The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-03-08
The EGects eff Alcohol on Human
Economy.

In speaking of the effects of alcohol
l shall consider it first as a medicine
and second as poison. In its pure
state alcohol acts as powerful irritant
and caustic poison. To whatever part
of the body it is applied it causes con-
traction and condensation of the tissue,
and gives rise to all the symptoms of
local inflammation, pain, heat, redness
and swelling. In its diluted forms, as
in wine, brandy, ETC., when taken into
the stomach it produces stimulating
effect upon the part to which 1t Is ap-
piled, creates warmth and promotes a
more rapid flow of blood. a Temporal
ry excitement is thus produced III the
organ, the appetite IS increased and
the general power augmented. Sue
ceeding this local impression, the gen
eral system is affected, the action of
the heart and arteries is increased, the
brain and nervous systems are stimula-
ted, and there is a general feeling of
increased mental power and muscular
energy; animal heat is developed, and
the various secretioDs are promoted.
These arc the effects when used in
moderation and when it operates
kindly. By law of the animal econ
omy, excitement is always succeeded
by collapse and depression. The ef.
fects of alcohol are proportional to
the excitability of the system. Hence,
in young persons, IN females, nervous
and sanguine tempersments, they are
always the most decided. The system
becomes gradually accustomed to thu
impression made by this agent, and to
produce the same effect requires larger
and larger quantities. In consequence
of agreeable excitement, and the sub
seeuent collapse, a desire is created
for the repetition of the dose. This,
if not peculiar to intoxicating drinks,
| is not the case with any other medi-
cine, except, perhaps, opium. AS a
medicine, alcohol, in its various forms,
is an agreeable and powerful stimulant,
and may be resorted to IN all cases
where it is Necessary to support the
powers of the system.
In consequence of the great abuse Of
this article it has become a question
whether it was justitiable in physi-
clan TO prescribe 1t in the practice OF
| his profession. AS to the question
whether we could get along without
alcoholic stimulauis, it is not worth
discussing. We might as well ask,
could we get along without opium or
quinine.
ARDENT SPIRITS AS A POISON.
The first of these is intoxication.
This is an effect peculiar TO alcohol.
There are, it is true, other agents
which produce a sort Of :nebriation,
such as opium, stramonium, camphor,
nitrous oxide, the inhalation of sui
phuric ether, chloroform, ETC., bu. this
is differen: from that produced by al
cohol, both in its general phenomena
and in its results.
A paroxysm Of intoxication mag be
divided into three stages. During the
frs: the system is only pleasurably ex
cited. Such being the first effects Of
this kind Of excitement, it is not 10 be
wondered at that it has been SO uniyer-
sally coveted by mankind. Go where
you will, traverse the globe from pole
to pole and you will not find people
so savage as not TO possess some sub
stance capable Of yielding this piess-
ure. Could the effects of alcohol be
limited here, we should not have so
much regret in relation to It's use. In
the second stage. the brain gradually
loses its power, and Q sense Of giddi-