124 PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE. 



may be inherited. The symptoms are not always the same. 

 While some keep the system saturated daily by oft-repeated 

 doses, others will only periodically give way to the morbid 

 impulse. This insatiable desire for intoxicating liquors at 

 stated intervals is called dipsomania, and in many cases it 

 is so strong that a man's whole mental power and moral 

 nature are subjected to its evil influence. -Recovery from 

 this disease is possible, but, sad to say, it is not common. 

 The best and surest treatment is of a moral character, aided 

 by suitable nerve tonics. 



Alcoholism is a brain disease, and is most common among 

 brain-workers, who, being engaged perhaps in ambitious or 

 exacting pursuits, and passing through hours of worry, risk 

 the temporary relief which a stimulant gives. It is obvious 

 that such cases should, if possible, find some occupation in 

 which there would not be the same strain on the nervous 

 system. A prolonged rest would be better still. A complete 

 change of place and surrounding influences should be made. 



It would be easy to point out other forms of disease arising 

 from the use of alcohol, but the picture already presented 

 should be sufficient to satisfy anyone of the terrible evils it 

 brings to those who indulge in its use. 



20. Tobacco. The action of tobacco on the nervous 

 system is that of a narcotic poison. Its active principle is 

 nicotine, a very strong and rapidly fatal poison. A single 

 drop given to a rabbit will produce death in a few minutes. 

 The habitual smoker does not as a rule experience any alarm- 

 ing effects from the nicotine he absorbs, because his system 

 has become used to it. Ask the same smoker how he felt 

 after his first smoke. He will tell you, for he remembers it 

 well, that he turned sick ; the skin became pale, and a cold, 

 clammy perspiration stood out on his forehead; his muscles 

 weakened, he trembled all over, and his brain reeled so that 

 he could not stand. The depression was alarming; he was 



