ALCOHOL As A MEDICINE.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 377, 18 December 1926, Page 6

ALCOHOL As A MEDICINE.

When alcohol is taken it numbs the brain cells and the nerves. Their c ontrol of the blood vessels is upset, and the* blood vessels all stretch. Thus blood pre: sure is lessened, the circulation is faulty, and the heart works badly. Alcohol in some form, generally brandy, is believed by many people to be the best tthing that can l>e given to anyone who has met with an accident Y’ou will soon see that it is, in reality, a very bad thing indeed. The “rush” of blood caused by alcohol is very dangerous: (1) when the accident has caused bleeding, because it will probably make the bleeding worse; (2) when there has been an Injury to some part where the network of capil laries is great. What the injured part needs is rest and “leaving alone,” blit that is just what the rush of blood does not allow it. W’hen the head has been hurt, for insfance, this effect of alcohol is so harmful that It may kill the patient. After every accident, however small, the* person hurt suffers from “shock." He feels cold and weak and dizzy and sick; he may faint. What has happened is that fright, pain and the hurt itself have so upset his brain unci nerves that they are working faultily and have allowed the blood-vessels to expand, and in consequence the blood-pressure is spoilt and the circulation bad. So to give alcohol to cure shock is exceedingly foolish, for it is making the shockworse. and making it impossible for the circulation to become normal for some hours. Moreover, alcohol Increases one of th* most dangerous effects of shoc k that Is eld; for alcohol causes us to lose body heat. When anyone has been surt, send for the doctor, and use your commonsense to tell you what to do. Keep the patient warm and quiet, and try to help his body to get hack to its normal working. Never give him alcohol, which will make him worse Instead o' letter. “Th*- White Ribbin” (Pritish),