Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-23
From Household Words.
PHYSIOLOGY OF INTEMPER-
ANCE.
TcoNcLUDED.1

The effect of an excess of carbon, in the |
blood-vessels of the brain, is to produce sleep
and stupor; hence the drunkard breathes
thick, and snores spasmodically, and after
this state, ends in confirmed apoplexy and
death-just as dogs become insensible when
held over the Grotto del Came, in Italy,
where they inhale this deleteriots gas. But
in addition to this it has been clearly proved,
that alcohol does enter into the substance of
the brain, for it has been detected by the
smell, upon examining the brain of persons
who have died drunk; besides which, alco-
hol, after having been introduced by way of
experiment, into the body of living dog,
has afterwards been procured absolutely as
lalcohol by distillation from the substance of
the brain. 1t is so subtle of fluid that Lie
big says it permeates every tissue of the
body
| But how do youexplain the circumstance
that death sometimes happens suddenly af-
Ter drinking spirits asked the host, before
there can be time for absorption to take place.
: / remember, not many years ago. inter
: rupted the merry faced guest, a waterman,
in attendance at the cabstand at the top Of
r the Haymarket, for a bribe of five shillings,
tossed off bottle of gin, upon which he
c dropped down insensible, and soon died.
This may clearly be accounted for OBJ
! served the Doctor. The stomach, as / pre-
missed, is plentifully supplied with nerves, and
o is connected with one of the great nervous
centres in the body, so that a sudden i'm
= preston produced upon these nerves, by the
e introduction of quantity of such stimulus
|, gives a shock to the nervous system, which
e completely overpowers it. From the centr,
Ito the circumference it acts like stroke Q
le lightning, and the death is often instantaneous
Of A draught of iced water taken when the sys
l.. TEN has been oyerheated by exertion, b
ID dancing or otherwise, has been known to b
ce Immediately fatal, The physiological actio
lie or rather the shock upon the neryou
I'd system, is in both cases the same-violer
be mental emotion will in like manner suspen
to the action Of the heart and produce instai
elf DEATH These are the terrors of alcohc
to when drank to excess; but the health of Il
ht- habitual tippler is sure to be undermined
ID his hands become tre.r us, he is unsteac
ut in his gait, his conn IN becomes sallo
and all his mental t. ies gradually impai
he, ed.'
led To what, may ask inquired the fnerr
lad faced guest, do you attribute the circm
led stance Of the trembling hand recovering
lld steadiness, after taking glass ofspirits in
ler- morning after a debauch; hair Of the do
her as it is called, that bit overnight p
rde Action and reaction is the great law
- the animal economy replied the Doctor
7ful over stimulation will always produce a c
she responding degree of depression; VIII
was therefore, the nervous system has been ov
lge. excited by alcoholic Equors, the usual amo1
and Of nervous energy which Is necessary to g
! in tone to the muscular system IS wanting, ;
into then stimulus gives a filhpto the nery
ard, lcentres, which restores the nervous power
him the extremities. When this statesof TIM
.ider however, has been permitted to 90 on,
Wild, the brain has been frequently brought III
Sc. aalcoholic influence, It's structure becomes a
ream tied and slow and very insidious infianl