Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-05

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ACTS AS AN ANAEsTHETIc.
Recent Experiment Showing che
AZ True Nature and Eject OF Al
In. cOhOl on the system.

sults of a number OF experiments fer
determining the poisonous effect of the
various alcohols. The results 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
added 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-haf part of amylic al
cohol TO one thousand parts Of water
gas found to be sufficient to produce
death, 4.
In the face OF such facts as these it
seems idle to discuss further the ques-
zion of the food value of alcohol. II
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
1y identical properties, only differing
an the intensity with which their char
Rcteristic effects are manifested.
Cololian also points out the interest
ing fact that while other poisons, such
as nicotine and atropine, are wholly in
uocuous to certain classes of animals,
as rabbits and goats for example, al
eohol is universal poison. 1t kills
every living thing. Darwin, in his ex-
periments upon insectivorous plants,
shows that alcohol is also highly pois-
onous to the drosera and other plants,
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.
keefeld, by the adoption of new
method of experimentation, has shown
that when introduced into the circula-
zion, 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
cohol is given in less than a fatal dose,
these various effects disappear with
the symptoms of intoxication. Klee-
fields experiments were made upon
rabbits. Two openings were made In
the head, one on each side After the
recovery of the animal from the shock
OF the operation, a small dose of we'll
dnusted 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 submitted to microscopic examina-
ton. A couple of days later, after the
.gecoyery of the ANIMAL from the effects
of the alcohol, another specimen was
obtained in the same way from the OPP
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, invoIv-
ing large share of the cells of the
external gray layer of the brain; but
the same conditions exist temporarily
tn 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 ID
the heart are not materially inter
fered with, even when the higher
functions of the brain are completeH
annihilated, as when a man is deaC
drunk.
In summing up the results of his ob
servations, Kleefeld remarks: 9Th,
notifications which we have observe,
are capable of explaining all the phe
nomena of drunkenness-the disorde
of ideas, the suppression of the rea
.soning faculty, the incoordinate
movements, the Authorizations. are al
due, as we believe, to partial retrac
ton of the neurons to pathological Gil
cults organized in the centers. This
tie explanation which we have a
ready given of the phases of narcosi
under the influence of chloroform."
Keefeld has certainly furnished ev
dence so convincing that no one ca
longer doubt that alcohol is an ane,
thetic agent, and it's effects are alwaJ
those of a depressant, resulting from
displacement of the neurons as well &
other cells, of which abundant proc
has been furnished; as, for exampl
in relation to the influence of alcoh,
upon blood cells.
In the face of those facts, it shouI
no longer be maintained by any OF
who is abreast with the model
progress Of medical science that a
'cohol is tonic, q useful stimulant,
Ia any Other way an aid to any mutt
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