CEREBRAL DEPRESSANTS. 121 



contains alcohol two to six per cent. ; Porter and 

 Stout contain alcohol four to six per cent. ; also ex- 

 tract of malt — CO2 — lactic acid, salts of K and Na, 

 aromatics, etc. 



Physiological Actions of Alcohol. — It is a 

 cerebral excitant and depressant, and a narcotic 

 poison; also anaesthetic, antiseptic, antiparasitic, an- 

 tispasmodic, antipyretic, a mild counter-irritant; 

 coagulates albumen by abstracting its water; has 

 also slight astringent effects. It is very diffusible, 

 and when ingested becomes partly oxidized by the or- 

 ganism, and is partly excreted. Small doses relax 

 the vessels, stimulate the gastric glands, promote the 

 appetite and digestion, decrease the elimination of 

 waste products (urea and COJ, cause a slight sensa- 

 tion of heat, and a slight rise of the body tempera- 

 ture. Being also a diffusible stimulant, it briefly 

 stimulates the heart, increasing the functional activ- 

 ity of all organs, partly the kidneys, which excrete 

 the unassimilated portion of the drug. The long- 

 continued administration of moderate or even small 

 doses causes congestion of the stomach and liver, im- 

 pairs the oxidizing power of the blood, and causes 

 indigestion and gastric catarrh. Large doses pre- 

 cipitate pepsin and destroy its activity as a ferment, 

 arrest digestion, produce exhilaration, intoxication, 

 delirium, muscular incoordination, depressed heart, 

 lowered arterial tension and bodily temperature, abol- 

 ishment of reflexes, and lastly coma. Toxic doses 

 cause a primary period of excitement, then insensibil- 

 ity, stertorous breathing, dilated or contracted pupils, 



