THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL. 



811 



of the experiment are plotted in Fig. 19. The heavy lines, N and 

 B, above the zero level express the relative efficiency of Nig and 

 Bum, and indicate the number of balls retrieved by each dog. 

 The light lines, n and h, express the number of times each dog 

 attempted to get the ball. Nig's line of achievement is seen to 

 run much closer to his line of attempt than in the case of Bum. 

 Fatigue is expressed below the zero line, and is derived from the 

 number of times each dog lay down to rest. Nig shows fifteen 

 per cent of Bum's fatigue. Expressed in other words, Bum lies 

 down to rest 67 times to Nig's once. 



It is clear that we must advance beyond the usual anatomical 

 standards of comparison into the field of function, if we are to 

 arrive at any definite settlement of physiological questions. Effi- 

 ciency, ability to do work, must be the ultimate appeal. While 

 nothing is further from my thought than to claim for the forego- 

 ing experiments sufficient comprehensiveness to even approximate 

 to a solution of this important problem, still, as stated at the out- 

 set, their results may serve to hint at the possibilities of future 

 work. The experiments are still in progress, their continuance 

 being assured for one more year by the Committee of Fifty. It 

 is to be hoped that they can be carried on much longer, to yield, 

 at least, the complete life story of the original four dogs. The 

 present opportunity should also be 

 utilized to study the next generation 

 in a similar way, if there should ap- 

 pear marked signs of degeneration. 

 Results are certain to increase in 

 definiteness and value as the experi- 

 ment is prolonged out of all propor- 

 tion to additional cost. 



On the side of physiological ac- 

 tivity, while a number of other forms 

 should be studied, and experiments 

 need repetition to guard against 

 individual variations, the results 

 obtained retardation in growth of 

 yeast, and depression of activity in 

 kittens and dogs cast a suggestive 

 light on the human experiment. The 

 spontaneous desire and the will well- 

 ing up within a vigorous organism to be and to do something 

 worth the while seems to me the highest thing in life. Hence 

 knowledge concerning physiological conditions which favor elabo- 

 ration of this quintessence of existence possesses a human value 

 beyond computation or expression, 



Helmholtz has said, in describing his methods of work, that 



Chart of Bail Tests. 



