ACTION OF ALCOHOL ON THE SYSTEM. 
375 
from the alcohol which was left from the former experiment. It will also 
be more efficiently performed in those persons who perspire freely; for it is 
highly probable, that whilst alcohol may, in all persons, pass out of the body 
by all the above-mentioned outlets, it will chiefly select that excretion in 
each individual which is naturally the most free. As, for example, the 
breath in those who make much exertion, or in cold; the skiu in those who 
perspire freely, and in warm weather; and the kidneys in others. The test 
is prepared by carefully dissolving one part of bichromate of potash in 300 
parts of strong, pure, sulphuric acid, and it is used by passing the breath 
through about a drachm of it placed at the bottom of a tube, six or eight 
inches long. The cherry-red colour is changed to emerald green. 
“ Thus we are led to the following summary of the mode of action of 
alcohol: 
“ 1st. The action of the heart is reinforced, and by it the fulness and free¬ 
ness of the circulation are maintained, and the blood is carried to the remote 
parts and to the surface. The tendency to accumulate fluid increases the 
fulness of the bloodvessels. 
“2nd. The action of the skin is lessened, whereby the loss of heat is 
reduced, the urgent necessity for food and vital transformation is lessened, 
and the sensation of warmth is increased. The local action upon the 
stomach and alimentary canal is that of a stimulant, and increases vascular 
action and warmth. These are the common and general actions of alcohols; 
but in some persons the skin acts more freely than in others. 
“3rd. Alcohol is probably not transformed, and does not increase the pro¬ 
duction of heat by its own chemical action, but indirectly, as above 
mentioned, and by a general temporary increase in the vital actions. Its 
action upon the respiration is not its important action. 
“ 4th. It interferes with alimentation, and causes the retention of water, 
and thereby lessens the excretion of urea; and if it lessen muscular waste 
(which it has not been proved to do), it must be by lessening vital action. 
Its power to lessen the salivary secretion must impede the due digestion of 
starch. The diminution in the elimination of urea is due in part, as just 
mentioned, to the diminution in the excretion of urine by the kidneys. 
“5th. It lessens muscular power, and the production of certain secre¬ 
tions. 
“ 6th. There is no evidence that it increases nervous influence, except 
the action upon the heart and the elevation of the spirits be regarded as 
such ; whilst there is much evidence that it lessens the nervous power, as 
shown by the mind and the muscles. 
“7th. It varies the balance of the circulation at the centres and the 
superficies, and interferes with the production of heat. 
“ 8th. It has two sets of actions. 
“9th. The system acquires an adapting power more or less easily and 
perfectly, and hence alcohols differ sometimes in their action in different 
persons. 
“ 10th. There are other important elements in ales, wines, and spirits, 
having a different and independent action; so that old wines directly lessen 
vital action, and ales directly promote the transformation of food. 
“ The dose influences the phenomena of the action of alcohols, but only 
in degree, although it is common to consider the action to differ in doses 
which are called moderate and excessive respectively, the former being 
stimulating, and the latter exhausting. So far as the direct action upon the 
mind, with its intellectual and sensual perceptions, upon the muscles, and 
upon the respiration, is concerned, we could not perceive any difference in 
effect but one of degree; but, doubtless, in indirect effect, that dose which 
most powerfully acts upon the system directly will be the most likely, by 
