Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-08
a1rx,aazErrES & VIRGINIA ADVERTISERS
HOW ALCOHOL INTOXICATES.

"a 40 exhaustive aud carefully written paper
uoou The physiological influence o alcohol.
lis calm and scientific not emotional, but
crowded with facts aud information. Accord
ing to this article, when spiri;uous drink is
taken into the body it does not simply ruo
through the digestive cavity Of that body, but
it ruas through the blood before it Gao ind
suy escape, and it cogs to that blood for
considerable period. flowing with it round and
round through the circling stream of It's un-
ceasiug progress It goes everywhere, IN each
fibre, membrane and tissue, and fills and satu.
rates each vital organ-hesh. brain, heart,
liver, uug, kidney, skio and secreting appaia-
tus. Wherever there should be blood, uoder
rhe natural arrangements Of life, there is now
Blood mingled with the alcoholic spirit
Articles of food are ''oompex bodies, built
up from simpler elements by the effort OF vege-
table life Alcohol is not such complex
substance, but it is a product of the down
ward degradation and decay OF such complex
principle" The foods which furnish substance
10 the living structures are, tor the most part,
composed with the aid of nitrogen, aud have
therefore an affinity with the vital parts OF the
human structure ''The 6brin OF the blood,
Lxp
the membranes and the skin, the soft uerve
pulp and the brain, arc all 80 many examples
of ntrogcpized matter" But alcohol is en-
tirely devoid of nitrogen 10 any form ln the
exceptional cases where alcohol has been found
useful as medicine au unnatural condition or
the body exists, and physicians should deter
mine when stlmu ants rs a medicine are ueces-
sary.
The parts OF the body which possess the most
energetic vitality, the brain the nerves aud the
nervous material OF the spinal cord, are prloc-
paly composed of matter Of the most pulpy
copsstence, so soft that it may be almost term
ed melting. This nerve pulp is packed into
minute tiny sacks and tubes discernible only
by microscopic aid. Through these tiny and
almost Invisible films the blood is filtered. :
The nerve pulp appropriates such qualities OF
the blood as nourish life and build up the
structure, aud at the same time REJECT and
throw back into the stream their own waste
particles. Large quantities OF water enter
into the composition af this pupy matter, aud
she first evil effects of alcohol is to Withdraw
.ais water. For alcohol has an 'uncontrollable
~ pulse" to draw water into itself. Excessive
.lse of alcohol hardens and dries up the nerve
pull in such way as to impair, 1t not spoil 1t
tor rs proper office. When excessive drinking
does, not produce intoxication 1t is because the
narve pulp has become insensiole as an "Olled
spange:
Tue flushed face upon the approace OF ine-
brlatou is among the earliest slgos OF the dis
turbance OF these delicate filters 10 their
work, the face being among the parts OF the
body exceptionally supplied with blood. The
restraining" OF Eltering work of the pulpy
substance is impaired, and hence the unnatural
reception of blood into the pulp cells Ii this
unnatural process IS repeated or becomes habit
ual, the bIoched, red, swollen and pimpled
face is the result OF keeping the nerve pulp
saturated with alcohol, and the delicate menu
braues, thickeoed. dried and dyed red, show
through the skin.
The first stages of intoKication are shown 10
the want Of command over the lower lip and
lower limbs. The nurge pulp of the spinal
cord is touched. The muscles feel the torpor.
Trembling aud shudlering follow. Next the
nerve pulp OF the brain comes under the evil
,Dhueuce, and the coutrol of the Judgment and
the will disappear. When man is what is
termed dead druuk,' the paralysis of the
higher nerve centres aud of the brain is carried
closed; all consciousness and sensation are de-
stroyed, and all power Of voluntary movement
is effsced. The heart-the seed of life-tolls
on. 1t an enormous quantity of alcohol is
swallowed at once, as IN the case OF foolish
wagers, the toll OF the heart soon ceases aud
the man IS dead indeed. But in ordinary in
stances the torpor saves lite, as it stops the
drnker just at the point when further drink
ing would kill hin outright
With this general view of the effects of alco-
hol, and the manner in which they are pro-
duced, it is easy to understand why headache,
secplessness, nausea, palp,tat of the heart
and the trembling delirlum' accompany and
follow the excessive use Of alcohol. A poison
IN the stomach can be pumped out or voided.
A poison 10 the blood must wait removal till
the efforts Of nature effect it, But when ma
ture itself is abused and impaired, its recupera.
tive powers soon become destroyed. The eff
tects of continued alooholizatioo upon the liver,
kidneys and stomach it is unnecessary to de-
scribe, as they are we'll understood But
where the mischlevous process begins and how
1t Is continued are polnts new to the most non-
medical readers.
LIMIT Your WANTs.-From the nature of
things the income of most of the inhabitants
OF the earth must be limited, and indeed with
IN very narrow bounds. The product of labor
4 throughout the world,if equally divided, would
8 not make the share of each Individual large.
u IL Is impossible that every one should be what
is called rich. But it is BY no means i'm possible
to be independent. And what is the way to
compass this glorious privilege?" The method
/ Is very simple; It consists in one rule: Limit
your wants Make them few aud Inexpensive.
10 do this would Interfere but little with your
real enjoyment. 1t is mostly matter of habit,
You require more or you are satisfied with less,
& just as you have accustomed yourself to one or
the other. Limit your wants, estimate their
cost and never exceed it. takiog pains to keep
! 1t always inside Of your income. Thus you will
secure your lasting independence. Young men,
think Of this. A great deal Of the happiness of
your lives depends upon it. After having made
your money, spend it as you choose, honestly
but be sure you make it first.
q The great stature Of Christopher Columbus
designed for the City of Mexico, has arrived at
q Vera Cruz.