Pathological Effects of Alcohol

ALCOHOL, PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF. The pathological effects of alcohol are due to a chronic poisoning rather than an acute. Large doses may, however, cause death almost instantaneously by a reflex action on the heart or by cardiac and respiratory depression after the drug has been ab sorbed. If the alcohol be taken in the form of spirits, the sub ject usually becomes thin, probably owing to the spirits so affecting the gastro-intestinal tract that little or no nourishment is absorbed; if beer be the form of drink the subject is liable to become fat. Prolonged drinking of any form of alcohol makes persons less able to withstand operations and diseases, such as phthisis and pneumonia, and is the direct cause of certain diseases of which the chief are the f ollowing : Chronic Gastritis.—Thisis most likely to occur in those who drink spirits. The action of the strong alcohol on the stomach sets up an inflammatory condition which, owing to the continued action of the irritant, never subsides, with the result that perma nent damage results and the proper digestion of food cannot take place and the patient becomes thinner and thinner.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

(gin-drinker's liver).—The quantity of alcohol associated with this condition differs with different persons ; in some cases a few months' indulgence may suffice, in others it may be a matter of years. Whether the alcohol itself or some toxin due to gastro-intestinal disturbance acts on the liver is not certain, but the result is a chronic inflammation which passes on to an extensive growth of fibrous tissue. This by its contraction compresses and destroys the liver cells and seriously impedes the flow of blood through the veins of the organ. The size of the liver varies within wide limits, but is usually small owing to the contraction of the fibrous tissue. The most important and constant result of this contraction is the effusion of fluid from the compressed and distended veins into the peritoneal cavity, constituting one of the types of dropsy called ascites. The patient gradually becomes more and more ill and death of ten ensues within a few months of the appearance of ascites. (See LIVER, DISEASES OF.) Multiple or Peripheral Neuritis (see NEURITIS).

Gout(q.v.).—The habitual drinking of heavy or sweet wines is one of the causes of this disease, as is excessive beer drinking when combined with poor or insufficient food.

Maniamay at times be due to chronic alcoholic poisoning and possibly chronic Bright's disease. Certainly the kidneys will be affected more or less adversely by the toxins due to the gastro intestinal disturbance.

Delirium tremens

(see DELIRIUM) occurs in habitual drinkers.