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