woman who, when pregnant, and only then, forgets entirely the distinctions of meum and tuum, though at all other times a model of moral propriety Whart. on Ment. Unsound. 43.

Whatever may be the theory of the law as to the milder forms of these kinds of permanent or temporary monomania as a defense in crimi nal cases, there may be extreme manifestations of it, amounting to "irresistible impulse," or "uncontrollable tendency "; and in such cases the mantle of the law would cover and protect the monomaniac: Ante, § 29. And if a youth should set fire to a building under an trollable impulse," shall it be said that the law would have an "uncontrollable impulse to punish him for it?"

§ 33. Alcohol; its uses and effects.

66 uncon

Alcohol is the product of a fermentation induced by the action of a microscopic fungus, yeast, upon certain kinds of sugar, especially grape sugar, and also upon that derived from starch of any description, and in the same manner upon milk sugar. In such cases a peculiar metamorphosis takes place, by which the alcohol

and carbonic acid are produced in considerable amount, together with very minute quantities of succinic acid, glycerine and other bodies: Quain's Med. Dic. (8th Am. ed.) 24. Alcohol may also be produced synthetically from its elements, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Alcohol is a pow erful antiseptic, probably from the fact that it is capable, when diluted, of preventing the development of septic germs, such as vibrios and bacteria, as well as paralyzing the activity of those already formed: 6 Field's L. B., § 425.

34. The psychological effects of alcohol.

On this subject Dr. Binz observes: "There is scarcely any therapeutical agent, the internal effects of which vary so much according to the dose given. In small quantities, and slightly diluted with water, alcohol promotes the functional activity of the stomach, the heart and the brain; whilst a large quantity, largely diluted, exerts but a limited influence upon these organs. If, however, the dose of alcohol be often repeated, it is readily assimilated, and becoming diffused through the system, undergoes combustion within the tissues of the body, imparts warmth to them,

and yields vital force for the performance of their various functions. Simultaneous with this consumption of alcohol, the body of the consumer is often observed to grow fat, a circumstance due to simple accumulation, the fat furnished by the food remaining unburned in the tissues, because the more combustible alcohol furnishes the warmth required, leaving no necessity for the adipose hydro-carbon to be used for that purpose. The symptoms of intoxication produced by large doses of alcohol are sufficiently well known. When the abnormal condition of excitement in the brain, induced by this stimulant, has been kept up, almost without intermission, for a length of time, or when it is suddenly withdrawn after the organ has been long subjected to it, the disturbance brought about is so great and persistent as to result in a complete overthrow of the reasoning faculties, and the condition known as delirium tremens ensues.

There can be no doubt but that a healthy organism, supplied with sufficient food, is capable of performing all its regular functions without requiring any specially combustible ma terial for the generation of heat and the develop

ment of vital force. But the case, assumes a different aspect when in sickness it transpires that, while the metamorphosis of tissue goes on with its usual activity or with increased energy, as happens in many diseases, the stomach, refusing to accept or digest ordinary food, fails to supply material to compensate for this waste. Here it is, then, that a material which can be most readily assimilated by the system, and which by its superior combustibility spares the sacrifice of the animal tissue, is especially called for; and such material we have in alcohol: Quain's Med. Dic. (6th Am. ed.) 24–26.

§ 35. Alcoholism defined.

This term is applied to the diverse pathological processes and attendant symptoms caused by the excessive ingestion of alcoholic beverages. These are very different if a large quantity is consumed at once, or at short intervals, or if small quantities are taken habitually; hence they are subdivided into those due to acute and chronic alcoholism. To the acute forms of alcoholic poisoning belong the acute catarrh of the alimentary mucous membrane, rapid coma, some cases of

delirium tremens, and certain special forms of acute insanity; whilst to the chronic class are referred the prolonged congestions, the fatty and connective tissue degeneration of the various organs and tissues, most cases of delirium tremens, nervous affections of slow onset and course, and cachexia, which in varying combinations attend a continuously immoderate consumption of alcohol: Id.

The following fragment from an instructive paper, by Dr. John Curnow, may be found in Quain's Med. Dic. (8th Am. ed.) 29. He says: "The forms of insanity caused by alcoholism are acute mania and melancholia, chronic dementia, and onomania. In the first, homicidal impulses, and in the second, strong suicidal tendencies, due to actual delusions and not to mere passive terrors, are added to the other signs of delirium tremens. Onomania is a peculiar form of insanity, in which the patient breaks out into paroxysms of alcoholic excess, attended with violent, strange, or even indecent acts, due apparently to uncontrollable impulses. The attack lasts a few days, and is succeeded by a long interval of sobriety and chastity. These patients have gen