Nervous System

As alcohol is an ethyl compound, C2H5OH, with a close relation to ether, (C2H5)2O, it is not surprising to find that the alcohol effect upon the central nervous system is the same in kind as that of ether, though modified by its diminished volatility and slower action. It depresses first the highest cerebral centers of all, the intellectual centers, then the lower cerebral centers (motor, emotional, animal), then the cerebellum, then the spinal cord, and finally the vital centers of the medulla. There is probably a primary stimulation from protoplasmic irritation, but this is momentary, and alcohol cannot be considered in any sense a cerebral stimulant. It is a true narcotic, and it stands in the narcotic series between the general anesthetics, which are very volatile, very prompt, and transitory in their action, and very powerful in their effects, and the hypnotics, of which a dose must be able to maintain a mild degree of narcosis for several hours.

The symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning or drunkenness are only too familiar. They are readily explainable as the effects of a narcotic drug. Normally, our animal tendencies are under the restraint of the highest brain centers - those through whose activity are exerted will, self-control, reasoning power, judgment, etc. By these we hold ourselves to certain standards of conduct, and keep in proper check the more animal parts of our natures. We weigh facts and estimate the consequences of our acts; we are thoughtful of our relations to others, and mind what others may think of us.

Under alcohol these highest faculties are depressed, and there is a certain degree of freedom from restraint, i. e., "there is a breaking of the fetters which keep our animal natures within bounds" (Dubois). The result is the failure of judgment, the inability to appreciate the consequences of one's acts, great confidence in one's mental and physical powers, and a lack of care about the kind of impression made upon one's neighbors. Speech is freer, because of less thinking before speaking and less concern about the best word to say or the best way in which to voice one's thoughts. Confidence in one's powers extends both to the physical and to the mental, as seen in one's willingness or anxiety to fight a man of twice one's strength, and in the belief of a writer that he is doing splendid work, though at a later perusal he finds it trashy and full of errors.

A great many experiments have been performed to determine the exact effect upon the faculties of small quantities of alcohol, and while some of them show primary stimulation, depression is the rule. A study of type-setters, for example, has shown that they make more errors even under very small amounts of alcohol; pianists strike more wrong notes; sight and hearing are less keen; the sense of touch is impaired (as measured by the esthesiometer). Kraepelin found that the perception of a word or letter flashed before the eye was slightly less rapid, but that a motor response was more rapid; and this might be because of freedom of the motor areas from the inhibition required in judgment. In some persons some of the depression persisted for from twelve to twenty-four hours. In some there was no depression at all, even from 100 c.c. of alcohol, which would be the amount in a tumblerful of whisky. Jacoby found that alcohol made a keener perception of differences of weight, but thought this due to slower (more deliberate) cerebration. Some observers have noted a brief period of true stimulation of the perceptive faculties before the general depression supervenes. Many have thought that the quicker action in response to a stimulus was due to primary freeing of the motor functions from inhibition. It has been shown that from comparatively small amounts marksmanship is impaired with rifle and pistol; and Totterman in a needle-threading test found that eleven hours after 25 c.c. fewer needles could be threaded in a given time.

With doses of 1 and 1 1/2 ounces (30 and 45 c.c.) Dodge and Benedict, from an extensive study of the psychologic effects of alcohol, at the Carnegie Nutrition Laboratory, find "a generally decreased irritability of many related neuromuscular processes, regularly accompanied by relative acceleration of the pulse-rate. These two facts are clear indications of decreased organic efficiency."

Alcohol, then, is an intellectual depressant, i. e., a narcotic, and it is a direct antagonist of caffeine. Yet on some particular occasions, or in special kinds of work, the peculiar narcotic effects of alcohol, if not taken to excess, may actually favor better work, for example - (a) Where nervousness, or embarrassment, or anxiety cause too great inhibition and prevent unembarrassed thinking, e. g., one who is to speak in public may increase his confidence, lessen his self-consciousness, and set free his thoughts, so that he can speak without embarrassment. (b) When the writer of imaginative or emotional literature or poetry is unable to get himself into the imaginative state; a dose of whisky may set free his imaginative powers, so that he can outline his story, any errors of grammar or construction being corrected later. (c) When a musician is unable to reach the emotional state necessary to enthuse his hearers, he may find himself able to do so after a drink of whisky, for though he may strike a number of wrong notes, he puts life into his music and thrills his audience. These are not cases of intellectual stimulation, but intellectual depression. Though these things are true in particular instances, I would caution against depending on any such aid, for it is impossible to predict the dose that will just give the desired assistance. Too much alcohol spoils everything, for the inferiority of work produced is not realized by the drinker. Work requiring concentration; deduction, and keenness of judgment, such as scientific writing or investigation, cannot be done so well under the influence of even small amounts of alcohol.