266 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Champagne contains about 10 per cent, of absolute 

 alcohol and carbonic acid gas, which acts as a local sedative 

 upon the stomach. Ale, stout and beers contain from 4 to 

 8 per cent, of alcohol, together with bitters and malt extracts. 

 Cider contains 5 to 9 per cent, of absolute alcohol. Imported 

 Sherry (vinum xericum, B. P.), 15 to 20 per cent, of absolute 

 alcohol. Alcohol is the solvent most commonly employed 

 in pharmacy, dissolving alkaloids, resins, volatile oils, bal- 

 sams, oleo-resins, tannin, sugar, some fats and fixed oils. 



Action External. — Alcohol is a germicide. When applied 

 in dilution to mucous membranes, raw surfaces or wounds, 

 alcohol is a stimulant, antiseptic and local anaesthetic ; while 

 in concentration, it is irritant and even caustic, coagulating 

 mucus and albumin. If alcohol is allowed to evaporate 

 from the unbroken skin, cooling of the surface and contrac- 

 tion of the superficial blood vessels ensue, with diminished 

 secretions of sweat ; but when alcohol is rubbed into the 

 skin, it is absorbed, takes up water, hardens the integument 

 and causes temporary vascular dilatation. 



Adixm Internal. — Alcohol acts locally upon the mucous 

 membrane of the alimentary canal, as described above, and 

 if swallowed in concentration it produces congestion and 

 white patches in the mouth by coagulating albumin upon 

 the mucous membrane. The secretion of saliva is increased. 

 In small doses the more powerful alcoholic liquors, as whis- 

 key and brandy, aid digestion by stimulating locally the 

 gastric circulation, secretion, movement and appetite. 



During and immediately after ingestion of undiluted 

 stronger alcoholic liquors, and before there is time for 

 absorption to occur, the heart is reflexly stimulated by the 

 irritant action of the alcohol upon the sensory nerve endings 

 in the mucous membrane of the mouth, gullet and stomach. 

 In large amounts, alcohol destroys the action of the peptic 

 ferment, causes inflammation of the walls of the stomach 

 and perverts the normal secretion into a mucous discharge. 

 Alcohol in physiological doses may be slightly decomposed 

 in the stomach with the formation of aldehyde and acetic 



