a permanent change of 

 structure. Among the most common of these exciting causes 

 is the persistent use of alcoholic drinks and tobacco. Alco- 

 hol invariably affects the heart's action. When first taken it 

 increases the beats, and seems for a time to strengthen the 

 heart. Soon, however, there will follow a weak, feeble con- 

 dition of the pulse, with a feeling of depression throughout 

 the whole system. It is then the habitual drinker will take 

 an additional glass, another, and perhaps another, and so on 

 day by day, until the alcohol habit has become established. 

 Sir Benjamin Richardson, Bart., author of the Cantor Lec- 

 tures, says, on this point : "A man who is very temperate, 



