The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-03-31
ELECTS Of Alcoholic Drinks ON the Hu
man system.


We spoke week or two ago Of the lee.
ture Of DIR. DAVIS, Of Chicago, ON the
above subject, and promised to publish some
extracts from it. We find u difficulty in
making selections where all is so good and
directly to the point; but as our liuits will
not allow US to publish all, we copy at ran
dom. The DR.. combats the popular idea
that alcoholic drinks have, under certain
circumstances, an invigorating effect OH the
human system, enables it to endure better
the extremes Of heat and cold, and serves,
at seasons Of pcstilcnce, to ward off disease.
He gives in detail series Of experiments
which he instituted to test the matter, and
the following is stated as tho result
The results of all my observations may be
summed up as follows, viz:
lst. The most direct and obvious effect of
alcohol on the human system is, to excite or
exhierate the functions Of the brain, and
increase the rapjdisy q Tbs hears sctioa.
w minutes after the liquor is taken, and, If
the dose Is not repeated, psiceptibly de.
clines in from one and half to two hours.
1t is the cxhierating influence Of the alcohol
on the brain ard nerves that gives it its fas.
cinating power over the human appetite and
passions, and has induced in the popular
mind the general idea that it is actually ton
ic, or supporting to the fun tons Of life.
The stimulant effect on the vascular system
is much less than on the nervous the pulse
haI cod in ..,tJ ,at
more than from six to ten beats per minute,
while its fullncss and force both remained
unatered.
| "a. 1t directly diminshes the amount of
carbonic acid gas thrown out from the lungs
in the expired air. This dimnution begins
to be apparent in less than one hour after
single dose Of alcoholic liquor, and becomes
more aud more SO until tho end Of two
! hours when the proportion of carbonic acid
begins again to increase, and at tn end OF
three hours comes fully up to the natural
proportion. The amount Of liimnuton of
carbonic acid varied in different experiments,
but as well marked in all. In some instan-
ces it was diminished, for a short time,
more than fifty per cent. below the proper
ton when the experiment began
3D. In all my experiments the tcmpera-
turc Of the system began perccptibly to di-
minish at the end Of one hour, and continu-
ed 10 do so during the two succeeding
hours, the mercury generally standing three
quarters of a degree lower at the end Of
three hours than when the experiment be-
( gan. And at no period of time, while the
effects Of the alcoholic beverage remained
| perecptible, was there any Increase Of tenn
pera,ure indicated by the thermometer.
| 1t will be seen. by examining the detailed
account Of the experiments given in the Ap-
I pendix, thai the exherating effects Of the
alcohol Oh the nervous tissues, and its diini-
mutton Of the exhalation Of carbonic acid
/ from the lungs, are both manifested consid
crably before any alteration is noticed in the
| temperature.
| The latter, however continues to dimin-
| ish for some time after the proportion Of car.
bonic acid begins again to increase The cf-
feet on the pulse is noticed very soon after the
alcohol is taken, being first rendered more
haIf when Il comes back io ;,a =. =. stah.
I--i .nd in some instances falls below.
! From all the experiments thus far institu-
! ted, 1t is plainly evident that a moderate
quantity of alcohol in the blood directly ex.
cites or cxhcrates the functions Of the
brain, while it dminishes those Of rcspira-
/ ton and caloriiication.
| wish, gentlemen, to attract your a.ten-
/ ton particularly to the influence Of the
| agents which form the subject ofthis lecture
on the three great processes just named.
/ Their influence on the functions Of the brain
aud nerve tissue has long been known and
| universally acknowledged. Their effect in
diminishing the proportion of carbonic acid
gas cxhaled from the lungs, and thereby les
scning the natural process Of respiration,
was first directly demonstrated 10y DR..
/ Prout, and is now universally acknowledg-
ed Their effect in diminishing the produc-
ton of animal heat, was, so far as my
knowledge extends, first clearly dcmons.ra-
ted by my own experiments, and shows an
influence directly opposed to the prevalent
opinion, both in and out Of the medical pro-
fession Seeing the prominent celebrating
influence of alcoholic driS Ks on the brain,
and the paticn. or drinker feeling sensation
of warmth in his fauces and stomach, and
soon after also glow Of beat in the face,
nothing was more natural than the inference
that they actually Increased the temperature
of the body.
No distinction. Of course, was made here
between the fseliags or mere nervous scnsa
t;ons of the individual and his actual tempe
rature and hence arose the universal popu
lar belief in the power Of such drinks to in
crease animal heat and consequently also il
their value to man when exposed to tn,
mere vicissitudcs Of Temperature. When ,
rnow,odoc NJ oroonic chemistry becam,
more Jiilnsrd and alimentary substance,
became classified into nitroqensous and non
n;troceneous or carbonaceous, the forme
ass;oned as the chief agents for nourisbin.
the tissues, and the latter for supporting re
sniro,ion and animal heat. alcohol was re
parjcd rs one of the most prominent article
Of tbc lottcr class, and of course, dircctl,
calculated 10 support both of the last name,
func,;ons
I, was tbus that the theoretical inference
of the learned were made 10 coincide with
and annarcn,lv to corrobora,e those derive,
from ihc sensations of the drinker : and botl
were hence made to contribute largely to tn
, continuance of those customs in societ
which are annually sending several thousan
, American citizens TO untimcly and dishonor