NESS ; DELIRIUM.) A dose of alcohol (such as would be present in 2 a oz. of whisky or 1 a pints of beer) exerts no influence on the performance of simple muscular acts not demanding precision. For acts requir ing skill or accuracy efficiency is temporarily impaired by such a dose. The digestion is not affected by a moderate amount of alcohol, the deleterious results of consuming alcoholic beverages being probably due to other substances; e.g., non-volatile bodies in wine, and higher alcohols and esters in distilled drinks such as brandy or whisky. Contrary to the common belief, alcohol does not act as a direct stimulant to the heart in cases of threatened failure. Recovery from fainting is probably due to the irritant action on the mucous membrane of the nose and throat com parable to that of smelling salts or burnt feathers. In protracted weakness the beneficial effect of alcohol appears to be due to its mildly narcotic and sedative action relieving the centres which in conditions of anxiety or pain affect the action of the heart. For the purpose of "keeping out the cold" alcohol is probably not harmful in a small dose, as it promotes activity, but as a pre liminary to long exposure it is dangerous. It renders the drinker subject to an illusion of warmth and indifferent to the peril of extreme cold which may result fatally. At the end of long ex posure, however, after the patient has been placed in hot blankets a moderate dose of alcohol is beneficial, promoting the return of the blood to the superficial tissues to which the extreme heat is applied.
Excessive consumption of alcohol tends to shorten life, but it is uncertain if moderate drinking has any effect on longevity. The following extract from the British official returns is of interest in this connection, the year 190o being inserted as the "peak" year under both headings.
Consumption per head Death rate per million of the population of the population Beer, Spirits, Wine, From From cirrhosis gals. Pf. gals. gals. alcoholism of the liver 1897 30.23 1.20 0•40 77 1900 32.04 1•22 0.42 113 144 1922 17.67 0•37 0.24 14 After death the presence of alcohol can be detected in all the body fluids. Its especial affinity for the nervous system is indi cated by the fact that, when all traces of it have disappeared elsewhere, it can still be detected with ease in the cerebrospinal fluid. (See PHARMACOLOGY, and Alcohol: Its Action on the Hu man Organism, Medical Research Council, 1924.) Fiscal.—Ethylalcohol is a fruitful source of revenue to most of the Governments of the world. In Great Britain the excise duty on spirits varies from 13 12s. 6d. to 13 14s. per proof gallon, and the customs duty is in some instances as high as L6 3s. 5d. per liquid gallon. Both duties, however, are liable to considerable modification in certain circumstances. The revenue derived from the spirit duties has recently shown steady decline:— Financial Year Net Receipts from Customs and Excise.
1923-24 154,036,7461924-25 £51,053,606 1925-26 1 9-2 7 £43,552,785In the U.S.A. the adoption of prohibition greatly diminished the revenue importance of alcohol, but repeal restored it to its former standing. Thus after falling from $483,o50,8S4 in the fis cal year of 1919 to $26,452,028 in 1926, the tax yield of distilled spirits, fermented liquors, etc. rose in to $411,021,746. In deed, the prospect of increased revenue was an influential con sideration leading to repeal (see PROHIBITION). The quantities of distilled liquors in proof gallons imported during certain prohi bition years were as follows: The great industrial importance of alcohol has necessitated the introduction of a duty-free product retaining its suitability for the many purposes for which it may be used in the arts and manu factures. (For details of "denatured alcohol" see ALCOHOL IN INDUSTRY.) (J. J. F.; F. G. II. T.)