248 UNCONSCIOUS NERVOUS OPERATIONS 



stomach its power for direct injury has already been re- 

 duced; but if the work of the stomach has been imper- 

 fectly done because of its presence, more labor remains 

 to the intestines, and that may disorder the whole system. 



360. The portal vein carries the alcohol absorbed from 

 the stomach and the intestine directly to the liver. Here 

 its evil effects in developing disease are earliest and often- 

 est apparent. Alcohol in the liver, as in other places, 

 greedily uses up the oxygen needed for the necessary vital 

 operations. In that way it prevents the normal action of 

 the hepatic cells, for not enough oxygen remains for them 

 to do their work perfectly. Now the liver, as the largest 

 organ in the body, has a correspondingly important part to 

 play in the vital processes, and any interference with its 

 functions is extremely serious. It is well known to physi- 

 cians that a drunkard's liver presents a greatly modified 

 appearance, which is seen to a less degree in the liver of a 

 moderate drinker. Alcohol does not build useful tissue, 

 but instead it promotes the abnormal deposit of fat cells, 

 causing what is called " fatty degeneration." This is often 

 seen in the liver of alcohol users and causes enlargement 

 of the organ; the connective tissue, also, is sometimes 

 inflamed and hardened. Because of the imperfect action 

 of the liver, poisons which should have been neutralized 

 are allowed to circulate through the system and undermine 

 its health. 



So it appears that throughout the digestive tract alco- 

 hol is liable to work harm to the organs more or less 

 serious in proportion to the frequency of its use and its 

 amount. 



361 . Other Sources of Danger from Alcoholic Drinks. Many 

 of the drinks containing alcohol contain also a mixture 

 of nutritious substances, such as unfermented sugar and 



