The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-02

drinking fhysioiogicaiiy Considered.
Exactly what Is the action Of alcohol
on the human organism We take the
reply from Drunkenness. a book rub.
lished In 1893. by George Il. Wilson. NJ.
ID. then assistant In large asylum In
Edinburgh. and later placed at the
head Of costly and truly scientific ex-
pertinent. 90 ascertain what prospect
there Il that chronic alcoholism can be
cured The process Of lntoXlcatlon he
describes thus.
II man drinks considerable
quantity Of alcoholic liquor. large
amount " the alcohol passes unchang-
cd through the bodily system as such.
The alcohol mingles with bis blood
and IL carried with II through every
part Of the body. 30 that. n be- die soon
after drinking Il may be found IN the
large organs. This IL notably the case
with the liver. but most OF All with the
nervous system. a kind Of elective
aihnity seems 10 exist between brain
tissue ana alcohol. and IL b. ON this
account that We regard drunkenness
az essentially nervous affection 49,
lore the general narcotic effect ls
brought about % has a primary so'cc-
i've action on the nerve ccntors which
regulate the blood supply. and in par.
tiouIar The blood supply ~ the nervous
system IhH immediate result " al
cohol Is called Stimulation. aud occurs
Tor the most part before the alcohol
has been long 10 contact With the brain
tissue II ~ ana established
Tact that alcohol lnterferes with the
functions % the blood. 20 altering its
character as To impede aeration ~ the
tissues and the repair Of waste. The
brain shares with the other organs IN
this defect Of nutrition The action
Induced IN the brain Is of the nature
Of a progressive paralysis Moral quail
itios and the higher process of intelll-
Eence are therefore fr't invaded Self
control Is lost. and judgment defective;
~ a later stage with the abolition ~
Imagination. feeling and will the man
becomes stupid. duh and passive"
Before this process Is complete there
are motor impaIrments The nerves
that 30 10 the lips fail 20 do their duty.
and The willy inebHate purporely steers
clear ~ difficult words. later infection
~ o fault. aud the literary character NJ
his conversation doterioutcs then the
voice loses cloarncsa. finally emotional
speech alone may cKpletiyeg.
etc. Next come defects OF balance that
cause the staggering gait and make
him imagine the door too narrow for
him 10 pass through. and be- secs dou-
bler Many more familiar symptoms
Of intoNicltion might be- cited. bat
enough has been quoted 90 show tha,
habltual drunkenness signifies poTma-
neat implrments IN the nervous sys-
TEN. which ls best called alcoholic dis.
E0lution-a rotrogrcfslyc pathological
eccs. IN the causation ~ which Their,
ise two elements First. there are the
recognized effects produced by the d.
rect action Of alcohol on the nerye-tls-
sue. and by the Impoverished quality
Of the blood supply These are chiefly
Of the nature Of dogoneratiye breaking
down Of the nerve elements. thlcken.
Ing and lnelasticity Of the blood yes
sells, and second. an oyergrowih u N,
tissue elements which normally sery,
as the mere groundwork In which tn,
nerve elements are lmbedded
Drunkenness Is neuroals and takes
lts place In the family tree Of diseases
alongside Of insanity epilepsy. and IN,
Ike. II u on the way "a
mental death"