ALCOHOL.

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3. Third degree [Coma or True Apoplexy). —This condition is usuallyobserved when excessive quantities of spirit have been swallowed in ashort time. According to Dr. Ogston (quoted by Dr. Christison) thepatient is sometimes capable of being roused; the pulse is generallyslow, the pupils are occasionally contracted, but more commonly dilated,and the breathing is for the most part slow: but exceptions exist to allthese statements. Convulsions are rare: when they occur the patientsare usually young. In some cases actual apoplexy (with or withoutsanguineous extravasation) is brought on. The immediate cause ofdeath appears to be either paralysis of the muscles of respiration, orclosure of the glottis.—( Vide pp. 68 and 69).

Consequences of habitual Drunkenness. —The continued use ofspirituous liquors gives rise to various morbid conditions of system, afew only of the most remarkable of which can be here referred to. Oneof these is the disease known by the various names of delirium tremens,<1. potatorum, oinomania, See., and which is characterized by delirium,tremor of the extremities, watchfulness, and great frequency of pulse.Its pathology is not understood. It is sometimes, but not constantly,connected with, or dependent on, an inflammatory condition of the brainor its membranes. Opium has been found an important agent ineffecting the subsidence of this affection.

Insanity is another disease produced by the immoderate and habitualuse of spirituous liquors. The records of our pauper lunatic asylumsshew that, in a large proportion of cases, the exciting cause of madnessis the use of ardent spirits.

Disease of the liver is frequently met with in drunkards. It is gene-rally of the kind termed by Baillie common tubercle of the liver, byDr. Elliotson {Med. Gaz. vol. xii. p. 484) the gin liver; by others,granulated, lobulated, mamellated, or scirrhous liver. Laennec calls itcirrhosis (from sippbe, yellowish), in reference to its usual tawny yellowcolour. A beautiful representation of it is given by Cniveilhier {Anatom.Patholog. liv. 12 e . pi. 1.) Dr. Carswell \Patholog. Anat. art. Atrophy )has described it as consisting in atrophy of the lobular structure of theliver produced by the presence of a contractile fibrous tissue. It is not,therefore, a disease depending on the formation of a new tissue. Theascites, which so frequently accompanies it, arises from the compressionto which the portal vessels are subjected by the fibrous tissue ; and thejaundice, another frequent effect of it, doubtless depends on compressionof the gall ducts. Some excellent remarks on this disease have beenmade by my able colleague, Dr. Hope {Principles and Illustrations ofMorbid Anatomy.)

Persons addicted to the use of ardent spirits are usually dyspeptic.Chronic inflammation of the stomach, or even a scirrhous state of thepylorus, has been said to be occasionally produced by hard drinking.

The kidneys of dram-drinkers are sometimes affected with a diseasefirst described by Dr. Bright, and which is generally attended by albu-minous urine. They assume a granular state, which Dr. Hope regardsas corresponding to the granular liver just described.

Modus Oi'ERandi. —-That alcohol becomes absorbed is proved by thefact that it has been found in the blood. Tiedemann and Gmelin fiberdie Wege avf welchen Substanzen aus d. Magen ins Blut gelangen)recognized the odour of it in the blood of the splenic vein, though they