DRUNKENNESS, theory of The com mon and immediate effect of wine is to dispose to joy, i. e. to introduce such kinds and degrees of vibrations into the whole nervous system, or into the sepa rate parts thereof; as are attended with a moderate continued pleasure. This it seems to do chiefly by impressing agree able sensations upon the stomach and bowels, which are thence propagated into the brain, continue there, and also call up the several associated pleasures that have been formed from pleasant im-. pressions made upon the alimentary duct, or even upon any of the external sensee:r But wine has also probably a considera ble effect of the same kind, after it is ab sorbed by the veins and lacteals, viz. the impressions which it makei on the solids, considered as productions of the nerves, while it circulates with the fluids in an unassimilated state, in the same manner as may be observed or opium; which resembles wine in this respect also, that it produces one of temporary madness. And we may,. suppose, that analogous observations holes with regard to all the medicinal and poisonous bodies, which are found to produce considerable disorders in mind ; their greatest and most immediate effect arises from the impressions made on the stomach, and the disorderly vibrations propagated thence into the brain ; and yet it seems probable, that such particles as are absorbed produce a similar effect in circulating with the blood.
Wine, after it is absorbed, must rarefy the blood, and consequently distend the veins and sinuses, so as to make them compress the medullary substance, and the nerves themselves, both in their origin and progress ; it must, therefore, dispose to some degree of a palsy of the sensations and motions, to which there will be a farther disposition, from the great exhaustion of the nervous capilla ments and medullary substance, which a continued state of gaiety and mirth, with the various expressions of it, has oc casioned. It is moreover to be noted,
that the pleasant vibrations producing this gaiety, by rising higher and higher perpetually, as more wine is taken into the stomach and blood vessels, come at last to border upon, and even to pass into, the disagreeable vibrations belong-. ing to the passions of anger, jealousy, envy, &c. more especially if any of the mental causes of these be presented at the same time.
Now it seems, that, from a comparison of these and such things with each other, the peculiar temporary madness of drun ken persons might receive a general ex planation. Particularly it seems natural to expect, that they should at first be much disposed to mirth and laughter, with a mixture of small inconsistencies and absurdities ; that these last should increase from the vivid trains which force themselves upon the brain, in opposition to the present reality ; that they should lose the command and stability of the vo luntary motions, from the prevalence of confused vibrations in the brain, so that those appropriated to voluntary motion cannot descend regularly as usual ; but that they should stagger and see double ; that quarrels and contentions should arise after some time ; and all end at last in a temporary apoplexy. And it is very ob servable, that the free use of fermented liquors disposes to passionateness, to dis temper's of the head, to melancholy, and downright madness ; all which things have also great connections with each other. The sickness and head-ache which drunkenness occasions the succeeding Morning seem to arise, the first from the immediate impressions made on the serves of the stomach ; the second from the peculiar sympathy which the parts of the head, external as well as internal, have with the brain, the part principally All;fected in drunkenness, by deriving their Nerves immediately from it. See HART LEY on Man.