The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-12
ALWAYS A POISON.


Drinking on tho Human Body.
The Blade has recently received
several requests that the effect Of al
cohol upon the system of the drinker
should be discussed in these columns.
This topic necessarily covers such
wide range that we shall confine this
article to the case of ''moderate"
drinkers-those who rarely become
fully intoxicated, but who drink fire.
quently, so that it is rare that there is
not some alcohol retained in the sys-
tenn. This class Of drinkers is proba-
bly, greater in numbers than any other.
We shall give only the views of the
highest medical authorities upon this
subject, and the conclusions to be
drawn therefrom.
The great organs most subject to
fatal disease from the use of alcoholic
stimulants-and these include all
forms of spirits, wines and fermented
liquors, like beer and ale-are the
liver, kidneys and the heart. We
place the liver first, because it is the
one most liable Most of the liquids
we swallow are carried directly from
the stomach and digestive tract into
the liver through the portal vein;
hence the alcohol imbibed reaches
that organ first. in full quantity, and
must pass through its tissues before it
can possibly get into the general cir
culation and reach other portions OF
the body. Now, it can not be too
strongly impressed upon the reader
that alcohol is a slow poison-an
irritant poison--and its effects are
directly proportioned to the amount
taken. The result of this stream of
alcohol pouring through the liver is
to induce inflammation of that organ
and lead the way to a large number Of
grave complications. The liver is the
main source of sugar and uric acid in
the system. Alcohol increases the
amount of these products and hence
leads to and aggravates diabetes
which is characterized by sugar being
found in the primary products-and
govt, which is caused by an excess of
uric acid. Besides these effects of the
Inflammation induced by drink, it
often results in cirrhosis, in which the
liver becomes contracted. hard and
irregular in shape; and in enlarge
ment or fatty degeneration of the or
gan. In both these cases it fails to
perform its functions properly and
death eventually results.
AS soon as the alcohol imbibed
passes through the liver and gets into
the general circulation, the lungs and
the skin begin to get rid of it. At
every breath the expired air is loaded
with its vapor; it is thrown off in the
insensible perspiratiou from the skin.
Hence the kidneys do not receive the
full amount drank, as does the liver;
but enough passes through them to
cause the gravcst disorders. and all of
them fatal. Drinking is frightful
source of Bright's disease, which is a
degeneration of their structure. The
kidneys aid in the task of Kidding the
system of the alcoholic poison; they
are easily over-worked. and the extra
labor imposed upon them causes this
| degeneration. Other diseases of these
organs are caused by drink. Spiritu-
Gus liquors are the more apt to cause
granular kidney" while beer-drink-
ing brings on fatty degeneration. AL
buminuria, in its most troublesome
forms, also results from steady drink
ing.
The effects of alcohol upon the
hearts action are peculiar The
latest view is that it acts upon the
nerve centers like various other poi
sons-atropia, for example paralyz-
ing to some extent the vagus nerve,
which has a checking or retarding
effect on cardiac action. Released
partially from this control, the heart
starts off like wild horse. Its action
is quickened, the blood is driven
through the arteries with increased
force, the face is flushed, and other
familiar phenomena of accelerated
circulation follow. II the dose of al
cohol becomes largely increased, its
paralyzing effect extends to the accel-
Grating as we'll as the retarding
nerves, and the hearts action becomes
slow and weak, the mans breathing
stertorous, and death even NAV SUPER
vene (For the benefit of medical
reade we will say that the above eX-
PLANTATION OF the mode of action OF
alcohol on the heart is that OF the
London Lancet-well known to be the
medical journal of the highest author
ity in Great Brittany
So much for the Immediate action of
alcohol on the heart; now for its ef-
fects resulting from steady drinking.
1t is the universal testimony of the
medical profession that intemperance
is most fruitful cause of all forms of
hea" It disease. Among those most fire.
lueutly met with, due to this cause,
are hypertrophy, a diltation. va vular
disease, and fatty degeneration-all of
them fatal eventually. These pernic-
Lous effects extend to the entire circu-
al ing system, inducing fatty granular