544 APPLIED BIOLOGY 



amount of alcohol present. Thus strong beverages, like 

 brandy, gin, and whisky, with 40 to 50 per cent of aleohol, 

 retard the digestive action of pepsin on proteids; but this 

 effect depends upon the amount of alcohol taken, the amount 

 of food in the stomach, the strength of the gastric juice, and 

 the health of individuals. Hence it is impossible to lay down 

 any general rule as to the minimum quantity of alcohol which 

 will harmfully affect digestion in the stomach. It is certain, 

 however, that intoxicating doses do impede gastric digestion 

 even in healthy individuals. 



But it should be emphatically stated that the effect of 

 alcoholic drinks upon digestion is not solely due to the amount 

 of alcohol in them. Thus sherry wine with 20 per cent of 

 alcohol retards digestion much more than does an equal 

 quantity of 20 per cent pure alcohol. Large amounts of 

 claret wines have a similar, but less, effect. The same is 

 true of ale, beer, and other malt liquors. When any of the 

 wines and malt liquors are used freely with meals, there is 

 likely to be a considerable retardation of the digestive pro- 

 cesses. 



Concerning the effect of moderate amounts of alcoholic 

 fluids upon gastric digestion, it appears from experiments 

 made by competent investigators that the greater secretion 

 of gastric juice is counterbalanced by the retarding effect; 

 and hence, as a rule, there is no reason for or against using 

 small amounts with meals, so far as the effect on gastric 

 digestion is concerned. But we shall see later (471, 473) 

 that alcohol has much more decided effects upon other 

 organs which help us to decide for or against its use. 



469. Effect of Alcohol on Blood-System. Small quan- 

 tities, as used by physicians in cases of great depression of the 

 heart, stimulate that organ reflexly through the nervous 

 system. In large and intoxicating quantities alcohol is a 

 hrect and powerful depressant, weakening the beat, distend- 

 ing the cavities, and diminishing the pumping of blood. 



