afterwards found that the stage of excitement had given place to prostration indicated by muscular relaxation and a feeble pulse. The man sank rapidly and died the next day. The body was examined. I found that the stomach and liver bore traces of recent inflammation. A small quantity of serum existed in the cavity of the chest, also in the pericardium. But the brain afforded conspicuous manifestations of disease. The dura-mater adhered very strongly to the skull and was detached with difficulty. On the internal surface of this membrane a thin layer of coaguable lymph was found, having the appearance of an adventitious membrane. The veins of the pia-mater were turgid with blood. The substance of the brain was much firmer and tougher than in a normal state; the ventricles somewhat enlarged containing a small quantity of serum. The remaining internal orgaus were healthy in appearance.

The morbid appearances of the heart in chronic inebriety are demonstrated by the following case. Louis Trevor, a gilder, forty-seven years of age, an immoderate drinker for thirteen years, consulted me complaining of a palpitation of the heart to which he had been subject

for three years. He stated also that he was always worse after eating. I gave him advice, and saw him no more until seven months afterwards, when I was called to his house. Found him sitting up reclining his head forward upon the back of a chair, having been unable to assume a recumbent posture. He stated that he had not been able to sleep since the attack, twenty-four hours previous. The symptoms present were a bloated face, an anxious cast of countenance, a short, dry cough, attended with no expectoration, a feeble and intermitting pulse, and at intervals, a violent palpitation of the heart. His legs were cold and somewhat swollen. I saw him daily, but was unable to check the progress of the disease. His legs had now be come dropsical and he failed very fast, the pulsations of the heart were so forcible on the day of his death (the eighth from the attack) as to shake his whole body violently. On inspection post-mortem the abdominal viscera were sound. The heart was much enlarged and several ounces of serum were effused in the pericardium. This membrane gave evidence of inflammation being glued to the heart in several places. A pint of fluid was found in the cavity of the thorax. No other morbid conditions were observed in the body.

THE STOMACH.

Active inflammation of this organ ending in disorganization and death is rarely met with as the result of an acute attack of inebriety. I have seen only three cases that gave proof of this fact by dissection. On the other hand the stomach is somewhat liable to disorganization in the chronic form of this disease. Nor is this remarkable when we consider the numerous congestions following every dram of ardent spirits introduced into its cavity. Lashed into fury and goaded to desperation from time to time by the spur of alcohol, it staggers under its burden and at last ceases to perform its functions. The following case illustrates its morbid appearance. Mark Satterly, a bookbinder, aged 35, a brandy drinker for fourteen years, requested advice. He complained of an uneasy sensation at the pit of the stomach, was affected occasionally with nausea, in short, gave the usual symptoms of incipient dyspepsia. These sensations had been present for three years. I gave him advice and a prescription which alleviated his distress for a time. I saw nothing further of him for four months, when I was called in by the attending physician. I learned that he had been relieved in a measure by my advice and was comparatively well until two weeks after, when the old symptoms returned and he began to grow worse. His condition now was as follows. He had an obstinate costiveness and frequent and violent vomitings of a dark colored fluid. His whole body was bathed with a cold, clammy perspiration. Continued singultus was present. His pulse was one hundred and small. Four hours after, found the patient in the articulomortis. His eyes were fixed, his countenence shrunken, and pulse intermitting. He breathed his last 25 minutes after my arrival.

Eight hours after death, in the presence of the attending physician, I examined the body. I found (contrary to my expectation) the liver sound yet somewhat enlarged. The brain, lungs and heart gave no evidence of organic disease; neither did the rest of the viscera save the stomach. The internal tunic of this organ was much thickened in its whole extent and of a slate color which I have never observed except in the stomach of inebriates. Near the Pyloric orifice were several foul looking ulcers, two of which had nearly penetrated the entire thickness of the stomach.

THE LIVER.

The liver is a viscus extremely subject to a disease induced by a long course of indulgence in intoxicating beverages.

The venous blood of the body highly charged with alcohol arrives at the laboratory of the liver, where is manufactured vitiated bile, unfitted to assist or promote a normal digestion. Repeated congestions of contaminated blood diffused in its circulation through the parenchyma of the liver disorder its function, and at last end in a disorganizaton of its structure. This is illustrated by the many dissections I have made of those who have died from disease of the liver produced entirely by inebriety. The morbid lesions discovered by dissections are illustrated, viz: The first morbid appearance of the liver noticed is its enlargement and induration. We find also a species of tubercle diffused throughout its whole substance. These anomalous productions are of a brown color, and on section have something of a granulated appearance. They vary in size, but most generally are of the bulk of a pea. They have no connection with a scrofulous state of the system, but are evidently the result of a slow process of disease produced in the liver from the alcoholic state of the blood present in the chronic stage of inebriety,

THE LUNGS.

