The Effects of Alcohol on the Senses. 273 



Alcohol and the Sense of Taste. Alcohol blunts the 

 sense of taste. So the drunkard no longer relishes the 

 taste of plain food, but must have dishes highly seasoned 

 with peppers and spices. He prefers very strong tea 

 and coffee and strong-tasting foods, such as highly salted 

 or smoked meats. And this use of strong seasoning, in 

 turn, calls for strong drink. His digestion is ruined, and 

 he goes on from bad to worse. 



Alcohol and the Sense of Smell. The sense of smell, 

 too, is dulled. The drunkard falls into a gutter and lies in 

 filth and dirt, failing to notice what would be highly offen- 

 sive to him when sober. 



Alcohol and the General Senses. The general senses, 

 as well as the special, are affected by alcohol. 



Alcohol and Muscular Sense. All muscular action is 

 affected by the use of alcohol. The staggering gait and 

 unsteady movements of the intoxicated are the best of 

 proof. But it is especially evident that any form of 

 delicate muscular work will be interfered with by the use 

 of alcohol. Take, for instance, the work of the telegrapher. 

 He must use the muscles with very great accuracy. The 

 presence of alcohol in the' tissues has a double effect on 

 such work. In the first place, it interferes with the nerve 

 control of the muscles. Second, the muscular sense, 

 which is one of the chief means of regulating these move- 

 ments, is blunted, so that the operator cannot tell whether 

 he is doing the work accurately or not. This double effect 

 is produced wherever there is muscular work, and especially 

 where the nature of the work calls for delicacy and pre- 

 cision. 



