Alcoholized animals not only show the effects of inoculations earlier than do non-alcoholized rabbits, but, in the case of the streptococcic inoculations, the lesions produced are much more pro nounced than are those that usually follow inoculation with this organism. A. C. Abbott (.lour. of Exper. Med., vol. i, No. 3, '96).
Cases showing marked inhibitory in fluence of alcoholism on the growth of children. Lancereaux (La Presse M6d., Oct. 14, '96).
Stomach.—The interior of the stomach presents a dark bluish-red hue, some times looking very fiery and angry; while ulcerative erosive patches, thinning of muscular coat, with an increase of con nective tissue and atrophy of gland-cells, are also conditions usually observed. In malt-liquor chronic alcoholists there is dilatation. The irritation of the gastric mucous membrane hinders digestion, and thereby interferes with the nutrition of the patient.
Autopsy of nineteen inebriates. Five showed inflammation of the stomach alone. In two of these the mucous membrane of the stomach was black and thickened, and in places ulceration had taken place. Of the other seven, three had suffered from both gastritis and en teritis, while the remaining four had suffered from extensive inflammation of some part of the intestinal canal, a majority of them suffering from colitis. A remarkable feature in these twelve gastrointestinal eases was that every one had, at some period of their lives, suffered from pleurisy or pleuro-pneu monia, for pleural adhesion existed in every case. Carpenter (Western Med. and Slug. Reporter, Jan., '01).
Digeslion.—The irritation of the gas tric mucous membrane hinders digestion. Alcohol impairs all the gastric functions, and thus interferes with the general nutrition.
Experiments on five young men: Al cohol used in a 25- and 50-pe•-cent. solu tion, of which 3V, fluidounces were taken ten or twenty minutes before the pa tient's dinner (consisting of soup, cutlet, and bread). Conclusions: 1. During the first three hours after the ingestion, the gastric digestion is markedly retarded, and dependent upon a decrease in the proportion of hydrochloric acid. 2. The diminution is especially pronounced in persons non-habituated to the use of al cohol. 3. Stronger solutions of alcohol act more energetically than weaker ones. 4. During the fourth, fifth, and sixth hour after the meal the digestion be comes considerably more active, the pro portion of hydrochloric acid markedly rising. 5. Under the influence of alcohol, the secretion of the gastric juice becomes more profuse and lasts longer than under normal conditions. 6. The motor and
absorptive powers of the stomach, how ever, are markedly depressed, the de crease being directly proportionate to the strength of alcoholic solutions ingested. 7. Alcohol distinctly retards the passage of food from the stomach into the duo denum. S. On the whole, alcohol mani fests a decidedly unfavorable influence on the course of normal gastric digestion. Even when ingested in relatively small quantities, the substance tends to impair all gastric functions. 9. Hence, an habit ual use of alcohol by healthy people can not possibly be approved of from a physi ological stand-point. Blumenau (Inaugu ral Dissertation, No. 17, p. 60, '90).
Ptyalin of saliva and pepsin precipi tated; gastric vasodilators paralyzed, while the constrictors are stimulated, preventing flow of gastric juice and ac counting for irritability, anorexia, etc. Stomach inflamed and covered with thick mucus. Duodenal and pancreatic func tion prevented. Stearin dissolved out of the fat by alcohol, remaining elements contributing to fatty degeneration of various organs. Excessive use continued any length of time prevents rehydration of glycogen and its transfer to the blood, and oxygenation of bilirubin to form biliverdin. In this sense, even a small quantity of alcohol is inimical to life. Wilkins (N. Y. Med. Jour., Sept. 22, '94).
[Sir William Roberts's view, that we are, as a rule, suffering not from slow, but from too rapid, digestion, and that we therefore need alcohol, not to aid digestion, but to hinder it, can hardly be accepted. Clinical observations of performance of digestive function in liv ing human subjects does not exhibit, as a rule, improved digestion after the ad ministration of alcohol. NOR3L-1ti KERR, Assoc. Ed., Annual, '96.] It would appear, from a study of many cases, that, so far, no general rule can be found, and each case must be studied from the facts of its history. Thus, in some cases, a meat diet is literally poi sonous, and its removal is the first essen tial for a cure. Again, a grain or fruit diet is clearly injurious, and more rapid recovery follows a change. In all cases states of starvation and autointoxica tions exist the removal of which condi tions may be of equal importance to that of alcohol. The study of the diet brings out many unsuspected causes which re quire removal and treatment before a cure can be effected. Editorial (Quar terly Journal of Inebriety, Oct., '97).