ALCOHOL 271 



Shin. — Alcohol dilates the peripheral vessels, and there- 

 fore brings more blood to the sudoriparous glands, and 

 excites their functional activity. It is thus a diarphoretic. 



Kidneys. — Alcohol acts as a diuretic by increasing 

 general blood tension, and probably by augmenting local 

 vascular tension in the kidney in dilating the afferent vessels 

 supplying the malpighian bodies. 



Nutrition. — Alcohol is a food, and, like other carbohy- 

 drates, supplies heat and energy in its decomposition, but 

 does not directly furnish tissue elements. *We are ignorant 

 of the fate of alcohol after absorption, but we do know that 

 the greater portion is decomposed and is not eliminated. 

 Alcohol is most advantageous as a food in fever, or in condi- 

 tions associated with weak digestion, since it is readily 

 absorbed and assimilated. Alcohol causes dulness and 

 lessened power for mental or physical work in man, and in 

 normal conditions is not a desirable food unless there is a 

 deficiency in the ordinary diet. In diminishing oxidation in 

 the body, alcohol assists the accumulation of fat. 



Elimination. — When alcohol is ingested in ordinary 

 doses it is practically all consumed, and none but the most 

 trivial amount is eliminated, i. e., two to three per cent. 

 The greater the quantity absorbed the larger the amount 

 eliminated by the urine, breath, sweat and faeces, both rela- 

 tively and absolutely; but under no circumstances after the 

 most enormous doses does the elimination exceed 25 per 

 cent, of the quantity ingested. 



Summary. — Alcohol is externally refrigerant, astringent, 

 anhidrotic and antiseptic, and if applied so that absorption 

 occurs, it is rubefacient. On raw surfaces it is slightly 

 anaesthetic. Alcohol is internally a stomachic, carminative 

 and slight local anaesthetic in the digestive tract. It stimu- 

 lates the heart reflexly before and directly after absorption, 

 and excites the respiratory centre. Alcohol is a narcotic, 

 first stimulating and then depressing the nervous system. 

 Alcohol forms a compound with haemoglobin which gives up 

 oxygen less easily, and so diminishes oxidation and tissue 



