| Action on the stomach. | | | | |
| | | | Congestion of the lungs. |
| The action of alcohol on the stomach is | | | | |
| extremely dangerous that it becomes unable to | | | | Alcohol relaxes the vessels of the lungs |
| produce the natural digestive fluid in | | | | easily as they are most exposed to the |
| sufficient quantity and also fails to absorb | | | | fluctuations of heat and cold. When subjected |
| the food which it may imperfectly digest. A | | | | to the effects of a rapid variation in |
| condition marked by the sense of nausea | | | | atmospheric temperature, they get readily |
| emptiness, prostration and distention will | | | | congested. During severe winter seasons, the |
| always be faced by an alcoholic. This results | | | | suddenly fatal congestions of lungs easily |
| in a loathing for food and is teased with a | | | | affects an alcoholic. |
| craving for more drink. Thus there is | | | | |
| engendered a permanent disorder which is | | | | Alcohol weakens the heart. |
| called dyspepsia. The disastrous forms of | | | | |
| confirmed indigestion originate by this | | | | Consumption of alcohol greatly affects the |
| practice. | | | | heart. The quality of the membraneous |
| | | | structures which cover and line the heart |
| How the liver gets affected. | | | | changes and are thickened, become |
| | | | cartilaginous or calcareous. Then the valves |
| The organic deteriorations caused by the | | | | lose their suppleness and what is termed |
| continued use of alcohol are often of a fatal | | | | valvular disorder becomes permanent. The |
| character. The organ which most frequently | | | | structure of the the coats of the great |
| undergoes structural changes from alcohol, is | | | | blood-vessel leading from the heart share in |
| the liver. Normally, the liver has the | | | | the same changes of structure so that the |
| capacity to hold active substances in its | | | | vessel loses its elasticity and its power to |
| cellular parts. In instances of poisoning by | | | | feed the heart by the recoil from its |
| various poisonous compounds, we analyse liver | | | | distention, after the heart, by its stroke, |
| as if it were the central depot of the | | | | has filled it with blood. |
| foreign matter. It is practically the same in | | | | |
| respect to alcohol. The liver of an alcoholic | | | | Again, the muscular structure of the heart |
| is never free from the influence of alcohol | | | | fails owing to degenerative changes in its |
| and it is too often saturated with it. The | | | | tissue. The elements of the muscular fibre |
| minute membranous or capsular structure of | | | | are replaced by fatty cells or, if not so |
| the liver gets affected, preventing proper | | | | replaced, are themselves transferred into a |
| dialysis and free secretion. The liver | | | | modified muscular texture in which the power |
| becomes large due to the dilatation of its | | | | of contraction is greatly reduced. |
| vessels, the surcharge of fluid matter and | | | | |
| the thickening of tissue. This follows | | | | Those who suffer from these organic |
| contraction of membrane and shrinking of the | | | | deteriorations of the central and governing |
| whole organ in its cellular parts. Then the | | | | organ of the circulation of the blood learn |
| lower parts of the alcoholic becomes | | | | the fact so insidiously, it hardly breaks |
| dropsical owing to the obstruction offered to | | | | upon them until the mischief is far advanced. |
| the returning blood by the veins. The | | | | They are conscious of a central failure of |
| structure of the liver may be charged with | | | | power from slight causes such as |
| fatty cells and undergo what is technically | | | | overexertion, trouble, broken rest or too |
| designated 'fatty liver'. | | | | long abstinence from food. They feel what |
| | | | they call a 'sinking' but they know that wine |
| How the Kidneys deteriorate. | | | | or some other stimulant will at once relieve |
| | | | the sensation. Thus they seek to relieve it |
| The Kidneys also suffer due to the excessive | | | | until at last they discover that the remedy |
| consumption of alcohol. The vessels of | | | | fails. The jaded, overworked, faithful heart |
| Kidneys lose elasticity and power of | | | | will bear no more. it has run its course and |
| contraction. The minute structures in them go | | | | the governor of the blood-streams broken. The |
| through fatty modification. Albumin from the | | | | current either overflows into the tissues |
| blood easily passes through their membranes. | | | | gradually damming up the courses or under |
| This results in the body losing its power as | | | | some slight shock or excess of motion ceases |
| if it were being run out of blood gradually. | | | | wholly at the centre. |