STUDY AND STIMULANTS;

OR,

THE USE OF INTOXICANTS AND NARCOTICS IN RELATION TO INTELLECTUAL LIFE,

AS ILLUSTRATED BY PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS ON THE SUBJECT,FROM MEN OF LETTERS AND OF SCIENCE.

EDITED BY A. ARTHUR READE.

INTRODUCTION.

The real influence of the intoxicants and narcotics in common use hasbeen a matter of fierce and prolonged controversy. The most oppositeopinions have been set forth with ability and earnestness; but theweight they would otherwise carry is lessened by their mutuallycontradictor-y character. Notwithstanding the great influence of thephysician's authority, people are perplexed by the blessings andbannings bestowed upon tobacco and the various forms of alcohol.

What is the real influence of stimulants and narcotics upon the brain?Do they give increased strength, greater lucidity of mind and morecontinuous power? Do they weaken and cloud the intellect, and lessenthat capacity for enduring a prolonged strain of mental exertion whichis one of the first requisites of the intellectual life? Would a manwho is about to enter upon the consideration of problems, the correctsolution of which will demand all the strength and agility of hismind, be helped or hindered by their use? These are questions whichare asked every day, and especially by the young, who seek in vain foran adequate reply. The student grappling with the early difficultiesof science and literature, wishes to know whether he will be wiser touse or to abstain from stimulants.

The theoretical aspect of the question has perhaps been sufficientlydiscussed; but there still remains the practical inquiry,—"What hasbeen the experience of those engaged in intellectual work?" Have menof science—the inventors, the statesmen, the essayists, and novelistsof our own day—found advantage or the reverse in the use of alcoholand tobacco?

The problem has for years exercised my thoughts, and with the hope ofarriving at data which would be trustworthy and decisive, Ientered upon an independent inquiry among the representatives ofliterature, science, and art, in Europe and America. The replies werenot only numerous, but in most cases covered wider ground than thatoriginally contemplated. Many of the writers give details of theirhabits of work, and thus, in addition to the value of the testimony onthis special topic, the letters throw great light upon the methods ofthe intellectual life.

To each writer, and especially to Dr. Alex. Bain, Mr. R. E.Francillon, Mark Twain, Mr. E. O'Donovan, Mr. J E. Boehm, ProfessorDowden, the Rev. Dr. Martineau, Count Gubernatis, the Abbe Moigno, andProfessor Magnus, who have shown hearty interest in the enquiry, Itender my best thanks for contributing to the solution of theimportant problem of the value of stimulants; also to Mr. W. E. A.Axon for suggestive and much appreciated help. I should, however, beglad of further testimonies for use in a second edition.

January, 1883.

CONTENTS.

I. Introduction

II. LETTERS FROM:

Abbot, The Rev. Dr.

Allibone, Mr. S. Astin

Argyll, The Duke of, F. R. S.

Arnold, Mr. Matthew

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