CIRCULATION. 89 



but who takes alcohol, feels most distinctly the effect of even 

 a slight excess. Such a man, if he be tempted to move from 

 the single glass of mild dinner ale a day to take a glass or 

 two of wine, when he goes out to dinner, or to take a single 

 glass of grog at night, is conscious of the evil influence the 

 next day. He says, if he speaks . truly, that he was rather 

 excited by the drink ; and he says, that when the stage of 

 depression comes, that he feels ' all-overish, depressed, rather 

 chilly, and not up to the mark.' He is tired, and he thinks 

 he should be none the worse if he took an extra glass of ale 

 to set him right. In nine cases out of ten he does take this 

 extra glass of ale; it does set him what he calls right, and 

 finding how easy a thing it is. to get over a slight excess, the 

 next time he is tempted he ventures a little further. So the 

 habit of taking too much begins in taking just a little, while 

 being, indeed, very temperate, and while keeping in fashion 

 with other folks. This is the beginning of woe." 



In speaking of the effects of alcohol upon muscle, we 

 pointed out that it lessens muscular power exactly in propor- 

 tion to the amount taken. Now, as the heart is a muscular 

 organ, it will, of necessity, be similarly affected. More than 

 this, the fatty change already mentioned as due to continued 

 use of alcohol, is more apt to take place in the muscles of the 

 heart than elsewhere. This disease is all the more serious, in 

 that it is likely to affect the heart. Loaded with fat, it loses 

 its strength, becomes enlarged and flabby, while its thickened 

 valves are no longer sufficient. 



12. Effects of Alcohol on the Blood-vessels. By 



the increased action of the heart more work is put upon the 

 arteries. The pulse, for a time, is stronger from over-stimula- 

 tion. As soon, however, as this stimulating effect passes off, 

 a period of depression follows, and the pulse is reduced beiow 

 the standard. The delicate nerves which supply the blood- 

 vessels and keep their muscular walls in good tone, are so 



