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ll result in questionable consequences； the habitual movement will be made instinctively。 The soldier will properly carry out his obligations of service； the coachman drive home； unharness； and look after the horses； even the locomotive engineer will complete his difficult task without a breakthen； however； they fall and sleep their drunkenness off。 Now； if something intervenes unexpectedly during the performance of this ha… bitual activity； especially some opposition； some superfluous cajolement； correction； or similar thing； the intoxicated actor is thrown completely out of gear； and can not be restored to it； nor is he able properly to oppose this obstacle。 Hence he acts against it reflexly； and in most cases explosively。
It may be perceived that such a drunkard works unconsciously having been thrown out of gear by some sudden remark； he is unable to complete what he is trying to do； and this develops a despairing expression of emotion for which he is decidedly not responsible。 A countless number of popular maxims indicate the popular opinion that it is best to get out of the way of a drunkard； never to help him； because he can best look after himself。 The public seems to know this very well； theoretically； but in practice no wife applies this theory when her drunken husband comes home； in practice the policeman looks after the drunkard； in practice the peasant and the master quarrel with the drunken servant and the apprentice；and then everybody wonders when suddenly superiors are hurt； maimed； and otherwise opposed。
The best evidence for the certain but very definite routine in which the drunkard moves； is the example cited by Combe＇1＇ concerning the porter who； while drunk； had wrongly delivered a packet。 Later on he could not think where he had brought it； but as by chance he got drunk again； he fetched the packet； and brought it to its proper destination。 This process indicates that the ‘‘in vino veritas'' depends not merely on speech； but on action； and that this coming to the surface of what is really thought is the reason for so many insults offered during intoxication。 Such phenomena are best studied at the beginning of narcosis； in which all the conditions of intoxication come together in a much briefer period of time； and hence appear much more clearly。 How involuntarily the inmost thought breaks through under such circumstances； is shown by an occurrence in a surgical clinic。 An old peasant was to have been subjected to a not dangerous but rare operation。 The famous surgeon of the University had one student after another make a diagnosis； and asked one student after another what kind of an operation he would perform。 The peasant misunderstood it altogether； and as he was half stupefied he cried out involuntarily： ‘‘The old donkey is asking one loafer after another what to do。 Nobody knows anything； and yet they are going to operate on me。''
＇1＇ Andrew Combe： Observations on Mental Derangement。 Edinburgh 1841。
Things that are thought are expressed just as involuntarily during intoxication； and thus the insults； etc。； are accomplished。
What is never believed； but yet may be true； is the defence of a prisoner that intoxication led him to steal。 I know of a talented； kindly； and thoroughly honorable young man； who during slight intoxication steals everything he can lay his hands on。 His drunkenness is so light that he can remove with complete skill his comrades' cigarette cases； pocket handkerchiefs； and worst of all； their latchkeys。 At the same time； he is still drunk enough to have great difficulty in remembering； the next day； who the owners of these things are。 Now suppose a thief told such a story in court！
I cite from the excellent account of Hoffbauer；＇1＇ the development of intoxication： ‘‘At first the consumption of liquor intensifies the feeling of physical health； or increases that health。 It appears to have a proportionately similar effect upon the powers of the mind。 Ideas move easily； expression is smoother and more adequate。 The condition and emotional attitude are such that one might very well always wish for one's self and one's friends。 Until this point no intoxication is visible。 The flow of ideas only increases and becomes more intense。 Excellent； appropriate notions occur to one； but there is effort to restrain the irregular flow of thought。 This state is visible in the effort which must be used to carry on any rather involved story。 The ideas flow too rapidly to be easily ordered according to the requirements of the story。 At this point the beginning of intoxication is already perceptible。 In its development the flow of ideas becomes continually stronger； the senses lose their ordinary sharpness； and as these fail the imagination grows stronger。 The drinker's language is now； at least in particular expressions and turns of speech； more voluminous and poetical； and rather louder than is natural。 The former indicates an intensification of imaginative power； and the latter a dulling of the senses which becomes more and more obvious in the development of the intoxication。 For the drinker speaks louder because he hears his words less clearly than before； and judges the hearing of his auditors by his own； although the vividness and the more rapid flow of ideas induced by intoxication have a share in this。 Soon the dulling of the senses becomes still more obvious。 For example； it is seen that a person who is so drunk that he confuses otherwise well…known companions； even if only for a minute； thinks he puts his glass softly on the table；
＇1＇ J。 C。 Hoffbauer： Die Psychologie in ihren Hauptanwendungen auf die Rechtspflege。 Halle 1823。
although it falls to the ground。 And then there are still other forms of physical helplessness to be perceived。 From his speech it may be judged that the connection between his ideas has significantly decreased： although still very vivid； they are now like luminous sparks that appear and disappear。 This vividness of ideas； or their rapid flow； gives the inebriate's desires an unmanageable intensity which reason can no longer control。 He follows them instantaneously if some accident does not turn him aside。 His physical helplessness becomes now obvious in stammering； in a wabbly gait； etc。； until finally he falls into a deep sleep in which physical and intellectual repair begin。
‘‘If the conditions of intoxication were to be divided into periods； we should have the following： In the first period of intoxication ideas have only an extraordinary degree of vividness。 The rule of the understanding over actions is not altogether suppressed； so that the drunken fellow is fully conscious of his external relations and is aware of what is going on within and about him。 But the rapid flow of ideas hinders careful reflection and leads to an intensified excitability； particularly to those emotional expressions which are characterized by the more rapid flow； This is due to the familiar psychological law according to which one emotional condition leads into another as it is more like that other in tone。 Anger and merriment； hence； show themselves more and more among uneducated people who are not habituated to the limitation of their emoti