The muscles themselves, by this time, are also failing in power; they respond more feebly than is natural to the nervous stimulus; they, too, are coming under the depressing influence of the paralyzing agent, their structure is temporarily deranged, and their contractile power reduced.
"This modification of the animal functions under alcohol, marks the second degree of its action.

In young subjects, there is now, usually, vomiting with faintness, followed by gradual relief from the burden of the poison." [Illustration: AN UTTER WRECK.] EFFECT ON THE BRAIN CENTRES.
"The alcoholic spirit carried yet a further degree, the cerebral or brain centres become influenced; they are reduced in power, and the controlling influences of will and of judgment are lost.

As these centres are unbalanced and thrown into chaos, the rational part of the nature of the man gives way before the emotional, passional or organic part.

The reason is now off duty, or is fooling with duty, and all the mere animal instincts and sentiments are laid atrociously bare.

The coward shows up more craven, the braggart more boastful, the cruel more merciless, the untruthful more false, the carnal more degraded.