Part 7 (2/2)

”On the 9th day, with one fluid ounce of alcohol, the heart beat 430 times more.

”On the 10th day, with two fluid ounces, 1,872 times more.

”On the 11th day, with four fluid ounces, 12,960 times more.

”On the 12th day, with six fluid ounces, 30,672 times more.

”On the 13th day, with eight fluid ounces, 23,904 times more.

”On the 14th day, with eight fluid ounces, 25,488 times more.

”But as there was ephemeral fever on the 12th day, it is right to make a deduction, and to estimate the number of beats on that day as midway between the 11th and 13th days, or 18,432. Adopting this, the mean daily excess of beats during the alcoholic days was 14,492, or an increase of rather more than 13 per cent.

”The first day of alcohol gave an excess of 4 per cent., and the last of 23 per cent.; and the mean of these two gives almost the same percentage of excess as the mean of the six days.

”Admitting that each beat of the heart was as strong during the alcoholic period as in the water period (and it was really more powerful), the heart on the last two days of alcohol was doing one fifth more work.

”Adopting the lowest estimate which has been given of the daily work done by the heart, viz., as equal to 122 tons lifted one foot, the heart, during the alcoholic period, did daily work in excess equal to lifting 15.8 tons one foot, and in the last two days did extra work to the amount of 24 tons lifted as far.

”The period of rest for the heart was shortened, though, perhaps, not to such an extent as would be inferred from the number of beats; for each contraction was sooner over. The heart, on the fifth and sixth days after alcohol was left off, and apparently at the time when the last traces of alcohol were eliminated, showed, in the sphygmographic tracings, signs of unusual fulness; and, perhaps, in consequence of this, when the brandy quickened the heart again, the tracings showed a more rapid contraction of the ventricles, but less power than in the alcoholic period. The brandy acted, in fact, on a heart whose nutrition had not been perfectly restored.”[16]

In reference to the result of the above experiments, it will be observed that no special notes are made except in relation to the action of the heart. The primary effect of alcohol is upon this organ, through its influence upon the nervous system. It, however, by no means ends here, but through it extends to all other portions of the body.

Now, the heart (and all other organs of the system) may be said to have a unit of power--so much, and no more inherent strength of action; so much capacity of function. If, therefore, under the influence of alcohol or any other drug, an organ is made to do two hours' work in one, or in any measure an increase of its normal activity is secured, a draft is made upon its _reserve_ power, and, that it may regain this, there must necessarily afterward occur a period of so much less than normal activity.

In other words, what has been gained in action under the effect of stimulus, must be lost on its withdrawal, and there must ensue a period of feeble and imperfect action, which is radiated to all other portions of the system, and is manifest in none more fully than in the brain. Indeed, upon the action of the heart as to frequency and regularity, depends the action of the brain as to continuity and strength of thought; and this, in even a greater measure than in relation to the functions of other parts.

The brain at all times contains a much larger portion of the blood than any other organ, and this quant.i.ty is imperatively necessary to its normal action as to thought. To such an extent is this so, that consciousness at once fades into darkness, and all thought ceases instantaneously, upon the check of its circulation, even in certain limited areas of its surface.

We therefore perceive how even more important than for other organs it is, that the circulation of the brain, the tissue of which is the most delicate and sensitive, should remain unaffected by over-stimulation of the heart's action, which, in reality and effect, is the controlling power of the system, and may be likened to an engine, by means of which is kept in operation the force requisite to move the machinery of all other portions of the system, and maintain them in harmonious activity.

But, let us study this physiological effect of alcohol a little further, that we may more fully understand how much is signified by it.

Every heart-beat causes a certain amount of blood to pa.s.s through the larger arteries to the brain, and thence through its minute vessels or capillaries. It is by means of the capillary circulation that the brain, its cells, connective tissues, and all membranes, are supplied with the requisite material for life and activity. So important is the _regularity_ of this supply to the brain in the discharge of its functions, that a special arrangement of blood-vessels is provided, or rather the number of arteries is larger and their distribution more complicated and various than for any other organ. If now this supply of blood is increased by one fourth or one sixth, or in any other degree, through the action of the heart, there must result a relative increase of it to the brain-cells and tissues, together with a corresponding increase of function.

The anatomy of the brain teaches us that every fibre, brain-cell, and even nucleus, is enclosed with an exceedingly thin covering, through which its contents may be nourished, and also through which, when its const.i.tuents are no longer of any use, they may be eliminated and removed from the body. These coverings, or membranes, as they are called, in turn, derive their materials for growth and function from the minute capillary blood-vessels which, in almost infinite number, supply them, while all portions of brain tissue are together dependent upon the _regularity_ of the heart's supply of blood to enable them to discharge their functions in a normal manner.

Now, physiological experiments have shown that the effect of alcohol upon that portion of the nervous system--the vaso-motor--which presides over and supplies power of action to these capillaries, and also regulates the action of the heart, is that of a narcotic. Its effect is to partially paralyze this nerve, and leave the heart to act more freely and rapidly under the influence of the motor nerve; in consequence of this partial paralysis of the coats of the capillary vessels, when the blood pa.s.ses through them so much more rapidly than when in their normal state, they fail to absorb from the blood the material requisite to nourish them, and also fail to remove material which has already been used.

One of the most important of their functions however, is the removal of this used-up material of the brain-cell, connective tissues, and fibres.

If this is imperfectly performed, and some portion of this secondary metamorphosis of material is left unremoved, there must result at least two not very remote effects.

1. A less sensitive and delicate condition of these several const.i.tuent portions of brain-substance, and they will become correspondingly less responsive to both objective and subjective impressions or influences.

There must result, therefore, a less perfect discharge of thought-function in its various manifestations, both moral and intellectual.

2. This imperfect removal of material which has once discharged its function, and is consequently useless, will ultimately cause a thickening of the coverings of these cells and fibres of the brain, which, in process of time, must render the discharge of their function more difficult and imperfect.

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