New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-01-25
written for the Reyiew.)
Effects of Stimulants and Narcotics
on the Human System.
VI

VI.
Is. ALCOHOL AND THE LIVER. -
Long-continued use of alcoholics in
larger quantities causes remarkable
changes in the liver. The continued
stimulation to over-action produces an
excessive growth of connective tissue,
thus enlarging the liver at first. These
tissue growths. by COMPRISING the
secreting cells, interfere with the secre-
tion of healthy bile. They also obstruct
the flow of blood through the liver.
The size of the organ is subsequently
diminished. Inflammation may set in,
and in extreme cases the liver is trans
ormed into hardened and knobbed
mass known as hob-nailed liver, GIN
drinkers liver, or drunkard's liver.
s'This condition not only interferes with
the proper formation of bile, but it OBJ
structs the return of blood from the or
gans in the abdomen, and we have
dropsy as a consequence. 8
l9. ALCOHOL AND THE KIDNEYS. -
heterogeneous and mineral wastes of the
body are removed by the actions Of the
kidneys. The greater portion of the al
cohol which is not oxidized in the sys-
tenn, is cast out by the kidneys. If the
kidneys perform their work too slowly,
a very small amount ofalcohol thus
passing through them may stimulate
them to better work Excessive drink
ing, however, produces oyer-at ton and
in many cases leads to one of the forms
OF Bright's disease, which causes poi
soning of the system and death by the
accumulation of wastes.
20. MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTS OF
ALCOHOL. - ''Alcohol is found to hin.
der the making of healthy bones in chill.
dren. . =. Alcohol Injuries bone-growth by
being present in the blood and prevent
ing healthy feeding of the bones The
recovery from rheumatism is delayed
by the use of beer, cider, and sweet
wines -. The free use of wines, togeth-
er with rich food, often brings on gout.
Beer-drin king is great cause of gout
among the poor of London" CDR. Cut
ter, 1879
The excessive use of alcoholics may
impair sight and produce diseases of the
eye. It also diminishes the quickness
and acuteness of hearing CDR. ScougaD
and blunts the sense of touch (Dr.
Ridge, 1881.
Excessive drinking often leads to fat
ty degeneration of the muscles, thus wea-
kening their power. This replacement OF
muscular fbres by fat is most injurious
when it takes place in the heart and in
the muscular coat of the arteries. '.The
fatty change often continues to chalky
degeneration change. An alcoholic
fatty-heart is a weak heart. 1t cannot
do its work efficiently. It often enlarg-
.es. It may suffer rupture, giving rise
to sudden death. A fatty or chalky
condition of the arteries renders the
blood-tube inelastic and not able to con-
tract, as we'll as brittle. Hence, if the
heart suddenly beats rapidly and
strongly, an artery may crack. This
gives rise to anhursm Ga tumor forma-
tion), and, in he brain, to apoplexv." !"
Excessive use of alcoholics may pro-
duce permanent change in the lungs.
This change is known as condensation,
and manifests itself by short breath and
'wheezy breathing.'' In lungs thus
changed, a slight cold often produces
alcoholic consumption, (which is usu-
ally rapidly. fatal.'' ''The belief that
alcohol has the power of arresting
phthisical (consumptive) development
is one which experience does not sus-
tain If an individual with developed
phthisis reaches complete recovery
while taking alcoholic stimulants free
ly, am confident that he would have
reached it mere rapidly and safely with
out them. . Malt liquors and wines do
less harm Gn consumption) than whis-
key and brandy" CDR. Loomis, 1885,
''Alcohol, used in excess, induces
thickening of the lining membrane of
the larynx and bronchi.'' The quality
of the voice may thus be greatly i'm
paired. 1t must be borne in mind,
however, that a majority of celebrated
singers are addicted to the moderate
use of alcoholics. 1t cannot be said
that alcoholics, used in moderation,
produce any change either for the bet
ter or worse in the quality of the voice.
Upon being questioned on this subject,
about three hundred out of four hundred
singers gave it as their opinion that the
voice derives no assistance from the use
of alcoholics. (Dr. Browne.)
The direct effect of small doses of al
cohol upon the heart is an increase in
the rapidity and force of the pulsations
of that organ. Beyond a certain limit,
however, the effects are directly oppo-
site. Large quantities of alcohol act
as a sedative and narcotic, and by par
tial paralysis Of the nerves that control
the hearts action, in most cases cause
it to beat slower. As snake-poison also
has sedative effect upon the heart,
some textbooks inform rs that the old
method Of giving alcoholics to persons
bitten by venomous serpent, is entire
" wrong because alcohol reinforces the
effects of ke-poison upon the heart.
There can be no danger from this
source, however. if the alcohol is given
in small doses at short Intervals until
the pulse shows that the limit Of stimu-
!lation has been reached. Moreover. the
effect Of !. substance upon the diseased
body is in many cases directly opposite
to that on the healthy body. Thus NJ
cohol, which in the healthy body para.
lyzes the sympathetic nerye-branches
that envelop the blood vessels. and by
dilating the latter congests and inaames,
i