
42 SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FIELD-WORK. 
But now suppose a very powerful mental impression be made, 
say the circumstance of a succession of ditches in front, and 
a mad dog behind; if the stimulus of terror be sufficiently 
strong, you may leap on till you drop senseless. Alcoholic 
stimulus is a parallel case, and is not seldom pushed to the 
same extreme. Under its influence you never can tell when 
you are tired; the expenditure goes on, indeed, with unnatural 
rapidity, only it is not felt at the time; but the upshot is you 
have all the original fatigue to endure and to recover from, 
plus the fatigue resulting from over excitation of the system. 
Taken as a fortification again&t cold, alcohol is as unsatisfac- 
tory as a remedy for fatigue. Insensibility to cold does not 
imply protection. The fact is the exposure is greater than 
before ; the circulation and respiration being hurried, the waste 
is greater, and as sound fuel cannot be immediately supplied, 
the temperature of the body is soon lowered. The transient 
yarmth and glow over, the system has both cold and depres- 
sion to endure; there is no use in borrowing from yourself 
and fancying you are richer. Secondly, the value of any 
stimulus (except in a few exigencies of disease or injury) is 
in proportion, not to the intensity, but to the equableness and 
durability of its effect. This is one reason why tea, coffee, 
and articles of corresponding qualities, are preferable to al- 
coholic drinks ; they work so smoothly that their effect is often 
unnoticed, and they “stay by” well; the friction of alcohol is 
tremendous in.comparison. A glass of grog may help a vet- 
eran over the fence, but no one, young or old, can shoot all 
day on whiskey. I have had so much experience in the use of 
tobacco as a mild stimulant that I am probably no impartial 
judge of its merits: I will simply say I do not use it in the 
field, because it indisposes to muscular activity, and favors re- 
flection when observation is required; and because temporary 
abstinence provokes the morbid appetite and renders the weed 
more grateful afterwards. Thirdly, undue excitation of any 
physical function is followed by corresponding depression, on 
the simple principle that action and reaction are equal; and 
the balance of health turns too easily to be wilfully disturbed. 


