The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-03-12

the system, and might well re
termed the stage of excitement.
In The Second Stage.
When the effects OF alcohol are
carried beyond the first stage other
manages are induced in the nervous
SYSTEM, more especially in the cere-
oGo-spInal system. 1t is impossible to
say at present whether these hanees
are due to the direct action OF alcohol
upon the nervous matter, or whether
II IS simply due TO the modification OF
the circulation Of these parts. BE
TINS as 1t may, we do know that there
IS a deficiency in the power Of co-or-
dlnation Of muscular movement. This
Is caused by q loss Of nervous CON
troll over the muscles. II the battery
be applied at this stage the response
will be feeble, and, the more fully the
system is brought under the influence
OF alcohol, the less will be the re-
Spouse to the galVanic stimulus.
In the Third Stage.
Next in order the upper portion Of
the brain becomes implicated. These
relng the centres of thought, the mind
soon loses it's equilibrium and the
mar is no longer rational. At this
stage we frequently find these persons
extremely passionate and emotional.
the animal instinct showing up very
c~onspicuously. At last there is fail
ure OF the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, sleep
n other utter muscular prostration
and relaxation. If examined at this
stage there will be found a very de-
c1dad decline in the temDerature Of
the body, which is said to have fallen
as low as 93 Il f. 1t might be sup
posed that the decline has lust taken
place at this stage. but, on the con
trary, It has been going on through
all the three stages of in@toxication
1t is true that in the first stage there
is increased radiation, but. while this
is going on there is d decline in the
temperature of the mass of the hodv
This decline goes on from Eour 10
hour until it brings us down to the
Fourth Stage.
This stage is marked by extreme
coiia pse OF the muscular organs under
the control Of the volitional nerve CEN
tres. While in this condition there
are observed at times strange auto
matte movements of the limbs. which
seem not to be controlled by any Of
the centres OF yoIition, nor are they
produced by any external stimulus.
They are simply strange, involuntary
movements, which show that there is
still some life ia the spinal cord. The
centres that supply the muscles OF
respiration and circulation seem to re
main faithful to duty longer than any
others, and when the end is death i
has been observed that Of these the
muscles of respiration fail first tht
heart being the last TO give way. UpoT
! slowness of action of these two entire
! lies the safety Of a man in taking large
doses of alcohol. Were its action uni
, form on the body, or on the nervou;
centres, it would be extremely dan
gerOus for any one TO take it to tn
degree of i~ntoXication. When b III
y ! 4 y IA r live rn,,n tho M p
stage, the temperature may fall ever
u lower than stated above. bat, afte
; Gifiusing through all the tissues, tn
:. alcohol escapes By elimination, SlONl
| relieving the living centres, the re
suit of which is a gradual return Q
power. This. then. brings US TO tn
end Of the symptoms observed in in
t toxication.
An Open Door for Disease.
II w might state however, that a
cohol, when taken III excess of III
a natural demands Of the system, tend
to overtax the oxygenating capacIt
o and prevent complete oxidation Of tn
: prOteidS, which the VT;
II forces and develops diseased cond
tons. 1t is not per Sc a poison. bt
by preventing Transformation OF II
proteids. nutrition is much impaITe'
n It's continued use has a very dele
a rio effect upon the blood vesse
constituting the minute circulate
and upon the blood itself. especial
n the red c~orpuscles. They become il
"a regular in form, shrink and al
IA nOtched at their margins. There
IF an excess of fatty globules and OK.
% gen is absorbed with much less FREE
Ia dom. 1t also acts iniuriously upo
Ut the membranes of the body CAS-
,r frequently occur where the skin, per
III toneum, periosteum, conjuEctlNa hay
/ taken on diseased action entirely I'll
10 to the abuse of alcohol. The differe1
10 membranes of the body all have the
"a reSDectiye functions TO perform. 1ea