The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-02-25

1t is not the; presence of the alcohol
which intoxicates, but the absence of
oxygen which is produced by the too
rapid alcoholic combustion. A small
dose of alcohol stimulates combustion /;
produces, consequently, more heat,
and more cellular acuvity;s but in the
degree tlIat the alcoholic absorption is
increased, and the oxygen, which can
lungs, is decreased, the combustion of
carbon ceases; the blood of drunken
man is consequently black. The Gel
lular action becomes irregular and in
terrupted; the cells of the brain (of the
small first) lose their nourishment, and
give up; and all motions become irreg-
ular, until totally prevented. of
A drunken man is insensible, and
can be considered dead until the alco-
hol has passed out, and the newly
absorbed oxygen begins again to kindle
up new combustion of the extinguished
material. Gradually the cells begin to
act again reason returns afterwards
motion; but it is lOnp time before the
appetite returns. The stomach refuses
all food u:til combustion is i'm full ac-
ton again. -.-r.,lr
When a irunkard awakes, he chiIls
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
is his stomach; he is tired, but cannot
steep; fiis eyes are dim, vet constantly
open his skin is, cold and dry; his
pulse weak and quick all the cells OF
the animal function have been abused,
and cannot, perform their office until
stimulated and revived by alcohol, or
until normal combustion has re-rlour-
ished them; and because the latter is
slow in its operations and processes un-
der these circumstances, while the for
mer is quick and rapid in its results, he
drinks and drinks agian. Cell after
cell, therefore, becomes lost without
being replaced. The stomach, intes-
tines, and skin become thinner and
thinner; the liver and musele-cells
change into fat-cells. Finally the blood
vessels in the stomach and intestines
become visible, and enlarge for 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
wanting; then they revolt in wild
spasmodic action; the mind wanders
horrid pictures of crawling snakes, OF
gnawing rats, and biting reptiles ap.
pear; this is deliriuna trensenS. Seldom
does a man have it more than twice
we have never known of case surviv-
ing the third attack.
From the fact that alcohol las has
been shown Immediately consumes all
the oxygen in the body, and thereby
arrests all normal combustion, it is
madness to give it in any fever. Fol
i'm fever the body needs and calls fol
more oxygen than it can readily OBJ.
tain, that the equilibrium, or equal bal
ance of the entire system SO far it has
been disturbed by the disorder in cues.
ton, may be restored, or return to its
normal condition. But if alcohol
which has the greatest affinity for OK.
.ygen. be given, the patient is thereby
robbed, for the time being, Of the very
thing which he most needs. Hence
we should say that if a physician does
not know how to treat febrile disease
without the use of alcohol, he had bet
ter quit his calling.-Dr. c. Roth, n
Good Health.