The agency of alcohol, as illustrated by accurate dissections : being an account of Professor Sewall's drawings of the stomach, exhibiting its state in health, and under the various stages of alcoholic excitement and disease.
- Sewall, Thomas.
- Date:
- [©1843?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The agency of alcohol, as illustrated by accurate dissections : being an account of Professor Sewall's drawings of the stomach, exhibiting its state in health, and under the various stages of alcoholic excitement and disease. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![How consumption induced. Couglis. The kidneys. Paralysis. Cases. Effect of repeated small quantities. This aflPection of tlio lungs is produced in two ways : first, by the immediate action of the alcoliolic principle upon tlie highly sensitive membrane whicli lines the trachea, bronchial vessels and air-cells of the lungs, as it is poured out by the oxhalents; and second, by the sympathy wliich is called into action between the lungs and other organs, already in a state of disease, and more especially that of the stomach and liver. I have mot with many cases in the course of my practice, of cough and di(H- cult breathing, which could be relieved only by regulating the functions of the stomach, and which soon yielded on the patient's ceasing to irritate this organ •with ardent spirit. I have found the liver still more frequently the source of this affection, and on restoring the organ to its healthy condition by laying aside the use of alcoholic drinks, all the pulmonary symptoms have subsided. On examining the lungs of the drunkard after death, they aro frequently found adhering to the walls of the chest, hepatized, or affected with tubercles. The kidneys. These organs and others immediately associated with them, are seldom found in a healthy state after death in the inebriate. The kidneys become enlarged, softened, granulated and of a pale color; and these effects are ahcays found to exist, in a greater or less degree, even in the temperate drinker. And the use of alcoholic drinks even in a temperate [^moderate] degree, lead to some of the most harassing and fatal affections to be found in the whole cata- logue of diseases. But though an important subject, and upon which much might be said in reference to intemperance, I pass on to notice an affection, which, though common, seems scarcely to have attracted the attention of those who have written upon the effects of alcoholic drinks. Paralysis of the lower extremities. This disease which I shall here describe, is not that paralysis which takes place suddenly from an affection of the brain, or spinal marrow, but a gradual diminution of the power of sensation and of motion. Several of these cases have occurred to me within the last twenty years, three of which I will state. The first was in an active business man of forty-five, who gradually acquired the habit of tippling, though he never drank to intoxication. His practice was to take small quantities of brandy, gin, wine, &c., at short intervals. He at length began to complain of debility, a sense of numbness in his lower limbs, and an inability to walk with his accustomed activity. These symptoms gradually increased, and were soon followed by other mortifying indications of imbecility. The complaint increased till he could neither walk nor stand, and for months before his death, he was lifted from his bed to his chair. Several times during the progress of the case he partially recovered, but it was only in proportion as he suspended the use of alcoholic drinks. Upon examination after death, the mucous coat of his stomach teas found in at state of irritation, such as is usually met with in the case of a confinned drunk ard, and as represented in the Qhird] plate. The small intestines through the greater part of their extent, seemed to have participated in the irritation of the stomach. The second case was that of a highly respectable man, who made shipwreck! of fair prospects and a good character, by contracting habits of intemperance upon entering public life. I was frequently called to attend him, on account of indisposition produced by paroxysms of inebriation, and yet so assiduously did he conceal his intemperance, that it was long before any one but myseli suspected the cause. Ho seldom drank any ardent spirit, but kept his demijohn of old Madeira, which ho used profusely. He first complained of weakness and want of sensibility in the lower extremities, and an inability to walk, especially to ascend long flights of steps. Upon a full representation of his situation, and the consequences that must ensue, he was induced to abandon his wine, and almost immediately recovered all his powers; but upon returning to it somctimt afterwards, he relapsed into all his former weakness, and, if now living, is lost' to his family and country. it](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21473110_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
