es against which we are contending.

"There has been during this period no increase in the proportion
of surgical cases among the whole number treated, so that the
decreased use of medicines and alcoholic beverages has not
resulted from an increased resort to surgical remedies. On the
other hand, there has been a great increase in the utilization
of baths (hydrotherapeutics), of massage, of mechanical
treatment and of psychical treatment, all of which accounts no
doubt for part of the falling off in the use of alcohol and
drugs."

CHAPTER V.

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL UPON THE HUMAN BODY.

The body is made up mainly of cells, fibres and fluids. The cell is the
most important structure in the living body. Life resides in the cell,
and every animal may be considered a mass of cells, each of which is
alive, and each of which has its own work to accomplish in the building
up of the body.

The matter which forms the mass of a cell is called protoplasm, or
bioplasm. It resembles somewhat the white of a raw egg, which is almost
pure albumen. Cells make up the body, and do its work. Some are employed
to construct the skeleton, others are used to form the organs which move
the body; liver-cells secrete bile, and the cells in the kidneys
separate poisonous matters from the blood in order that they may be
expelled from the system.

These cells, composing the mass of the body, being very delicate, are
easily acted upon by substances coming into contact with them. If
substances other than natural foods or drinks are introduced into the
body, the cells are injuriously affected. Alcohol is especially
injurious to cells, "retarding the changes in their interior, hindering
their appropriation of food, and elimination of waste matters, and
therefore preventing their proper development and growth."

"Bioplasm is living matter; it is structureless, semi-fluid,
transparent and colorless. It is the only matter that can grow,
move, divide itself and multiply, the only matter that can take
up pabulum (food) and convert it into its own substance; and is
the only matter that can be nourished. The bioplasm in the cell
gets its nourishment by drawing in of the pabulum through the
cell wall, and in that way building up the formed material while
it is being disintegrated on the outer surface. This process is
continually being carried on, and is what is meant by nut