Effects of Alcohol in the Human Economy

By Lachman Dass (L. M. S.) Assistant Surgeon. Alcohol, when taken into the stomach, stimulates the vital organs to perform their work with increased activity. A glass or two of wine, for instance, augments the appetite, makes the stomach perform its digestive functions more quickly, increases the force of the -heart's strokes, and rouses the energy of the brain. But whenever stimulation of this kind is effected, it is always followed by subsequent depression. It has been ascertained by experiments that every form of animal activity entails waste of organic substance; therefore, when activity ia quickened, waste is increased, consequently longer repose must be allowed to an over-excited organ, before it can recover its freshness and tone, than to an organ doing ordinary and steady work. So far a3 the stomach, heart, and brain are concerned, it is clear that as long as they are performing their operations healthily and efficiently, they need no goading. "Why should a stomach that is digesting well be asked to digest either more or less than well ? Any such demand can only be made at the im-