I. That the primary physiological effects of alcohol upon the nervous system are such as to cause, either directly or indirectly, a large increase of some of the functional activities of the body, has always been so well known, that alcohol has long been regarded as one of the most active stimulants. Hence its so general use in medicine. And yet, to how great an extent it acts as such, and how much is physiologically signified by its effects as a stimulant, especially upon the primary tissues of the body, has not been so well understood. That this may be rendered more clear in the mind of the reader, I shall now introduce some of the results of experiments conducted by Dr. Parkes and Count Wollowicz. These experiments were upon the person of a strong and healthy young man, and were intended to be as accurate as possible. They extended over two periods: the _water period_ and the _alcohol period_, and were continued many days in succession. During the first period, the person used no other fluid than water, and the action of the heart was registered at regular intervals, a mean of the several registrations being taken as a basis for computation. The same plan was followed during the alcohol period, and during the days while increased amounts of alcohol were administered. I herewith give the results in the words of their own report: "The highest of the daily means of the pulse observed during the first, or water, period, was 77.5; but on this day two observations were deficient. The next highest daily mean was 77 beats. "If, instead of the mean of the eight days, or 73.57, we compare the mean of this one day, viz., 77 beats per minute, with the alcoholic days, so as to be sure not to over-estimate the action of the alcohol, we find: "On the 9th day, with one fluid ounce of alcohol, the heart beat 430 times more. "On the 10th day, with two fluid ounces, 1,872 times more. "On the 11th day, with four fluid ounces, 12,960 times more. "On the 12th day, with six fluid ounces, 30,672 times more. "On the 13th day, with eight fluid ounces, 23,904 times more. "On the 14th day, with eight fluid ounces, 25,488 times more. "But as there was ephemeral fever on the 12th day, it is right to make a deduction, and to estimate the number of beats on that day as midway between the 11th and 13th days, or 18,432. Adopting this, the mean daily excess of beats during the alcoholic days was 14,492, or an increase of rather more than 13 per cent. "The first day of alcohol gave an excess of 4 per cent., and the last of 23 per cent.; and the mean of these two gives almost the same percentage of excess as the mean of the six days. "Admitting that each beat of the heart was as strong during the alcoholic period as in the water period (and it was really more powerful), the heart on the last two days of alcohol was doing one fifth more work.