Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE INFLUENCE OF STIMULANTS AND NAECOTICS ON HEALTH. ?? T. Lai.-der Brunton, M.D., D.Sc., F.R.S. Aaiitant Physician to St. Bartholomni'e HotpUal Introductor)-—The Value of Alcohol as a Food—The Effects of Alcohol—The Causes of Intemperance—Forms of Alcohol—Diseases Resulting from Excessive Use of Alcohol—Hereditary Effects of Alcohol—Alcohol in its Relations to Crime, Lunacy, ami Pauperism—Ether—Opium— Chloral—Indian Hemp—Tobacco—Betel-nut—Tea—Coffee—Chocolate—Cocoa —Guaraná — Cola- nut—Coca—Kava—Beef-Tea. Is nearly every country of the world, and among all races, excepting the most savage, we find that the practice of taking certain substances which cannot be regarded as food, but yet afford enjoyment to the consumers, is almost universal. Even the most savage races, who are unable to obtain such substances for themselves, possess a liking for them, which they show as soon as they get an opportunity of obtaining them. These substances are at first sight very various in their nature, but on examination are found to resemble one another in many respects. They may be classed into stimulants and narcotics. By stimulants, -we mean those things which seem to increase our vital powers for the time being, and thus to give us feelings of greater strength or comfort. By narcotics, we mean such substances ;i3 lessen our relationship with the external world. When used to a slight extent, narcotics simply afford pleasure by lessening the restraining or depressing effect which external circumstances exert upon the individual. Small quantities thus allow freer play to fancy, and produce a joyousness and thoughtlessness like that of a child whoso animal spirits have not been depressed by the wear and tear of life ; but in largo quantities they abolish all the mental faculties, ...