212 ACTION OF ALCOHOL ON NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



keep its mind from being distracted and wandering off 

 to other things. A great many grown people, indeed, 

 cannot do it. A very distinguished American lecturer, 

 writer, and anatomist,* has stated that he could gauge 

 the intelligence of his audience by the way in which 

 they behaved when any slight disturbance occurred 

 during his lecture. On an educated audience, with 

 trained power of attention, any slight noise had little 

 influence, while less educated hearers turned their heads 

 at every trivial interruption. 



To acquire this power of attention, is most important. 

 Probably no young healthy child has it; it must be 

 gained by prolonged training, but the training should 

 be gradual. A young child cannot fix its mind on a 

 lesson, no matter how easy, for an hour at a time. 

 Short lessons, with frequent brief intervals in which the 

 attention is permitted to relax, should be given at first. 



12. The Effects of Alcohol on the Nervous System and 

 their Symptoms. Alcohol is a terribly frequent cause of 

 nervous diseases. In over-stimulating the brain and 

 spinal cord, it impairs their structure, weakens their 

 functions, and often leads to insanity and crime. 



A small quantity of wine or spirits, taken by one not 

 accustomed to it, congests and excites the brain; the 

 person gets restless and talkative, then dizzy and unable 

 to think clearly. He is soon overcome by sleep, and on 

 awaking feels out of sorts. 



If the dose be increased, the talkativeness is accompa- 



12. What is the action of alcohol on the brain and spinal cord ? 

 What is the action of a glass of wine on a person not used to it ? 



* Professor Oliver Wendell Holmes. 



