The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-20

various depnration organs. In all this
process what has the alcohol done?I
Nothing. What has the living system
done? Everything. There are three
stages Of mtoXication, or in other
words, alcohol occasions three different
effects, according to the amount taken.
All attempts to explain these effects
upon the theory that the drug acts
have signally failed. It will not and
cannot tell US why a dram or two will
produce stimulation, while larger
| amount willoccasion an opposite effect.
But when we assume for our first
premise that the drug is dead and in
ert, and the actionis done by the living
system, we find that this theory per-
fectly explains all the phenomena.
Let us apply it and see:
The first effect. This is the nervine
effect. It is the stage Of good feeling
which dram drinkers so much enjoy.
1t is occasioled by the gentle increase
Of action by the system to expel the
alcohol, which it eliminates about
equally through the various outlets OF
the body. The pleasurable feelings are
caused by the quickening Of the circu-
lation, and the consequent excitement
of the nerves Of sensation.
The second effect. This is stimula-
ton. It occurs when a greater amount
is taken than! in the preceding stage,
and the system is consequently more
violently aroused to expel it. The de-
termination of the blood is to the sur
face, because the skin is the largest
purifying organ in the body. This is
the stage in which the victim becomes
combative and dangerous. This is oc-
casioned by the violent action Of the
system in driving the poisoned blood
to the surface until the skin becomes
hot and congested. The nerves of SEN
sation are distributed to this orgsn, and
the pressure Of the oyer-distended
blood VESSELS upon them produces irrl-
tation andpain and arouses the combat
i've and destructive propensitles.
The third effect. This is narcosis
It is caused by still larger amount OF
. alcohol than the preceding stage.
The SYMPTOMS are prostration, stupol
and coma followed in extreme cases by
death. These results are due to the
, fact that the amount of alcohol is sc
excessivefthat the vital organs fail in
. their effolts to eliminate it promptly
: Being ovG-taxed, they in a measure
: slacken their efforts; consequently the
) blood recedes from the surface to the
:, internal orga1ls, producing congestion
: to them, attended with the SYMPTOMS
already named.
:, We have now seeu that the different
: effects of alcohol are just so many var
> ious efforts by the vital organism tC
u expel it. We have seen conclusively
: that instead Of imparting strength il
l eU7aaatsts it, instead of supporting vi
tality it aOastes it, and instead Of being
: respiratory food it is rank and dan
! gerous poison.
e The error of medical authors anC
l teachers consists in mistaking the de
1 fensive action of the system Ggai9aS
I the alcohol for an increase Of strength
= impaired by it.
L Let temperance advocates take heed
to these truths and govern themselves
|. accordingly. Then, being free from
the inconsistency of defending alcohol
as medicine while they condemn il
as drink they will soon compel King
Alcohol to surrender his last strong
, hold, and true temperance and sobrie-
> ty will speedily prevail THE Appeal