to its surface which is evidenced by increased redness. The juices for complete digestion are also secreted and necessary, and important changes are effected. These changes, however, ought to take place without the exhibition of any functional disturbance or even sensible excitement. In this, is found to consist a fitness between the food applied, and the organ by which it has to be acted upon. When food or drink, however, is taken in such a quantity as to produce a degree of sensible excitement, whether pleasurable or otherwise, dangerous consequences are likely to ensue. "The final result," remarks Dr. Johnson, "will be the same, irritability or morbid sensibility. If the excitement be pleasureable, as from wine, we are spoiling the stomach as we spoil a child by indulgence; we are educating the organ improperly, and laying the foundation for morbid irritability. On the other hand, if what we take into the stomach induce disagreeable sensations there, we are then offering a violence to the organ which will very soon terminate in disease, or more properly speaking, the natural excitability of the stomach is already changed into morbid sensibility, and disorder has actually commenced."*

The excitement which artificial stimulants create in the stomach, whether sensible or not, invariably produces such a change in that organ, as sooner or later terminates in a state of morbid irritability. The sensible or insensible operation which they may produce, entirely depends on the proportion in which they are taken. A small portion of pure alcohol for instance, which is one of the most powerful substances belonging to this class, will not only excite a burning sensation in the mouth, but a certain degree also of the same feeling in the stomach. The effect produced is purely irritation, and is evidenced by an increased flow of blood to the affected part, as well as an excited state of the nervous system, by which it is supplied with energy and action. Apply a small portion of vinegar or some other irritating substance to the ball of the eye, and the result is precisely analagous-an increased flow of blood to the part, a painful sensation or burning, and an unnatural sensibility to light; that is, a diseased or morbid condition which renders the eye incapable of receiving those impressions which, in a state of health, were agreeable and Precisely of such a character is the action of

necessary.

* Essay on Indigestion, or Morbid Sensibility of the Stomach and Bowels. By James Johnson, M.D.

alcohol on the stomach. The part to which it is applied becomes unnaturally turgid and red-a feeling of heat or burning is produced, and the gastric juice is secreted in a larger quantity than usual. A continued repetition of this injurious practice produces a disordered state of the stomach, (analagous to the action of vinegar on the eye,) and this important organ is rendered incapable of receiving on its surface that food which, in a healthy state, would not excite any unpleasant sensation.*

Stimulants, in many respects differ from nutritious food. 1st, They interfere in particular, with the harmony of the digestive functions, which require no aid in the conversion of food into healthy nutriment, but what is afforded by the operation of the powerful solvents provided by nature, and the general health of the system. 2ndly, They enter into the system, and produce irritation and disturb

"What should we think," remarks Professor Oliver," of the prudence of frequently applying to a healthy eye, pepper, vinegar, camphorated spirit, or any other irritating fluid, which would affect it in the manner just descri bed? Suppose the eye could be made the seat of a certain artificial appetite for such irritations, and could be gratified by the application of thein, what language should we think would sufficiently express the folly or madness of that man who deliberately set about creating such an appetite in his eye, by the frequent application of these stimulants? Should we not expect, as a matter of course, that this tender organ, subjected to such unnatural excitement, would, at length, be thrown into a state of permanent irritation, which, in the form of inflammation, would in the end, disorganize and destroy it. This is precisely the character of that practice so prevalent among mankind, particularly the civilized portion of it, of swallowing a variety of irritating substances, solid and fluid, to stimulate the stomach. The inevitable effect of these is to produce a state of irritation of the organ more or less permanent, according to the degree and frequency of the stimulation, which, in the form of chronic inflammation, gives rise to the most obstinate dyspepsies, and, in certain habits, leads to incurable and fatal disorganization of the stomach. The only difference between the two cases is, that the eye is not naturally the seat of any appetite except for its proper stimulus light. But neither is the stomach naturally the seat of any appetite for stimulating substances. The artificial appetite which we can create in the one organ, is just as unnatural as that which, fortunately, we cannot create in the other. I say for tunately, because there can be no doubt that if any poison existed in nature, by which an artificial appetite could be created in the eye for stimulating substances, the perverse ingenuity of man would long since have found it out, and it would be quite as common to meet people with inflamed, disorganized, and blind eyes, as it is now to see them, some with impaired, small, croaking, and snuffling voices, trembling hands and dizzy heads, from the practice of stuffing a poisonous powder into the nostrils; and others tortured and groaning with the pangs of diseased and ruined stomachs, shattered nerves and broken health, from the practice equally rational of loading their stomachs with a variety of stimulating substances. These are the effects of stimulants upon the parts to which they are applied. They increase and precipitate all the vital functions of the part, and they produce a condition of its nerves and blood vessels very similar to that which exists in disease, that is, irritation of its nerves, and an increased quantity of blood in its vessels; a condition which, if frequently renewed, cannot fail of becoming permanent, and in the end, of producing disease."

ance of the various parts, with which they come in contact and 3dly, Unlike nutritious food, they are incapable of being converted into healthy nourishment. These form the distinguishing characteristics between natural and artificial stimulants. They will require to be kept prominently in view in the present investigation.

