Uric-acid and calcium-oxalate crystals are found in the urine of persons in good health after taking alcoholic drink, be sides an increased number of leucocytes with cylinders and cylindroids. It may, therefore, be concluded that, even in moderate quantities, alcohol irritates the kidneys, the augmented leucocytes, cylinders, and crystals being due either to the increased metabolism of the tis sues or an alteration by alcohol of the relations of solubility of the urine salts. After a single indulgence this action lasts for thirty-six hours. But contin uation is cumulative. Glaser (Quarterly Jour. of Inebriety, Apr., '92).
First and most frequent effect on kid neys is polyuria, then diabetes insipidus, followed by diabetes mellitus in predis posed alcoholics. Wilkins (N. Y. Med. Jour., Sept. 22, '94).
There is a true diabetes, in which an affection of the liver is found preceding by a long period the diabetes, and to which the diabetes is due. These pa tients have been considered until now as suffering merely from diabetes, and not from the liver, since an examination of the liver was necessary in order to recog nize them as suffering from that organ. The alternate phases of amelioration or the contrary in the diabetes coincides with the development of the process in the liver: it may be recognized by the changes in the volume, form, density, and sensibility of the liver.
Of six cases seen by the author, there were three in which diabetes with hyper trophie liver had existed for years who suddenly developed a cirrhosis, while the polyuria, glycosuria, and thirst van ished, to be replaced by atrophy and cirrhosis of the liver. Glenard (Sler credi Med., No. 44, '94).
— The heart-failure of chronic inebriates has for the past quarter of a century been continually presenting it self in my experience, often preceded by, or contemporaneous with, dilatation of the muscle. Alcohol has a direct action on the involuntary muscular system, and the heart is more responsive to its dilat ing action than any other part of the bodily structure.
The three cardinal symptoms of heart failure are generally observed early in alcoholic eases, though the prognosis is good providing alcohol be abandoned as soon as the immediate therapeutic neces sity for its use has ceased. Graham Steele (Med. Chronicle, Apr., '93).
Dynamometer shows that the muscular strength is diminished under influence of even moderate doses of alcoholic drinks. Ftirer (Le Bull. Mad., Aug. 25, '95).
The heart is fatty and covered in parts by fatty tissue. It is usually flabby, pale, and antemortern clots are likely to be formed in the cavities. These conditions predispose to sudden death.
Alcoholic myocarditis, with consecutive hepatic disturbance and temporary al burninuria, is found as a clinical form in men of middle age, between 25 and 50 years; in women it is much more un common. In all cases abuse of alcoholic drinks may be looked upon as the cause. It begins slowly and progressively. The first symptom consists in dyspncea, when the patient speaks or goes upstairs, later during walking. Fragmentary myocar ditis is found anatomically. An increase in the size of the liver is added to the dilatation of the heart. The kidney is finally affected. Aubsecht (Deutsche Archiv f. klin. Med., vol. liv, p. 615, '95).
Blood-ressels.—There is general arte rial dilation with atheromatous thicken ing and brittleness, due to a cribriform condition resulting from the aneurismal dilatation. The motor cells are enlarged and pigmented, and their processes are covered with nuclei.
Case of oesophageal varicose veins in a chronic alcoholic subject who died from frequent and severe lintatemesis. The varices ascribed to the direct effect of alcohol on the intima of the veins. Le tulle (La Semaine Mad., Oct. 22, '90).
It paralyzes the vasoconstrictors and, at times, vasodilators of capillaries, causing local hyperemia and stasis. Hypertrophy results from vasoconstrictor paralysis, and atrophy from vasodilator paralysis. Wilkins (X. Y. Med. Jour., Sept. 22, '94).
Lungs.—Chronic alcoholism, by lower ing the condition of the system, renders more liable to both acute and chronic tuberculosis. Pleural adhesions and other evidences of active processes are frequently seen.
Post-mortem examinations of phthis ical cases at St. Thomas's, London, showed that in 75 eases there was a strong history of alcoholism. In only 10 of these was there any history of in herited plithisis; in 46 (or over GO per cent.) the liver was cirrhotic. Mackenzie (Brit. Med. Jour., Feb. 27, '92).