Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 50.djvu/829

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THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL.
807

or conditions of fear. There may, of course, be many others. Magnan[1] obtained precisely similar results with his alcoholic dog, much more extreme, because he gave much larger doses. The literature of human insanity makes fear a characteristic psychosis in alcoholic insanity,[2] and delirium tremens is probably the most terrible fear psychosis known. Even with the amounts of alcohol given. Bum has shown several mild paroxysms of fear, with some evidence also of hallucinations.

I am unable, therefore, to escape the conviction that our experiment has a meaning as deep as the psychology of fear itself. As to how deep that is, we may hope to learn something in studies that are now being prosecuted.[3]

As to temper and disposition, neither the breed nor the individual dogs can leave anything to be desired. Aside from their timidity, I can not recall that either Bum or Tipsy were ever even "impolite" toward me. They have never shown the least

Fig. 16. Tipsy, November, 1895.

bit of resentment or snappishness. Not so much can be said for either of the Topsys or for Nig. But they are much more cheerful. The tone of sadness, the same as is noted in Magnan's dog.


  1. Magnan, V. On Alcoholism. London: Greenfield, 1876, p. 18 ff.
  2. Mobius, P. J. Nervenkrankheiten. Leipzig, 1893, p. 74 ff.
  3. G. Stanley Hall. Children's Fears. American Journal of Psychology, viii. No. 2.