The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-20
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
How Alcohol Works in the Body and
on the Mind-A Scientific State.
ment of the Harmful Effects Pro.

on the Mind-A Scientific State.
ment of the Harmful Effects Pro.
duced.
An important scientific statement
of the effects produced by alcoholic
liquors is quoted by J: G. Wolley, in
the New Voice. 1t was made by an
eminent psychologist in an address de-
livered to the Australian Intercolon-
ial Medical Congress, which is as fol-
lows:
The explanation of the hold that
alcohol as a beverage has upon all
civilized nations is to be found in the
study and appreciation of its physio-
. logical action in the body; not prim-
arily in the vicious tendencies Of
men, nor in the craving for some
form of narcotization, nor in the
mental and physical stress under
present day civilization.
The craving for alcohol, in spite
of the ravages it produces in the
human body, in the family circle, and
in society, is the direct outcome Of
it's own properties as a nerve paral-
ysant when taken into the system,
and alcohol must, therefore, be held
primarily responsible for the human
sacrifice associated with it's use.
The first effect Of alcohol in the
empty stomach is to dilate the blood
vessels of the mucosa, producing a
feeling of local warmth. The next
is a reflex action on the vasomotor
centre in the brain, leading to paral-
ysis of the muscular coats of the ca
pillary vessels, and accompanied by
a feeling Of superficial warmth.
At this stage the pulse is. quick
ened, chiefly because of the dimin-
ished blood tension, and therefore
of the resistance in the vessels. The
cutaneous vascular dilation, though
giving a feeling of increased radia-
ton of heat and therefore Of a d.
minution in the body temperature.
The presence in the brain of an
increased blood supply is stimulating
the mental faculties to greater ac-
tivity, and the quickened cerebral
circulation is conveying the alcohol
in it's unchanged state more rapidly
to the brain centres.
The specific action of the poison
now commences-viz.: paralysis af-
fecting the, nerve centres in the in
verse order of their development"
The highest brain centres are the
latest developed, and these are par
alyzed first and most.
With the progressive paralysis now
initiated there still goes on the n.y.
/. per-activity by the increased blood
supply Of all the centres below, so
that with the complete loss Of power
of the higher tier of brain cells there
is the accompanying over activity OF
all the tiers below.
The highest tier Of nerve cells, de-
veloped last and therefore most un-
stable, has to do with self-control.
The highest pinnacle in a mans
moral nature Is the power, to control
or inhibit the suggestions or inclina-
lions Of his lower self.
1t is this power Of inhibition or
s%elf-control that is the first paralyzed'
by alcohol, and the paralysis Is ap-
parent at the earliest stage Of alco-
holic ingestion. A man who has just
come under the influence OF a moder-
ate quantity Of alcohol is at once no.
ticed to lose his reserve, his self.re-
straint, his discretion.
Later in the stage of intoXication
the next tier of brain cells goes,
while the first tier remains function
less throughout, still more and more
saturated with its poison. His moral
judgment becomes dulled, and more
of his ~self-control is given up.
Another tier is paralyzed and some
motor centres are gone; still, in har-
mony with the law that the nerve
cells are made functionless in the
inverse order of development, the
highest and last developed suffering
first and most.
During all this time all the lower
centres (including those governing
the animal passions) are in a state
; Of over activity.
Another tier goes, and the mind Is
a blank. Paralysis Of all the higher
centres is complete; the victim be-
comes insensible; the muscular pow
er of the limbs gives away, and pro-
found anesthesia results. =.
If the alcoholic dose has been
large, and still another tier para
lyzed, the respiratory function is
lost, and the heart whose centre Is
first developed, soon ceases to beat.
Thus at the stage Of complete in
t~oxication all the higher centres -
moral, mental and motor-are par
alyzed; the nerves centres are bathed
in blood saturated with alcohol, and
surcharged with waste products,
which the exhausted circulatory sys-
tenn and reduced vitality are not
able to eliminate.
It Rots and Ruins.