Alcohol darkens the Mind.

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parents joined the Temperance Society, are not only physically healthier, but mentally brighter, and morally better, than those born before.

In Dr E. Smith's experiments upon himself and friends, a moderate dose disturbed the mind in from three to seven minutes: "lessened consciousness and the perception of light and sound, and the power of co-ordinating muscles. After this period the effect diminished, as shown by increased consciousness and the perception of light, as if a veil had fallen from the eyes; nevertheless, the last power to be completely regained was consciousness. Spirits made us very hilarious and talkative in ten minutes, and during twenty to twenty-five, so much so that my friend was altogether a king. But as minutes flew away, so did our joyousness; and little by little we lessened our garrulity, and felt less happy, until at length, having gone down by degrees, we remained silent, almost morose, and extremely miserable. Then, indeed, we felt the horrors and the sorrows of the drunkard's lot, and saw with a clearness which can only be perceived by such experience, how certain it is that he must again drain the intoxicating cup. In addition, every mental perception was darkened; and the dreaminess, which is not an unpleasant feature of it, is a condition in which neither thought nor imagination acquires power." (Phil. Trans. 1859)

An agent with such tendencies as these can hardly be regarded as a friend of man or God. By necessary law, it is thus seen to be the seed of inordinate appetite, creating and fostering a passion for itself, which grows with what it feeds on. The sole issue of its use is immorality and sin; ending in that frightful condition of moral slavery, confirmed drunkenness, when the rational will is abolished,—a condition which for ever debars its victim from reaching

"That tranquil height

Where wisdom purifies the sight,
And God unfolds to the humble gaze
The bliss and beauty of His ways."

The heart on the fifth and sixth days after alcohol was left off, and apparently at the time when the last traces of alcohol were eliminated, showed in the sphygmographic tracing signs of unusual feebleness; and, perhaps, in consequence of this, when the brandy quickened the heart again, the tracings show a more rapid contraction of the ventricles, but less power than in the alcoholic period. The brandy acted, in fact, on a heart whose nutrition had not been perfectly restored.

The peripheral circulation was accelerated, and the vessels were enlarged; and the effect was so marked as to show that this is an important influence for good or for evil, when alcohol is used.

Referring only to this healthy man, it is clear that the amount of alcohol the heart will bear without losing its healthy sphygmographic tracing is small, and it must be supposed that some disease of the heart or vessels would eventually follow the over-action produced by large doses of alcohol."

13. As this topic is of great importance, we will here endeavour to explain the matter, and illustrate it by diagrams, showing the disturbance produced by small doses of alcohol.

In interpreting the pulse-tracings written off by the sphygmographic lever, one end of which is accurately adjusted to the artery at the wrist, we have to consider1. The force of heart-beat expanding the arteries. 2. The resistance of arteries to the expansion.

3. The effect of the onward-flowing blood wave. Any variation in these conditions will affect the force which moves the lever, and determine the pulse-tracing-i.e. the heart-beat may be quick or slow-the tone of the vessels strong or weak-the balance between the two forces equal or unequal.

The Pulse indications.

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At A we have the normal tracing of health, which is The line of ascent is nearly vigorous beat. The first

continued in the dotted lines. vertical, being produced by a primary curve (d) is sharp and acute, the heart-force and arterial-tension being balanced; the first secondary curve (e) represents the effect of the blood flowing onwards after an instant's recoil of the artery-wall has produced the first notch. The line of descent, taken as a whole, is gradual and long, inasmuch as the tension is good and the heart's contractions slow. The second or aortic notch (g) corresponds to the pause between the double 'beat' of the heart, and indicates momentary slackening of blood-wave and tension. The second secondary curve (f) corresponds to the second or diastolic action of the heart. The stronger the

heart acts, the greater will be the length of line of ascent, but this will be limited by the tone (or tension) of the vessels; if this and the heart-beat are good, while the ascent will be only of moderate height, the descent will be long and gradual, and but faintly marked. If heart be strong and tension weak, the ascent will be long. If heart be weak and tension normal, a short vertical line of ascent will be formed; if both heart and tension weak, then there will also be a short ascent, but the line will slope much, and assume a rounded apex, while secondary rises and notches will be marked generally where tension is low and heart weak. The apex of the first curve shows the balance between arterial-tension and heart-power. An equal balance (as in health) results in an acute angle being formed at point of junction of line of ascent and descent. If arterial expansion be insufficient or arrested (as in ossified arteries) the descent is delayed, and a square apex produced. To sum up; in health the pulse-tracing should be of moderate height with a nearly vertical ascent, an acute apex, a gradual and long descent, and two faintly marked secondary waves. The abnormal pulse is shown by alteration in one or all of these points.

I

In fever we find a pulse called dicrotous, in which the first ascent is higher than natural, the first secondary curve (corresponding to the blood-wave) absent, and the aortic notch much deepened, making the third rise very prominent, whilst the whole phenomena common to one complete beat of the heart are written off shorter, with less gradual descent-i.e. the heart beats faster, does its work in shorter time, whilst tension is usually lower than in health.

This pulse is the result of any large dose of alcohol, or of any great external heat, such as that encountered in a Turkish bath. This is shown at B, contrasted with the healthy tracing shown by the dotted line.

The diagram at C represents the pulse of fatigue-first elevation very high, heart acting rapidly and irritably with tension unsustained-the first secondary rise not wiped out, as in alcoholic pulse, but, as well as other secondary curves and notches, sharper than natural. The tracing slightly shorter than in health, but line of descent not so gradual.

Nearly a normal pulse. Heart acting slowly, with fair tension, as shown by long line of descent, and not very rapidly or strongly, otherwise the ascent-line would be higher and more vertical. Absence of excitement, and ample pause for rest and nutrition.

New French Experiments.

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Alteration in form is due partly to frequency: the first curve better marked, showing quicker beat, the summit rounded indicating somewhat labored systole with fair tension-the second rise from blood-wave but little altered, though perhaps slightly increased; the whole set of actions is completed in a shorter period, while collapse after expansion of diastole, which forms third curve, is more rapid than in No. I.

This tracing has the character of fatigue in some respects. Pulse more sub-dicrotous-irregular and disturbed. Increase in frequency, with shorter tracing and more abrupt collapse after diastole the inequality and difference of form in the curves indicating a varying power of heart's action. Heart doing more work in a given time-and period of rest for heart shortened.

§ 14. Some subsequent experiments with wine, showed that there is no pathological difference between fermented liquor and pure alcohol. Alcohol is alcohol, and fermented liquors are only alcohol disguised by colors and flavors. Dr DUJARDIN-BEAUMETZ and Dr AUDIGE in their 'Experimental Researches,'* have fully vindicated our original position that alcohol in fermented liquor, or mixture, is not modified for the better. They say: "Dilution with water greatly increases the poisonous properties of ethylic Alcohol... Dilution with glycerine and water increased still more its toxic power, death occurring in 40

*Recherches Expérimentales sur la Puissance Toxique des Alcools (Paris, 1879).