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ALCOHOL. 275

fects upon the system generally and directly upon the mucous
coats of the stomach, deranging and destroying its functions and
structure, resulting in dyspepsia, followed by cirrhosis of the liver
and kidneys, loss of mental and physical strength, derangement
of the nervous system, and at last, delirium tremens. When
properly administered in diseased conditions, however, alcoholic
preparations are valuable agents.
Therapeutic Uses.—The different forms of alcohol are em-
ployed as stimulants in acute inflammations, such as pneumonia,
pleurisy, bronchitis, pulmonary affections of children, etc., etc.,
and in rheumatic pericarditis, in the latter stages of typhus and
typhoid fevers, diphtheria, acute neuralgia, convulsions of denti-
tion, tetanus, asphyxia from cold, pyemia, etc., etc. Externally
in superficial inflammation, bruises, sprains, ptyalism, gout, cere-
bral affections, bed sores, etc., etc. According to Bartholow, al-
cohol is an excellent hemostatic for restraining oozing from a
large surface, and an efficient antiseptic dressing, as it destroys
germs, removes fetor, and stimulates the tissues to more healthy
growth.
Dental Uses.—Alcohol, as a narcotic, is employed to relieve
pain. In combination with tannic acid or chloride of zinc, it ob-
tunds the sensibility of dentine ; as a styptic, it arrests hem-
orrhage from relaxed tissues, coagulating the blood by its effect
on albumen, and causing contraction of the mouths of the vessels
by its astringent property. Equal parts of alcohol and water
make an excellent application as an evaporating lotion, for the re-
lief of superficial inflammations, its antiseptic properties render-
ing it useful as a mouth-wash when the secretions are vitiated
and the surfaces of the mucous membrane soft and spongy. It
is also useful for cleaning pulp canals as a preparatory treatment
to the use of the more active antiseptic agents, such as the bi-
chloride of mercury. For suppurating wounds, it is a useful anti-
septic dressing, as it destroys germs, removes fetor, and stimulates
the tissues to a more healthy action. It also favors the cicatriza-
tion of open wounds, coagulating the albumen, and forming an
impermeable covering. In mercurial salivation (mercurial stom-
atitis), it forms an excellent gargle.