The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-05
1T is A PARALYZER.
Physiological Action of Alcohol on the
Brain Tissues.

Brain Tissues.
These gray cells are brought into
action by coming into contact with the
blood. The blood teaches the corticle
structure of the brain through the
vascular membrane known as the pi-
amater, which fits the convolutions, like
a glove fits the fingers of the hand.
1t is a physiological fact, that, owing
to the vascularity of this membrane
and other blood vessels that pass into
this great center, one-ffth of the blood
of the body continuously circulates
in the brain, especially during the
waking hours. During great mental
excitement there is more blood even
than this in contact with the cephalic
structure. We find, too, that the brain
is capable of contracting and expand
ing as the blood fills the organ and re-
cedes from it during the hour of sleep
There is another known physiological
fact of Importance in studying this
center, and that is this: AS we all
know, many people drink alcohol to
excess, and we know, too, that alcohol
is indigestible; that when taken into
the stomach it is absorbed into the
blood without undergoing any cataly-
tic change. When absorbed it cir
culates in the blood as al
cohol When eliminated by the
execretory organs it is thrown off as
alcohol, and if not then one-fifth of
the amount of alcohol that is in the
1,looI ,,,ret ,aoaceo r;ly ooyoa in contact
with the tissues of this important
structure. 1t is also a known fact
that when nerve tissue is exposed to
diluted alcohol, it eXcites it, and when
brought in contact with a strong solu-
ton of alcohol, or alcohol that is not
properly diluted, it paralyzes it; so
that if onc-fifth of the blood of the
body continuously circulates in the
brain, then one-fifth of the alcohol
that is taken by man and absorbed into
the blood must necessarily come in
contact with this delicate structure,
and when it does, it first, in small
amounts, eXcites the action of the
cells. But when the blood is over
charged with alcohol it then paralyzes
these cells-a fact that we see dem
onstrated when men are under the in
f1unce of this agent. We find that the
gray cells are incapable on account of
this paralyzation of performing their
functions, and the man talks inco
herently or at random and is tempo
rarily insane. If the man is very much
under the influence of alcohol, it para
lyzes the gray cells that preside over
the motor functions first, and we find
him incapable of moving his limbs as
he should, and as the effect increases
it invades the center that presides over
sensation, and he is completely marco
tized from it, so much so that he is
not conscious of bodily injuries that
he may receive while under the influ-
ence of the drug. If this alcoholism
is crowded still further. it may not
only invade the intellectual, motor and
sensory ganglia, but it may go on and
paralyze the centers that preside over
respiration and circulation, and when
this is the case the individual dies
from alcoholic poison.
Understanding, as we do, the physi-
illogical action of this agent upon the
nerve centers, we cannot help con-
demning, in the strongest terms, the
use of an agent that has for its end
the continuous exhaustion of the i'm
portant part of man.-Medical and
Surgical Reporter.