THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE BRAIN.

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 193, 15 July 1911, Page 10

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE BRAIN.

{'A Paper prepared by Jfrs. Ritchie , Palmerston North.] The Brain, Consisting of the Cerebrum, which is the larger and superior part, and the Cerebellum, which is the smaller and lower part—is the dominant organ of the whole body. Not only are all our mental powers dependent on its healthy activity, but even the heating of the heart, and the movements of the chest, to maintain breathing, are sustained by the activity of the biain and spinal cord. Tin brain uot only evokes energy in all pails of the body, it also controls bodily functions and activities, so as to enable the organs to do their work efficiently. In coder to do this work successfully, it goes without saying, that the 1 rain itsolf must be kept in a healthy condition. The growth of the biain continues for over thirty years, during which time it is very sensitive to over-strain, to luck of proper food, and to the inffuonce of drugs.

It is a fact that there is a profound connection between the structure of the brain, and the mental characteristics displayed by a human being ; it is also a fact, that unless suitable nourishment and training be supplied during childhood. the structure of the brain is almost certain to he far from perfect. Brain capital is of far greater importance to a nation than financial capital, therefore even tl mg possible should ho done to protect this capital from injury. Brain deterioration means national deterioration, for a nation’s greatness is not deternii ]'»d by its millions of money, but by the strength, wisdom, self-control, and righteousness of its man hoodI)u: ing the last thirty years, marvellous ditcoveries have been made as to

The Formation and Functions of the Brain. It is not simply a mass of grey matter protect d by the skull. A large portion of the brain surface is divided into coinpartmoiits, or centres, for different duties,

i.g. } one centre is for movement of the legs ; another for movement of the eyes ; one for sight another for hearing, and so on The centres are definitely arranged in the brain. They are not only stations for sending out impressions to the muscles, they are also offices for receiving impressions from our sense organs. The messages which pour into the brain by means of the nerves, and the answers conducted out again to the muscles, travel at about the same speed as an express train. If any of these brain centres are irritated by disease, or alcohol, or any other drug, the corresponding part in the body is liable to suffer with it. The cerebellum, or small brain, works in perfect harmony and co-operation with the large brain, and spinal cord. Our power of standing upright, of walking steadily, and of balancing the body in different postures, depends on the healthy activity of the cerebellum. By means of the cerebrum, we think, and will, and feel, and act.

These are a few facts as to the formation and functions of the brain, for which I am clii*t!v indebted to Sir Victor Horsley and Dr. Marv Sturge. Now we will consider the action of alcohol oil this sensitive, delicate organ. Alcohol is a Brain Poison. Passing from the stomach into the bloodstream, it is quickly carried to tlie brain. Here, the small blood-vessels running over its surftce, and throughout its substance, become over-full of blood, and the surreunding parts are irritated by the alcohol. Moreover, the blood supplied to the brain is so much altered for the worse, by the alcohol, that the brain itself becomes altered and weakened, and the highest functions are the first fo he affected. The mental and moral faculties are dulled ; the finer grades of judgment, and the best powers of reflection, are impaired ; and the capacity for observation and attention is lessened. Scientific research has given us clear light on this subject. The greatest authority is Professor Kraepelin, of Heidelberg. For many years ho has been planning and carrying out experiments with a view to discover the exact effects of alcohol when taken in moderate quantities. ne result of his scientific discoveries was to n.ako him a powerful opponent of alcohol. And he is just one o' many men of science, whose discoveries niude them advocates of Temperance Reform. As a rule, Professor Kraepeliu only gave about an ounce of alcohol diluted with water (that is just the quantity in a pint of porter). In all his experiments, two observers alvvuys co-operated with him in carrying them out, and every new test was repeated

over and over again, so that correct averages might be ascertained. Various instruments were used for measuring accurately the rate of mental action.

In one series of experiments he measured the speed wit.i which the processes of simple reading al<*ud ; adding figures in columns, up, down, and across; calculating arithmetically, and memorizing, were performed ; e.g half-an-hourdaily, for six days, was spent in adding figures without alcohol. The ability to add increased every day. <>n the 7th day, a small dose of alcohol was given, and there was no increase on that day. A small dose was given daily for twelve days, during which the ability to add decreased very rapidly. Then for seven days no alcohol was given, and immediately an improvement manifested itself. These experiments wmre repeated, with exactly similar results, thus proving that so-called stimulants have a slowing efioct on mental processes. Another scientist, Dr. Aschaffenburg, chose for a series of experiments the work of compositors, which involves rapid thought and accurate muscle response. Four skilled artisans offered themselves for the test. Three of them were moderate drinkers, and the fourth was known to drink to excess now and again. These f our men were tested on four days, for a quarter of an hour each day. On the first and third da\ s, no alcohol whs given ; on the B‘cond and fourth a very small quantity. They all <1 id more, and better, work on the non-alcohol days. The first man, on tlie first day, set up 31 letters less than was expected of him, hut on the second day, after his little dose, he fell short by .3 42 letters. The inefficiency caused by the alcohol was well shown in every case, aud yet, during the experiment, the men believed they were doing better and quicker work on the alcohol days. This is a common delusion, and verifies the statement made by Solomon, that “ wine is a mocker.”

