168 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



in Australia, there are many cases of supposed 

 snake-poisoning, which are immediately convert- 

 ed into cases of alcoholism by the pernicious 

 practice of administering an unlimited quantity 

 of alcohol, under the mistaken idea that exces- 

 sive stimulation is the remedy. This gentle- 

 man went on to point out to the members of 

 the Melbourne Medical Society that whereas 

 there are " profound coma " and dilatation of the 

 pupils in snake-poisoning, " there are giddiness, 

 helplessness, heavy sleep, pupils contracted, in 

 Mistaken alcohoHsm. It is here observed that he diagno- 

 °offeot*of*'^° ses the one from the other by the profound 

 coma and dilatation of the pupil on the one 

 hand, and the heavy sleep and contraction of 

 the pupil on the other. Now let us see what 

 Dr. R. S. Taylor says on the subject of alcoho- 

 lism. "There is confusion of thought, with 

 inability to stand or walk, a tottering gait and 

 giddiness followed by stupor and coma (italics 

 mine) * » * * the pupils are dilated 

 and fixed. Diluted alcohol commonly produces 

 a stage of excitement before stupor, while, in 

 the action of concentrated alcohol, there may be 

 profound coma in a few minutes." We will now 

 examine Dr. Halford's cases — of real and sup- 



alcohol. 



