ALCOHOL 269 



circulatory organs. The local effect of alcohol upon the 

 peripheral nerves resembles the action after absorption 

 upon the system generally. The nervous system is affected 

 in nearly the same order and manner as by anaesthetics, and 

 the same stages may be observed. The stages include the 

 stimulant, depressant and paralytic. The law of dissolution 

 is demonstrated by alcohol, as the more highly organized 

 centres, and those more recently developed in the process 

 of evolution, are the first to succumb, and following out this 

 order, the medulla, the first of the higher centres to be 

 developed, is the last to be influenced by the drug. In 

 accordance with this law the cerebrum is first acted upon. 

 The period of excitement is brief and is due in a consider- 

 able degree to the increased cerebral circulation and flushing 

 of the brain. It is essential to emphasize the- fact that by 

 far the most apparent and decided action of alcohol is one 

 of depression upon the nervous system as a whole. The 

 stimulating influence of alcohol upon the spinal centres is 

 more marked in the lower animals than in man, because the 

 brain is proportionately small and poorly developed in the 

 former. The primary stimulating effect of alcohol is shown 

 in man by increased mental activity and apparent brilliancy, 

 but acute reasoning and judgment are not enhanced, and in 

 many cases there is almost immediate mental confusion and 

 drowsiness induced. In man there is emotional excitement 

 and the functions of speech and imagination are stimulated 

 in the primary stage, but depression is soon noted in the 

 loss of judgment and reasoning power, emotional control, 

 decent restraint and speech. The patient cries, shouts, 

 sings or laughs and talks incoherently. In the lower 

 -animals the stimulation of the higher and sensory psychical 

 cerebral centres, with exhilaration, is rarely observed, but 

 depression is seen in stupor and muscular incoordination. 

 Stimulation of the cerebral motor centres is shown by motor 

 excitement. 



In man, following the symptoms described above, there 

 is incoordination of muscular movements, first of those more 



