The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-12-27
KING ALCOHOL.
The Effect of it on the Human
System
AS REVEALED BY THE MICROSCOPE.
Sharpness and Certainty of Sensations
Modified by Small Doses, but Dead
ened by Large Ones.

stance, which must be replaced. Ma
terial taken from outside does this work
of rebuilding, and it is OF two sorts
one, which is enough like body sub
stance to be readily changed into it and
express the same activities; the other,
so unlike that if it once finds way into
the body in such form as to express its
own latent power, it Injuries OF de-
stroys-is poison. Alcohol belongs to
the second class That it Injuries can
be readily seen in the liver, kidneys
and stomach of drunkard, and also in
more delicate changes of the elements
revealed by microscope, where the
quantity taken has been even small |
one. A physiological examination
proves always beyond doubt that, where
any appreciable quantity of alcohol has
been taken, there are changes in the
body substance, not always indeed
wholly proportionate to the quantity |
taken, because the living elements have
always more or less power to resist
and overcome. While the influence
of alcohol on the elements of the
body is so evident and important, it
is yet only as that influence touches
the nerves that we are conscious of it.
This becomes real to us in two ways:
First, through the senses Of taste and
smell, as it touches the outward body,
and, secondly, when it has entered
into the blood and begins its chemical
working in the nerve centers. How
| far shall we count these influences
pleasurable? We are won't to count
them one, but in physiological sense
| they are very different, resulting from
the action of very different parts OF the
drink taken. Wine, for instance, is
made up of six elements, five OF which
give the taste, the sixth the fragrance OF
the wine. One of the five is alcohol,
the only one which cannot be enjoyed
alone, and is never taken alone except
by the man whose sense of taste has
been utterly destroyed.
The effect of wine upon the brain
and other nerve centers is that OF the
alcohol alone, To understand 1T phys
iologically one must remember the or
binary action of the nerves. An I'M
preston from without meets us, the
nerves carry it so the nerve center, and
a movement or other expression re-
suits. The movement does not, how
ever, always accompany the sensation
directly. In reading, for instance,
one may indefinitely postpone any ex'
preston of received impressions; and
then single action may express
number of stored-up impressions, OF
again one impression may call forth
number of movements. Man has
learned to in some sense measure the
= relation of movement to sensational
to rapidity of movement, and as to thu
relative strength of the two. 1t II
> found, first, that the sharpness ant
/ certainty of sensations are modified by
even small doses of alcohol, completel.
deadened or destroyed by large guam
titles. Secondly, as to the expires
sion of sensation i'll motion, small
, doses of alcohol increase the quicknes
of that expression; large doses max
it slower and more slow until at las
t there is no expression. Thirdly, as t
o the movements themselves, small dose
d make them more rapid, but less sure
: attaining the end sought; large dose
Il tend to make movements impossible
9 And popular experience bears witne'
t to the truth of these three statement
g only the masses cannot understand ho
/ the rapidity with which action follow
impression and rapidity of action itse
IS are increased by small doses but decrea
Is ed by larger quantities, and the frien'
of alcohol have claimed that the d1fte
y ence between small and large doses
rs real, not of degree, and really dist
A. puishes the moderation of the wise m;
from the madness of the foolish. b
n science has proved that this contradl
ed ton is only apparent. The same
TX creased rapidity of expression OF sc
90 sation is noticed when the brain
stupefied, and the greatest rapidlty
ne suits when the brain is entirely sci
he rated from the other centers Ref
Id action is more sudden and more raj
II than brain action. So the influence
Dit alcohol is exactly as if the brain w
as cut away. The man no longer stops
la consider the whole situation, to mt
use of impressions of former experien
OF stored away in his brain, or we
M present obligations, and the sly salo
to keeper well understands this. The II
pal who would engage another in brt
m OF caiole a secret from him knows W
raj how alcohol dethrones reason
1t loosens the tongue. And as more
by more is taken, the Supplying infiue
as reaches lower and lower, until at
Co. even reflex action is imperfect
zen slow.
the If this then is the influence, WI
be is the pleasure in it? 1t clearly can
in lessen the power of outside infiuel
which harm us; 1t can as clearly
- increase our own powers Ill so Ia
@! they enter into this conflict with
"o,X outside world-it rather makes us
FAN skillful and able. What can IL
: IN then ? 1t can deceive us 1t q
zN our appreciation of powers outsio
ESSa us, until they seem SO much smi
SM that we are sure we can conquer VI
~ and so we gain a feeling Oh sa1i'
ton. Nine-tenths of those who
Rain strong drink seek this feeling in
Ta she hol. This is their refreshing" at
and tide. their crest from the day cal
gree. their forgetfulness of sorrows;
AZ