REVIEWS. 593 
which maintains the activity of the heart and lungs, then the man dies ; he 
perishes in his drunkenness.” 
^ * * & * * 
“In the great majority of drunkards, the continuous use of alcohol pro- 
duces less manifest changes in the mental state by acting upon the mental 
organ. The healthy balance is impaired as in an ordinary fit of drunken- 
ness ; but it is disturbed slowly, almost imperceptibly. At last, however, a 
change is manifested in the whole man. He has become more of an animal, 
that is, more sensual. On the one hand, the energy of his intellectual and 
rational nature is diminished ; on the other, the vigour of the appetites and 
passions is increased. He has, therefore, less self-control ; less desire for 
what is rational and intellectual ; more desire for what is sensual and brutal. 
He undergoes a moral degradation, and that through a physical or material 
change in the organ of mind — the brain. In extreme cases of this kind — • 
and they are more frequent than those of delirium tremens — it will be found 
that the high-minded, honorable man has become a cunning, selfish liar or 
cheat ; the religious man a sensual hypocrite ; the faithful, chaste wife, an 
adulteress ; the indulgent husband and father a terror to wife and child. 
“But the changes induced in the brain of the drunkard may lead to more 
than this, — they may induce actual insanity. The degradation is, however, 
in the same direction, but it reaches the lowest depths of his nature. Imbe- 
cility, homicidal violence, and suicidal melancholy are the three most com- 
mon forms. 
“ Now, if there be a predisposition to any disease of the brain or nervous 
system, alcohol will excite that predisposition into activity. But smaller 
doses will be as effectual in persons thus predisposed as large doses in per- 
sons otherwise constituted. Insanity is thus often induced where there is 
a family predisposition, or paralysis and various other affections of this 
kind.” 
* * * * 
“How shall we ascertain the extent of the evils inflicted on society by 
habits of drunkenness F Gold is a standard of value, and if we could esti- 
mate to what extent skilled labour is depreciated by the mental incapacity 
and disease which drunkenness entails, we might have at least one fixed 
point to refer to. let it is not possible to do this, for we should have to 
ascertain how many lives have been prematurely ended, how many deaths 
have been caused, how much property destroyed on sea or land by 
wrecks and fires, — by explosions in ships, mines, factories, — by upsets and 
accidents of various kinds — all due to incapacity induced by drunkenness : 
we should have to trace to the same causes what military enterprises have 
miscarried, — what offices of trust and honour have been lost, — how many 
merchants, manufacturers, and tradesmen have been ruined, — how often 
important secrets have been revealed — moral influence destroyed, — the 
father’s hopes of his children for ever blighted. All these evils are incalcu- 
lable.” 
“ The principal cause of drunkenness lies in that love of 
pleasure or desire for happiness, which is an essential part 
of the nature of man . 55 Here, again, high grounds are taken 
by the writer, with which we concur. He then contrasts 
good and happiness with evil and suffering, and points out 
the reasons, agreeing with Pope that — 