Stimulants may again be subjected to a natural division, viz., 1st, Simple stimulants, or those which affect or injure the part or parts only with which they immediately come in contact; and 2ndly, Diffusible stimulants, which are not only local in their effects, but in their operation extend over all the other parts of the system. Each of these classes require special consideration.

1. Pure or Simple Stimulants.-These are local in their effects. They irritate the parts with which they come in contact, and affect the other parts of the system only by reason of the vital connexion which exists between the parts injured, and the other portions of the system. A strong stimulant, for instance, applied to the stomach, injures its functions, and consequently more or less interferes with its capability to carry on perfect digestion. Hence, other organic functions suffer indirectly, in part by reason of their being deprived of proper nourishment, and partly because of the morbid sympathies which are excited in that important organ.

2nd. Diffusive Stimulants, also act injuriously on the parts with which they come in contact, but differ from the former class in their influence being extended over the whole of the system. If an individual swallow a small proportion of pure spirit on an empty stomach, a sensation of burning or irritation ensues. Other and more distant organs, however, shortly afterward participate. The brain, in particular, exhibits marks of disorder, and a species of temporary delirium or mental excitement follows, in addition to general physical disturbance. All of these symptoms indicate some peculiar influence, by which diffusive stimulants expand and operate over the whole of the animal functions. The organic medium by which this is effected, will subsequently be referred to.

For these reasons it will easily be perceived, how incomparably more dangerous are the class of diffusive stimulants, than those designated as "simple stimulants." The latter, exercise their injurious powers on a limited scale only; while the former, possess the property of injuring one or more of the vital functions at the same

time. The brain, for example, may be silently undergoing destructive changes, while at the same period, the stomach and its functions may be so disordered as to hinder digestion and nutrition; and thus the two grand sources of life and energy, suffer either simultaneously or successively from the same pernicious cause.

The brain, in this case, of course, is affected through the medium of the nervous system, which is essential to life, and supplies all the functions through their respective organs with their vital energy, consequently, an injury done to the nervous system, necessarily extends its deleterious effects to all the operations of the system, and this in proportion to the susceptibility and energy of the different parts as regulated by their organic consti

tution.

The peculiar powers of the nervous system bear an important relation in regard to the present inquiry. In relation to diet, one of nature's sentinels consists in the distinct sensation which is experienced when the stomach is loaded with food, either improper in its quantity or injurious in its quality. The class of diffusive stimulants, however, when taken in moderate quantities, produce more or less injury, without exciting conscious sensation in the stomach. General exhilaration usually follows moderate vinous indulgence, but the stomach itself, when in a state of health, may or may not display conscious gratification or dislike. In this consists the great danger of moderate drinking. Individuals commonly do not feel any uneasy sensations consequent on moderate indulgence in wine. They cannot, therefore, for a moment, suspect the slightest possibility of injurious consequences arising from a cause, apparently so innocent and devoid of danger. Experience and extended observation, however, lead us to a contrary conclusion. The healthy relations of the system may, for sometime, be almost imperceptibly undermined, and its harmonious operations disturbed, and not the slightest suspicion be entertained that these changes have originated in some injurious, though silent action on the digestive organs. "This circumstance," remarks Dr. Johnson, "leads us to divide into two great classes, those symptomatic or sympathetic affections of various organs in the body, dependant on a morbid condition of the stomach and bowels, viz. into that which is accompanied by conscious sensation, irritation, pain, or obviously disordered functions of the organs of digestion-and into that which is not

accompanied by any sensible disorder of the said organs or their functions. Contrary to the general opinion, I venture to maintain, from very long and attentive observation of phenomena, in others, as well as in my own person, that this latter class of human afflictions is infinitely more prevalent, more distressing, and more obstinate, than the former. It is a class of disorders, the source, seat, and nature of which are, in nine cases out of ten, overlooked, and for very obvious reasons, because the morbid phenomena present themselves anywhere and everywhere, except in the spot where they have their origin.' Thousands, and tens of thousands of individuals are in the present day martyrs to indigestion, and more or less suffer from organic disorders of various kinds, altogether attributable to the moderate and habitual use of intoxicating liquors. In too many instances, attempts are made to remove these symptoms by an unfortunate application of the fatal, but unsuspected cause: until a series of morbid changes are effected, almost beyond the reach of remedial measures. Morbid changes of this kind, are frequently going on, until such a debilitated state of the system is produced, as on some critical occasion, suddenly terminates in an unexpected but fatal result.

Some interesting and invaluable experiments of Dr Beaumont, of America, tend to throw considerable ligh on this subject. Dr. Beaumont had, under his care, ar individual of the name of St. Martin, who had received a wound by which an opening was made in his stomach, which never closed, at least it had not, up to the year 1833, a period of at least nine years from its first occurrence. This opening was at one period two and a half inches in circumference. In a short time, however, nature formed a kind of valve, which prevented an afflux of the food from within. By this means, Dr. Beaumont had an opportunity of examining, with the naked eye, the nature of those changes which take place in the stomach during digestion, as well as the injurious consequences which arise from improper indulgence. These experiments were made for a period of many months, in the most careful manner; and when St. Martin had completely recovered from the effects of his accident, and was in a state of perfect health. Dr. Beaumont examined the stomach of St. Martin, who was in general very temperate, after he had

Essay on Indigestion, p. 8.