The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-19
WHOLE NO. 1882.
Alcohol.
HOW ALCOHOL INTOXICATEs, AND IT'S RE
SUITS WHEN ABUSED.

HOW ALCOHOL INToNICATEs, AND IT'S RE-
SUITS WHEN ABUSED.
1t IS not the presence of the alcohol
which lntexlcates. but the absence of exy-
gen which is produced by the too rapid al
cohe!lc combustion. A small dose of al
cehol stimulates combustion produces.
consequently, more heat, and more cellular
activity; but in the degree that the alco-
hello absorption is increased, and the oxy-
| gen, which cannot he furnished so quick
! by the lungs, is decreased, the combustion
of carbon ceases the blood of drunken
man is consequently black. The cellular
action becomes irregular and interrupted;
the cells of the brain (ef the small first
lose their noarishment, and give up and
all motions become irregular, until totally
/ prevented. \ drunken man is insensible,
and can be considered dead until the al
cohel has passed out, and the newly absorb
! ed oxygen begins again to kindle up new
combustion of the extinguished material
Gradually the cells begin to act again rea-
! son returns afterwards molten but it is
a long time before the appetite returns
! The stomach refuses all food until cembus
ton is in full action again. When drunk
ard awakes he chills with cold, and he
| anxiously seeks the fireplace in the hottest
summer. His nerves shake from the over
use they had to endure His mouth is dry,
so il his stomach he is tired. but cannot
sleep; his eyes are dim, yet constantly
open; his skin is cold and dry; his pulse
weak and quick all the cells of the ami
NAL function have been abused, and cannot
perform their Office until stimulated and
revived by alcohol, or until normal COM
bustion has re-nourished them and be-
cause the latter is slow in its operations
! and processes under these circumstances,
while the former is quick and rapid in its
results, he drinks and drinks again. Cell
after cell, therefore, becomes lost, without
being replaced. The stomach, intestines,
and skin become thinner and thinner: the
liver and muscle-cells change into fat cells.
Finally the blood-vessels in the stomach
and ihtestines become visible, and enlarge
fer want of pressure they get thinner and
thinner until they burst. The nerve-cells
can resist the longest as long as they are
constantly kept on alcohol, they hold out
at the expense of all others but woe to
them when the alcohol is once want
ing then thy revolt in wild spasmodic
action; the M;nd wanders; horrd pictures
of crawling snakes, of gnawing rats, and
biting reptiles appear; this is delirium ire
mems. Seldom does a man have it more
than twice; We have never known of case
surviving the third attack. Such are the
consequences Of alcoholic abuse.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF ITS EFFECTS.
In practical life we observe the following
facts, which fad Their explanation in the
above two boat-crcwS, one drinking wa
ter, the other alcohol, will show in a race
under otherwise equal circumstances, that
the alcohol drinkers will beat the water
driHkers in the beginning. but as the oxy-
gen is gradually used up they lose their
power of endurance, which no repeated
drinks of alcohol can restore; while the
water drinkers keep on steadily, and in
variably win the race. A horse-car driver
in the winter, who drinks alcohol, will suf-
fer tremendously from cold while one
that does not drink alcohol will not suffer
at all, if he has plenty Of good food to eat,
and disests it well. a man full of alcohol
will freeze to death, where a sober, well-fed
man, would hardly feel the cold Alcohol
is therefore the the same in the body that
it was seen to be in the stove; its action is
rapid, but wears out soon. 1t is no food
for steady work, but it is the proper thing
in extraordinary emergencies. An actor
with some alcohol in him will invariably
beat his water antagonist. The orator
who wishes to create all enthusiasm may
drink wine, but the orator who will con-
vince with a naked argument must drink
water The soldier who is to march all
day long must avoid alcohol but the SOL
der excited by alcohol is the man to take
a battery by storm. For to man excited
by alcohol there exists no such word as
fail. Excitement does not reason, and rea-
son does not take y battery.
ALCOHOL MORE INJURIOUS TO YOUNG PER-
SONS THAN TO OLD ONES.
As | said before, the combustion of all
other material is arrested in the blood as
Saon &c alcohol onpnarS Normal deyeloD-