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The influence of the alcohol continued still longer, the upper 
portions of the cerebral mass, or larger brain, become impli- 
cated. These are the centres of thought and volition, and as 
they become unbalanced and thrown into chaos, the mind loses 
equilibrium, and the rational part of the nature of the man 
gives way before the emotional, passional, or mere organic part. 
The reason now is off duty, or is fooling with duty, and all 
the mere animal instincts and sentiments are laid atrociously 
bare. The coward shows up more craven, the braggart more 
braggart, the bold more bold, the cruel more cruel, the igno- 
rant more ignorant, the untruthful more untruthful, the carnal 
more carnal. “ In vino veritas ” expresses faithfully, indeed 
even to physiological accuracy, a true condition. The spirits 
of the emotions are all in revel, and are prepared to rattle over 
each other in wild disorder ; foolish sentimentality, extending 
to tears, grotesque and meaningless laughter, absurd promises 
and asseverations, inane threats or childish predictions impel 
the tongue, until at last there is failure of the senses, distor- 
tion of the objective realities of life, obscurity, sleep, insensi- 
bility, and utter muscular prostration. This constitutes the 
third stage of alcoholic intoxication. It is the stage of insen- 
sibility under chloroform when the surgeon performs his painless 
task. 
While these changes in the action of the nervous system are 
in progress there is a peculiar modification proceeding in 
respect to the temperature of the body. For a little time the 
external or surface temperature is increased, especially in those 
parts that are unduly charged and flushed with blood. But it 
is to be observed that in respect to the mass of the body the 
tendency is to a fall of temperature. In the progress towards 
complete intoxication under alcohol, however, there are, as 
we have already seen, three degrees or stages. The first is 
a stage of simple exhilaration, the second of excitement, the 
third of rambling insensibility, and the fourth of entire un- 
consciousness, with muscular prostration. The duration of these 
stages can be modified in the most remarkable manner by the 
mode of administration ; but whether they are developed or re- 
covered from in an hour or a day, they are always present except 
in cases where the quantity of alcohol administered is in such 
excess that life instantly is endangered or destroyed. In the 
first or exhilarative stage the temperature undergoes a slight 
increase ; in birds a degree Fahrenheit, in mammals half a 
degree. In the second degree, during which there is vomit- 
ing in birds, or attempts at vomiting, the temperature comes 
back to its natural standard, but soon begins to fall ; and 
during the third degree the decline continues- The third 
degree fully established, the temperature falls to its first 
