St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-04-27
By Cosbi Carpenter.
FIRST PRIZE

The nervous system consists OF the
brain, spinal cord and nerves.
The first result of alcohol on the ner-
vous system is excitement of the brain.
Almost at once it begins to dull the men
tai powers, and this dulling action be-
comes more and more noticeable, as the
habit grows stronger.
So it is hard to say how large an
amount can be taken without any injury
to the Judgment. Some of the keenest
thinkers have found that their powers
of concentrated thought is dulled by even
very small amounts of alcohol.
Another injury to the system is the
quickening of the action of the heart.
This is caused by the deadening or be-
numbing of the nerves, and long con-
tinued use of alcohol is almost certain to
cause an organic disease of this impor-
tant organ of the body.
The brain is richly supplied with blood
vessels. The nerves in the walls of these
blood-vessels, that should regulate the
flow of the blood, are also deadened by
the use of alcohol and that allows the
blood-vessels to stretch too much, and
too much blood rushes to the brain. This
causes the flushed faces and undue ex-
element.
Because thoughts and words flow
more rapidly after taking alcoholic
helps brain work. But you can not trust
this activity of the brain 1t is great
mistake to think that alcohol in any
form will help brain work.
Judgment is the faculty of the mind
that decides what is good sense, what is
right, wise and best Alcohol takes the
edge off the judgment. A person
whose brain is excited with alcohol will
laugh and be greatly pleased with
~.
When under this influence, many peo-
pile have uttered words and performed
deeds that have filled them with shame,
when they were recalled after the effects
of alcohol have passed off. Many men,
who have been successful in life have
ruined their business and lost their for
tune by becoming attached to strong
drink, and have made themselves unfit
for any duty
If still more alcohol is used, those func-
tons which are under the direct control
of the spinal cord, become disturbed.
Power over some of the muscles is lost.
The muscles of the lower lip and the
legs are first to feel this lack of control.
The speech becomes thick and the gait,
uncertain. 1t effects the reason and the
lower or animal impulses. They lose
control of the Judgment, and the will.
The emotional, the impulsive, and the
purely instructive parts of the nature are
excited and act without a master. Cruel
deeds and crime are the result. When he
is completely under the influence of alco-
hol nearly all the actions of his body
cease, except breathing. and the beating
of the heart.
Careful testing has shown that one
who has taken even small quantities of
alcohol cannot add column of figures so
quickly, or. if as quickly as usual, not
accurately. Hecan talk morera pidly, but
cannot think as clearly. He is slower
than usual. If he is hunting he loses
straight aim; if setting type, he works
slower and makes more mistakes. Pro-
badly he does not realize this, and feeling
somewhat excited and exhilarated, he
may actually think he is doing more
work than usual, when he is really doing
less. The person with whom he has bus
mess dealings, and keeps perfectly sober,
gets the better of him in a bargain. If he
uses more than a comparatively small
amount of alcohol, the dulling effect be-
comes sc. great that he presently notices
it himself He finds that he is unable to
talk intelligently; he becomes confused
and stupid, and is finally unable to walk
straight.
The report of Waterford Lunatic Asy-
lun in Ireland for 1908, states that most
of the people are made insane by the use
OF alcohol. The poisonous effects OF alco-
hol on the nervous system of the parent
are in many cases transferred to the chill
dren. The excessive use of alcoholic
drinks, whether pure or impure. may
cause delirium tremens. This is a severe
poisoning of the nerve cells, resulting in
trembling, weakness and great fear.
Often the victim thinks he sees horned
animals, splitting insects and snakes.
DIR. Kerr reports that in one family af-
ter the births OF a healthy son and daugh-
ter, the father became -drunkard OF
the four children born after this, three
were idiots. Scientific Investigations
confirm the warning of the Scriptures ::
"The sins of the parents shall be visited
upon the children even unto the third
and fourth generation"