THE USE OF ALCOHOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 408, 9 July 1908, Page 4

THE USE OF ALCOHOL.

Writing in Science Progress, Dr Cushuy maintains that some of the highest functions of the brain are thrown out of action by alcohol administered in quantities which induce the phase of exhiliaration. Thus it is found that type-setters do a smaller amount of work and make a much larger number of misprints when even a couple of glasses of beer are allowed than when they perform tneir work without this drug. Only in one respect was any increased aptitude shown —namely, in the transformation of an idea into movement. And many ergographic experiments appear to show that small quantities of alcohol have the effect of temporarily increasing the capacity of doing muscular work, especially when the subject is fatigued. This augmentation is only transient, and the total work done in the course of the day is considerably reduced by alcohol, as has long been demonstrated in the case of forced marching.

As to the use of alcohol as medicine, Dr Cushny says:—“Alcohol is a drug which may be useful in therapeutics, although I think it cau hardly be considered iudispeusible, but which has so often given rise to habit that its use must be curtailed to the utmost limit.”