The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-06-05
ACTS AS AN ANAESTHETIC.
Recent Experiments Showing the
True Nature and Eject of Al
cOhOl on the system.


various alcohols. Theresults show that
all alcohols are powerful poisons, and
that their poisonous effect increases
regularly with increase of density and
increase of volatility.
In these experiments the alcohol was
ndded to the water containing the fish
which was the subject of the expert
ment. The mortal dose of thylic alco-
hol was found to be ten to fifteen
parts of alcohol to one thousand parts
of water. One-half part of amylic al
cohol to one thousand parts of water
was found to be sufficient to produce
death.
In the face of such facts as these it
seems idle to discuss further the ques-
ton of the food value Of alcohol. If
ethylic alcohol is a food, then methylic
alcohol, wood spirit, and fusel oil are
also foods. All the alcohols belong to
the same family of chemical sub
stances, and are possessed of practical
ly identical properties, only differing
in the intensity with which their char
acteristic effects are Manifested.
Cololian also points out the interest
ing fact that while other poisons, such
as nicotine and atropine, are wholly in
nocuous to certain classes of animals,
as rabbits and goats for example, al
cohol is a universal poison. 1t kills
every living thing. Darwin, in his ex-
perlments upon insectivorous plants,
shows that alcohol is also highly pois-
OnOuS IN the 1roSaro md o+bar ,,lr mo
the vapor of alcohol alone being suffi-
Gent to paralyze the activities of vege-
table life, and even to destroy it when
the plant is exposed to its action for
several hours.
kleefeld, by the adoption of new
method of experimentation. has shown
that when introduced into the circula-
ton, alcohol produces an almost in
staneous retraction of the minute
branches of the neurons, at least Of a
great number of them. He has also
shown that alcohol produces various
deformities of the neuron. When al
cohoi is given in less than a fatal dose.
these various effects disappear with
the symptoms of intoxication. Klee-
rabbits. Two openings were made in
the head, one on each side. After the
recovery of the animal from the shock
OF the operation, small dose of we'll
dilusted alcohol was injected into the
animal, and IS minutes later the
wound of the scalp was opened. and a
portion of the brain tissue shipped off,
and hnlIf cd fn mir
ton. couple of days later, after the
recovery of the animal from the effects
of the alcohol, another specimen was
obtained in the same way from the op-
posite side of the brain. Examination
showed the Characteristic appearance
of the effect of alcohol in the first
specimen, and normal cells in the
second.
One of the most interesting facts
brought out by Kleefeld is that this
deformed appearance of the cerebral
cells following the use of alcohol. is
the immediate result of the presence
of this poison in the blood, and is not
the result of degeneration, as sup
posed by Berkeley and others. 1t is. of
course, evident from Berkley's obser-
vations that in the habitual drunkard
this deformed condition of the cere-
bral cells is a fixed condition, involv-
ing large share of the cells of the
external gray6layer of the brain; but
the same conditions exist temporarily
in every man who is under the infiu-
ence of alcohol. The same is found to
be true of ether, chloroform, opium,
cocaine, and other narcotics.
Kleefeld's observations brought out
another point of considerable inter-
est; namely, that the cells of the bulb.
Or lowest part of the brain, are much
more resistant than those of other
portions of the spinal cord and of the
cerebrum. This accounts for the fact
that the respiration and the action of
the heart are not materially inter
Tered with, even when the higher
functions of the brain are completely
Annihilated, as when a man is dead
drunk.
In summing up the results of his OBJ
servations, Kleefeld remarks: "The
notifications which we have observed
are capable of explaining all the phe-
nomena of drunkenness-the disorder
OF ideas, the suppression of the rea-
soning faculty, the incoordinated
movements, the Authorizations, are all
due, as we believe, to partial retrac-
ton of the neurons to pathological cir
cults organized in the centers. This is
the explanation which we have al
ready given of the phases of narcosis
under the influence of chloroform."
Kleefeld has certainly furnished evil
dence so convincing that no one can
longer doubt that alcohol is an anes-
fhetic agent, and its effects are ALWAYS
those of depressant, resulting from
displacement of the neurons as well as
other cells, of which abundant proof
has been furnished; as, for example,
in relation to the influence of alcohol
upon blood cells.
In the face If those facts. il should
no longer be maintained by any one
who is abreast with the modern
progress of medical science that al
cohol is a tonic, useful stimulant, or
in any other way an aid to any nutri-