972 ALCOHOL, THE CAUSTIC ACIDS AND ALKALIES, 



dark fluid blood, and the body soon putrefies. 

 It is therefore evident, that if in small doses they 

 alleviate pain, it is owing chiefly to their influ- 

 ence in diminishing sensibility, by impairing the 

 vital properties of the blood ; that if hydro- 

 cyanic acid relieves pain in the stomach, it is by 

 inducing torpor of that important organ ; and so 

 of all the other narcotics.* 



* The influence of alcohol is very similar to that of opium and 

 other narcotic poisons. It kills leeches in two or three minutes, 

 and very soon destroys the life of plants. Like the strong acids 

 and caustic alkalies, it produces rapid inflammation of the stomach, 

 solidifies the albumen of the blood, arrests the process of breath- 

 ing, and causes all the symptoms of apoplexy, as proved by the 

 experiments of Brodie on cats, rabbits, and dogs. Orfila found 

 that the injection of four drams of pure alcohol into the veins of 

 a dog was followed almost immediately by death. And that it 

 impairs the vital properties of the blood when diluted, as in the 

 form of spirits, wine, or even malt liquors, is evident from its dark, 

 grumous character, and diminished power of coagulation, when 

 drawn from the veins of a drunkard. The consequences of which 

 are diminished respiration, cold extremities, and shivering from 

 slight exposure, (when the influence of the stimulus has ceased,) a 

 dirty or livid complexion, loss of appetite, impaired sensibility, 

 torpor and congestion of the capillaries, attended with palpitation 

 of the heart, imperfect nutrition, low spirits, giddiness, stertorous 

 breathing, confusion of mind, softening of the brain, premature 

 old age, sterility, madness, idiotism, epilepsy, paralysis, apoplexy, 

 and death. Delirium tremens, the most common disease of 

 drunkards, comes on with chilliness, weak pulse, nausea, great 

 mental depression, general debility, and a cadaverous expression 

 of countenance, followed by imperfect sleep, frightful dreams, 

 a dry and furred tongue, cold sweats, tremors, convulsions, and 

 sometimes death. Mr. Lay also describes the Chinese opium- 

 eater as marked by a sallow visage, weak voice, ghastly features, 

 emaciated limbs, and tottering gait. 



