The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-03

envelopes, whether tubrcular or not. II
occasions gradual shrinking Of the brain
as eVihced By the accumulation Of fluid n
spaces once filled by cerebral substance
II causes a liability 10 cerebral hemor.
rhage by means Of the srterial deteriora.
ton common to the greater part OF the
body.
With regard TO other organs, they are
damaged by alcohol much Is they stand
In It's line Of absorption. Passing over the
stomach-the changes In which, however,
numerous, are, save when II Is liberated,
moro prominent during life than after
death-we come TO the liver. This organ
sufiers more than any other, chiefly BY
way Of cirrhosis and fatty impregnStion.
Next the stress tails upon the lung, prob
ably less heavily than upon the liver Ger.
talnly more heavily than upon any other
part Of the body with the exclusion Of the
nervous system. The mischief In the
lungs takes apparently every shape Of
phthisis. II 10 probable that the change
most often Is OF q kind to which the term
tubercular would strictly apply, while
there Is evidence, not comprised In the
present tables, Of 0 fbroid overgfowth,
which apparently may either accompany
or stimulate tubercle. The arterial dete-
rioration need not be further mentioned
than to assign is relative frequency.
Judging by It's tangible results-athe-
roma, hemorrhage, and cardiac hyper.
trophy-we would assign to this change
large share In the pathology OF intem-
perance, though, unless the connection
between alcohol and tubercle has been
much overrated, II would seem ID play a
less fatal part than disease Of the tubefcu.
lar kind. Lastly, the kidneys, more re-
motley exposed, have smaller participa'
ton In the common damage Of alcohol
ism. They undergo congestive enlarge
ment, fatty and fbrold change. They do
not suffer, however, commensurately with
the blood vessels, or with the same fire.
quencY as other viscera.
30 far, we have seen only the III which
alcohol produces; It may be asked, Is
there none which 1t obViates? Apart
from any medicinal or curative action
which the evidence before Us does not
touch, has II no per contra Of prevention
Il Is difficult to answer this inquiry.
Some active infl4mmations, such as pneu.
monia and endocSrditis, are diminished
in the alcoholic trades; but 1t must al
once be seen that the increase Of the al
coholic disorders must necessarily pro-
duce an apparent dimiuution Of all which
are unaffected by this agent. A man may
be saved ffom pneumonia or acute
rheumatism not because alcohol antag-
onizes such diseases, bnt because 1t kills
him prematurely. He can die but once.
Therefore, though under alcohol some
forms Of disease arc comparatively inire-
quent, We must use much caution in con.
Guiding that It has directly preventive
influence. Nevertheless, 1t may be laid
down as an axiom that any drug which
can do harm can do good. Disease Is
most various, and may, or rather must,
represent contrary conditions. It may
be positive or negative, plus or minus.
Too much or too little Of any of these
shapes Of heat, food, and work may spoil
the equipoise Of health. II drug pro.
notes one change Il may prevent its OPP
posite. Alcohol certainly gives an as.
Ihentic type to disease. Although we
cannot as yet say with certainty that II
1etlbrinates the blood, yet 1t retards ad.
heslon and plastic processes. This influ.
ence may b. benefcent II It hinder the de-
Velopment OF acute inflammation and OBJ.
Viate the formation Of cosguls where, as
10 acute rheumatism, that action Is harm.
Iul. It possible that by some such an
tagonism TO the asthenic and fibrous type
Of disease we may explain the remarkable
paucity Of endocarditis in the alcoholic
series. But at the best the protecting is
lcss certain and less effective than the de.
teriorating influence.
In brief and final enumeration, alcohol
replaces more actively vital materials by
oil and fibrous tissue; 1t substitutes sup
puration for new growth; It produces
gaseous and earthly change; it helps time
to produce the effects OF age; and, in o
word, is the genius Of degradation.