62 OUR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



in doing it clumsily ; but the trained muscles are no longer 

 wholly under the control of the will. If enough alcohol is 

 taken, all control of the voluntary muscles may be lost, and 

 deep breathing may be the only sign of life. 



90. Effect of Alcoholic Liquor upon Speech. This same 

 lack of control is shown in the act of speech. Each and 

 every word we utter requires special movements of the 

 muscles of the tongue, palate, and throat, all acting in har- 

 mony. After drinking alcoholic liquor there is less control 

 of the muscles: the reins are slackened, so to speak; words 

 may be left out, cut short, or misplaced. According to the 

 stage of intoxication, the words are clipped, stammered, 

 " mouthed," or " thick," from loss of control of the muscles 

 of the tongue and throat. 



The muscles that move the eyes do not act in harmony ; 

 hence the drunken man "sees double." 



The degree of this loss of muscular control and the rapidity 

 with which it is produced vary with the individual, with 

 the amount, with the kind of drink, with the rate at which 

 it is drunk, and with many other circumstances. 



91. Effect of Alcohol on Muscular Strength. Many 

 people honestly suppose that alcohol gives them strength 

 for their work and rests them when they are tired. In both 

 cases they are mistaken. Instead of adding to strength 

 or diminishing weariness, alcohol deadens the nerves and 

 impairs the judgment. For it is shown that when the 

 strength is tested with a health lift or other means, the 

 habitual user of strong drink is found to be weaker after 

 taking alcoholic liquor than before. After the effect of the 

 alcohol has passed off the feeling of weariness is more 

 intense than before, showing that the alcohol did not 

 remove it but only concealed it. 



