The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-05-04
TEMPERANCE READING.
ALcoHoL's DEADLY WORK.

Some Original Experiments by DIR. Ham,
mond-The Stages of INSTRUMENTATION
the Brain May Be Impregnated with
the Poison.
Several years ago undertook q series of
experiments for the purpose of arriving at
conclusions. as nearly exact as possible. rel
alive to the direct effect of alcohol upon
the nervous system. These were performed
upon dogs and rabbits, and consisted of two
series One series, performed upon dogs,
TO which alcohol. in quantities of from one
TO three ounces, diluted with equal amounts
of water, was administered by the stomach.
gave these results:
]. Period of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the
movements of the limbs, acceleration of pulse
and respiration, contraction of the pupils.
2 Period of perversion = Muscular paraly-
sis beginning in the posterior extremities. ir-
regularity OF pulse and of respiration, dilata-
ton of tire pupils.
g. Period Of collapse-Complete paralysis of
motion. anaesthesia. feebleness of the pulse
and of respiration, stoppage of respiration and
OF the hearts action, death.
Now. l was DESTROYS of knowing how
much of each of these conditions was due
to the presence of alcohol in the blood
circulating through the brain, and how
much to disturbance in the quantity of
blood normally present in this organ 1
therefore made an opening in the skull of
dog, and secured in it an instrument, by
means of which any increase or diminu-
ton of the amount of blood contained in
the brain could be exactly determined
then gave the animal an ounce of alcohol
diluted with an equal quantity of water
In fifty seconds detected alcohol in the
air expired from The lungs In four and a
hait minutes the respiration was acceler-
ated, the action OF the heart became more
rapid and strong. and the pupils were be-
ginning to contract Still there was no in
crease in the intracranial pressure, and
therefore knew that, up to this time, the
amount of blood in the brain had not been
augmented In six minutes and half the
dogs gait was staggering, and, though Its
movements were uncertain, as if from
vertigo, there was no paralysis The in
tracranial pressure was still unaltered
The fluid remained stationary in the tube
of the instrument for seventeen minutes
Then it began to rise slowly, and with this
increase in the intracranial pressure pa
ralysis of the posterior extremities supe-
vened. AS the amount of blood contained
in tho Uranium became greater the paraly-
sis extended, the pupils dilated and stupor
ensued. repeated this experimental twice
with similar results.
The deductions to be made are that the
first symptoms which results from the tax
ing of alcohol into the system are due to the
circulation of this substance through the
blood vessels of the brain, while the later
phenomna are, in part at least. the results
OF cerebral congestion. In man like Sc
quence is observed A single glass of
wine induces an exhilaration and activity
of mind before there is any evidence of
an increase in the amount of blood circu-
lating in the cerebral blood vessels Thus
we have as the immediate effects of alco-
hol upon the nervous system a certain de-
gree of poisoning of the brain from the
direct action of alcohol upon its substance,
and in the next place an increase in the
amount of blood circulating through this
organ.
We are hence able to study with consid-
| cradle degree of exactness the phenomena
| of alcoholic intoxication so far as they re-
late to the nervous system. We have, in the
first place, the stage of excitement which is
characterized by a sensation of heat in the
skin of the whole body and by redness
in the face The eyes appear to be larger
and more brilliant. the ideas flow more
| readily and are of better quality than are
natural to the individual. The tendency to
talk is generally increased, but the articu-
lation is usually notso distinct and exact IS
is natural The disposition becomes more
generous, and there is, perhaps, more reck-
lessness as to consequences, although the
bounds of propriety relative to conduct and
conversation are not exceeded. Occasion
ally different set of symptoms results.
The individual, from being naturally talka-
tive, becomes taciturn and stolid, and gen.
erous disposition is changed to one of which
churlishness, selfishness and tendency to
quarrel are the chief features. If the guam
| tity of alcohol taken has been small
| or if the individual now ceases to drink it,
the subsequent stages of jntoxication do
not supervene and the equilibrium is soon
/ restored without the occurrence of any alb
normal condition. But if the amount i'm
bibed has been large, or if the rotations
are continued, the second stage, that of
| perturbation, ensuea
There are now vertigo, disturbances of
| sight such as result from paralysis of one or
| more of the muscles of the eyeballs and Civ
ing rise to double vision, contraction of the
| pupils, noises in the ears and increased red
ness of the face The sense of taste be.
| comes weakened, the voice loses its natural
infections and is rough and monotonous
| and the articulation is indistinct from par
| tial paralysis and defective coordination
of the muscles of speech. The gait, from
| like paralysis of the muscles of the lower
limbs becomes weak and uncertain, and
hence, If the individual attempts to walk,
he staggers. The movements of the upper
limbs are irregular and often exhibit
marked tremor like that which constitutes
SO prominent feature of paralysis agitans,
or shaking palsy, as it is called in the YER
nacular.
Still greater alterations from the normal
standard are shown in the mind The most
striking change occurs with the emotions
which generally assume an undue promi-
hence and dominate over other of the men,
tai faculties. And it not infrequently hap
pens that the feeling which is most con-
spicuous is the very opposite of that which
is natural to the person affected Thus the
brave man becomes cowardly, the timid
courageous, the peaceable quarrelsome, the
modest shameless, etc. Usually, however,
the emotions which the subject in his nor
NAL condition Is able to control and to keep
in proper subordination to the intellect
and will become exaggerated and are no
longer held in subsection. 1t therefore
happens that when this stage of alcoholic
intoxication is reached the person who,
while in his natural state, is high toned and
spirited, is now ready to take offense and to
engage in quarrels upon the slightest prov
ocation, and often when no cause for his
emotion and conduct exists 1t is in this
stage that outrages against the law are most
apt to occur. -
The more purely intellectual part of the
mind does not escape The Judgment is
weekend, the memory, impaired, the imag-
ination exalted or perverted and decisions,
| often having their origin in disordered SEN
sations and often arising in the mind with
out any accompanying illusion or halluci-
nation, may assume the government of the
thoughts and actions The ability to grasp
the details of subject and to comprehend
them is greatly impaire OF even altogether
destroyed, and hence study or continuous
and systematic thought is no longer pos
'sible 80 az 4,
In the third stage the full action of the
alcohol is attained. The mind, the special
senses and the power of motion are more
or less completely abolished; the heart and
other important organs of the body are