Kraepelin also made experiments with regard to the function of memory. One test was the memorizing of columns of tigu res. These w ere repeated again and again, till they could he repeated correctly once. Without alcohol, 100 figures could he remembered after 10 repetitions. With alcohol, only 00 figures could he remembered after 60 repetitious. All the various tests proved that alcohol has a slowing effect ou the brain. The time in health for registration of sense impressions. is 3-10ths of a second. After the use of two ounces of spirits, 8-10tlis or more is required. This can he measured with accuracy and precision. Besides this slowing process,

The powers of judgment and reflection are serioJKly impaired. A few illustrations will help to verify this statement. At n:\ny displenisliing sales, alcoholic liquors ire provided because after partaking of such refreshments, buyers give much higher bids for land, or stock, or whatever is exposed for sale. On one occasion several men went to inspect some land sections, prior to an auction sale. They decided unanimously as to their value, f‘n sale day, the owner treated them to alcoholic refreshments, with the result that ouo of them bid, and actually paid, four times the price which the four, in their light senses, considered it worth. On another occasion, a man arranged with an auctioneer to sell his standing tiiuber, aud told him ho would have no liquor at the sale. “I am sorry,” said the auctioneer; “ you will not got nearly so much money : I know how it works, for after men have been drinking, the trees look much larger than they did before.” Other illustrations might he given, to prove that the most moderate use of alcohol produces dulness and stupidity, and lessens the capacity for business. Errors are made by judges on the bench, captains on the bridge, drivers of motor cars, and in other ways too numerous to mention Professor Bims Wood, M.D., says: “A man under the influence of even small quantities of alcohol lias no right to believe his senses; he cannot trust them to give him correct facts, and he cannot rely on his judgment, for the interpretation of these facts.” We have yet to deal with the wmrst effect of alcohol on the brain, and that is Insanity.

Xo greater calamity can come upon any person than madness, and if drink makes mad, it needs strong advocacy to justify liquor bars. Only during recent years have scientific workers been able to point out, and satisfactorily explain, the intimate relationship that exists between insanity and intemperance.

In 11*04, Dr. R. Jones, Medical Bupt. of Clayburn Asylum, estimated that there were probably no less than 11,000 males and 6000 females, in British asylums, who owed their ins.uity, directly or indirectly, to drink. In Ireland, the counties have been arranged according to their “ drunkenness rate,” i.e. f the proportion of recorded cases of drunkenness to their population. In this list, Waterford stands first, and it is a significant fact, that this same county Iliads the list of counties arranged according to their -‘binary rate,” one in every 104 of the population being a

lunatic. The report of the Waterford Lunatic asylum for 1 903 states that the most fro<juent cauae of the insanity of those admitted was intemperance. Dr. Walmsley, Hupt. of Idiot Asvlum in London, said : “ Half the misery and wretchedness of human life is but the outcome of an abnormal state of mind and morals, produced by drink. Our asylums scream with alcohol. Upon the brain and nervous tissues it is a direct poison, leading to formidable maniacal excitement Of all diseases, insanity is one of the most preventive.”

Dr. Steele, Sunt, of Cheshire County Asylum, estimated that “ twenty-five out of every 100 came there directly throu drink, but the indirect results were incalculable.”

I>r. Forbes Winslow said: “Insanity is increasing, and the chief causes are (Link and heredity.” Heredity is not necessarily something apart from alcohol. •* Alcoholism strikes a man not only in his own person, but also in his descendants.” Dr. Norman Kerr reported a case which is typical of hundreds of others. In one family, a son and a daughter were born, both of them, mentally and physically, splendid specimens of vigorous humanity. After the daughter's birth, the father fell into habits of dissipation, and rapidly became an habitual drunkard Ho had fonr more children, of whom one was defective in mind, and three were complete idiots. Sir Victor Horsley says, the children of alcoholics often become insane, and that this is after all only what may be expected, when we once learn to recog niae the extreme sensitiveness of the nervous system to drugs, and its peculiar susceptibility to the |>oisonous offocts of alcohol. He also suggests that probably the depressing action of even ordinary doses of alcohol upon the developing brain of the unborn child is more profound than is at present recognised. Hr. Ingrain, of Paris, |»ersonally followed up the descendants of 2Li drunkards, and found that in these descendants insanity and other nervous disorders were extremely common. Lord Shaftesbury, for sixteen years Chairman of the Lunacy Commission, stated that he had ascertained that no less than three-fifths of the cases of insanity in Hritaiu and America are the result of alcohol.

And what says Dr. Beattie, of Auckland? “I am convinced tiiat heredity and alcohol are the two greatest factors in the production of our increasing insane rate.”

In every laud and in every clime, the results are the same.

And we must not forget, that over and above lunatics, there is a great multitude of feeble-minded persons. In 1908 thsr** were no fewer than 1 19,628 in Great Britain. Those who have devoted much attention to th* subject, regard alcohol as one of the prn. >pal factors in the deterioration of brain tissue, which causes this feeble-minded ness. These are a few of the effects of alcohol on the brain. I have not nearly exhausted the subject. Perhaps some of you are wondering if medical science can do nothing to counteract these evil effects. My belief is that there is only one cure, and that is,

National Prohibition I was very pleased to read that at the “ International Congress on Alcoholism," held in London in 1909, Dr. Legrain said: “There seems no more hopeful cure than the voluntary giving up of this brain poison. There is no means of general safety, of greater value than Prohibition.” I do trust that the knowledge we have gained, as to the terrible and far-reaching effects of alcohol on the brain, will constrain us to do all we can to secure National Prohibition for New Zealand. What greater justification of our attitude towards the liuuor traffic could we have, than the cry of the c hildren, whose mental and moral powers have been weakened, and in many cases completely destroyed, through their parent**’ use* in moderation or in excess —of this most insidious brain poison.