From the evidence at the inquest, it appeared that the guard was reckoned sober, _only he had had two glasses of ale_ with a friend at a previous station.

Now, reasoning psychologically, these two glasses of ale had probably been instrumental in _taking off the edge_ from his perceptions and prudence, and producing a carelessness or boldness of action which would not have occurred under the cooling, temperate influence of a beverage free from alcohol.

Many persons have admitted to me that they were not the same after taking even one glass of ale or wine that they were before, and could not _thoroughly_ trust themselves after they had taken this single glass." IMPAIRMENT OF MEMORY.
An impairment of the memory is among the early symptoms of alcoholic derangement.
"This," says Dr.Richardson, "extends even to forgetfulness of the commonest things; to names of familiar persons, to dates, to duties of daily life.

Strangely, too," he adds, "this failure, like that which indicates, in the aged, the era of second childishness and mere oblivion, does not extend to the things of the past, but is confined to events that are passing.

On old memories the mind retains its power; on new ones it requires constant prompting and sustainment." In this failure of memory nature gives a solemn warning that imminent peril is at hand.