Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-21
The Effects Of fke Excessive
Use of Alcohol on Mental
Functions and Brain.

Functions and Brain.
DIR. Clouston, of the Edinburgh
Asylum at Morningside, the noted
author and specialist, in a recent
lecture on this subject writes as
follows:
The effects of q single dose of
alcohol differ widely in different
individuals, and this lies at the root
of all scientific inquiries into the
matter. The variety of the effects
on the mental faculties of different
brains is also extreme. This IN
dicates such different qualities and
susceptibilities in different brains
as regards this agent, that it makes
the whole question of the ehects OF
alcohol most complicated one,
not 10 be explained by few un'
qualified assertions. In reply to
the question, What are the normal
effects of alcohol on the mental
forces of the brain ? the scientific
man must reply, What kind OF
brain do you mean? And it is only
by a careful study Of the qualities,
the tendencies, and potentlalitles
of different brains, that we can
answer the first question properly.
We need to study the mental
qualities of the brain at different
periods of life, in the two sexes, IN
different temperaments and con
stitutions, in different races, in
different states Of health and ylgor,
and with reference to the hereditary
tendencies Of the organ; for all
these things influence the effects OF
one single small dose of alcohol.
So we find, looking from the point
of view of the amount of the doses,
the effect is very different. There
is. [ believe, no other agent known
which differs so greatly in different
instances in the dose needed to
produce the same effect on the
mental powers as a dose of alcohol,
and herein again we find that there
must be the greatest difference in
the power of resisting the effects OF
alcohol in different brains. Taking
the lower animals, that dliference
is exceedingly small; an ounce of
alcohol given to dozen dogs OF the
same size will practically have the
effect on them all; but an ounce
given each to a dozen men has not
only the most different effect in the
mental faculties, as we have seen,
but in the amount of the effect it
canses. Some brains are exceed
ingly sensitive to very small guam
titles: other brains have the power
of resisting or tolerating alcohol IN
a wondrous degree, this being an
innate quality quite apart from the
effect of the use and custom. These
differences are so great as to com
pel MS to conclude that there are
enormous inherent disparitics in
human beings in this respect, and
this is no doubt one Of the very
great dangers IN the use Of al
cOhOl.
So we also find at the various
periods of life, ordinary small doses
of alcohol have very different
effects. Ina child the effect IS
extremely great; in a boy or girl 1t
is also great, but it isnot so great IN
a growing adolescent. In the two
sexes there are also considerable
differences, the female having less
resisting power, her brain being
usually much more susceptible to
the influence Of this agent. Look
| ing at different races, the difference
of effect of the same dose is also
extremely great. There are some
savage races that are so subject to
its influence that very small dose
indeed-half an Ounce-wlll have
greater effect on them than two or
three ounces will have on an Ordi-
nary European. The psychology
cal. the mental, effects Of small
doses of alcohol are therefore cx-
ceedingly various, and we have not
vet discovered the precise qualities
of brain which caused these diff
ferences. We cannot tell before
hand which brain will be suscep-
tible to its effects, and which will
not. Looking at the matter next
! from point of view of the effects
: of a much larger dose, these will be
, found much more uniform. The
! effect instead of being stimulating
is then narcotic, and We have d
- deadening, aralyzing, and tempo
! rary arrestment of the mental
, functions of the brain in every
individual if a sufficient quantity Is
| taken. But here we 6nd mucl
/ variety in the way the result Is
S arrived at, when carefully studied
e In one person we have this
0 paralysis, this deadening, taking
G place first on the intellectual
o faculties, in another on the
5 emotional, in another on the pro
pensities, and in another on the
}. power of motion. We see certain
- kind Of mental degeneration of
= slight type, which results in thos
who habitually take an amount o
aIchol that is to them excessive
, This slow but quite marked type o
t mental degeneration a doctor q