Since I have been investigating the morbid anatomy and pathology of inebriety, I have observed an emaciation of body frequently attendant upon the chronic form of this disease, which I have not been able to account for satisfactorily in all cases on the theory of defective nutrition; for in many dissections I have not only found the digestive apparatus free from organic lesion, but in a healthy state, capable of having performed its normal function (the assimilation of nutriment).

From minute microscopic examinations of different organs to account for the causes of this wasting of the body, I turned the glass to the lungs, where I discovered minute granular bodies, of a firm texture, and identical in character with those already described in the liver. These bodies were found in some cases clustered together, more often separate, and embedded in the vescicles of the lungs. I have frequently found them present to the number of several hundred. Their favorite seat is in the lower lobes, yet in several cases they have been seen

in the summit of the lungs. That they are not allied in their nature to any species of scrofulous tubercle, is demonstrated by the fact that they never soften or suppurate. I have sometimes found them present in the lungs and liver at the same time (or in the same subject); but this is not often the case, for when they abound in the former they ere generally absent in the latter.

These morbid products generated from alcoholic blood, are a source of great irritation to the delicate structure of the lungs, and by lessening the diameter of its air-cells, render the organ incapable of performing its due office in the ventilation of the blood. This fluid therefore being surcharged with noxious gases creates in its circulation through the system a species of hectic fever, which saps the vital energies of the system and ultimately leads to the death of the body..

In order to demonstrate the fact that the species of tubercle (I refer to) has its origin from an alcoholic virus in the blood, I instituted a series of experiments upon domestic animals. Those selected were dogs, cats, and rabbits of full growth, which were forced daily to take a quantity of ardent spirits mixed with their food. To some was given rum, to others brandy, whiskey, gin, or malt liquor. At first I found it difficult for their stomachs to retain this poison, but by perseverance succeeded in gradually increasing the dose up to a certain point. They all began to decline under the use of these stimulants, and one after another died. Those who partook of brandy failed first; next. in the order of fatality were the rum-drinkers, and lastly the consumers of malt liquors. This last class were the least emaciated at the time of their death, while the others were reduced to mere skeletons. Some died in three weeks, others in three months, while two of the dogs who had been fed upon ale lasted until the tenth month.

All these animals were dissected. The organs that gave the strongest evidence of disease were the lungs and liver. In the former were found the same kind of tubercle which I have described as found in the lungs of many persons who have died from chronic inebriety.

The livers of some of the animals were much enlarged and indurated. They also contained tubercles. In several, the brain, stomach and kidneys were found much congested. Out of the whole number subjected to these experiments, the comparative results of diseased action in the different vital organs, were as follows:

This important excreting organ at times discloses, on dissection, organic lesions. Tasked beyond measure in removing from the blood impurities consequent upon a long course of indulgence in spirituous liquors, it hoists signals of distress which, if unheeded, at last hurries the votary of inebriety to an untimely grave.

The kidneys of those who have died in the chronic stage of this disease are quite often found enlarged, softened and of a spongy texture. The substance of the organ on section exhibits the same character as the external surface. Through this degenerate mass the vessels of the kidneys can be seen enlarged in their calibre, and at times crowded with blood. I have never found ulcers present, and am confident that this spongy condition of the organ is produced from repeated congestion, and that alchoholic poison is the main agent.

In concluding organic pathology, I would remark that the affections of the different viscera, as set forth above, are those which have been most observed in my post-mortem examinations. They are entirely different from those found in dissections of persons who have never used intoxicating beverages and require different treatment.

I shall now speak of the hereditary character of this disease as it develops itself in children under ten years of age, as its hereditary tendency is more observed at this period of life than in mature or declining age. The marked character of the disease, as found in children inherited from their parents, is precisely the same in morbid anatomy as found in adults who have labored under an attack of chronic inebriety. Dissections and microscopic investigations reveal the same species of granular tubercle in the liver and lungs, and the morbid appearances revealed in the different organs, coincide with those described in my dissections of adults.