270 PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL. 



VII. Nutrition (Metabolism) continued. 



1. Alcohol and general total metabolism continued. 



This experiment can be advantageously made simultaneous with observations 



on pulse, temperature, and respiration. 

 Is intensity of effect proportional to dose? 

 Is duration of effect proportional to dose? 

 For example, will a 50-gram dose double the effect on the katabolism noted by a 



25-gram dose, or will it simply prolong it twice as long? 



b. If any effect on metabolism, is there a compensatory effect later, i. e., is there 



an after-effect? What is its nature? 



c. Protein ingestion results in a greatly stimulated katabolism. 



What is effect of alcohol on this increase? Study effect on rapidity of beginning 

 of initial increase, intensity of rise, prolongation of effect, and return to 

 normal base-line. 



d . Ingestion of cane sugar or levulose likewise increases noticeably the total katab- 



olism. 

 Has alcohol any effect on this increase? 



2. Alcohol and carbohydrate and fat metabolism. 

 Effect of alcohol on the tolerance of various sugars. 



Influence of alcohol upon the amount of reducing material in the urine (Peters's 



method). 

 Study this from the standpoint of the influence of alcohol upon the oxidative powers 



of the body. If alcohol given simultaneously with sugars and alcohol 



burned first, then possible lowering of sugar tolerance. To what degree? 



Are various sugars affected differently? 



3. Acidosis. 



a. Meat-fat diet or non-carbohydrate diet induces an acidosis in normal man. 



(1) Will alcohol ingestion retard or hasten the onset of the acidosis? 



(2) In such an acidosis what is effect of alcohol ingestion? 



(3) Alcohol + large amounts of protein in an acidosis. Is increased metab- 



olism due to protein ingestion plus the increased metabolism of acidosis 

 affected by the alcohol? 



Will the body burn alcohol and facilitate the storage of the de-aminized 

 portions of the protein molecule? 



b. Alveolar air and respiration volume. 



By Haldane's apparatus and by the spirometer on the universal respiration 

 apparatus study the relationship between alcohol ingestion and the alveo- 

 lar air in acidosis, also the respiratory volume. 



4. Protein metabolism. 



a. Nitrogen output. 



Probably affected by alcohol diuresis. 

 If an increase, is it due to 



(1) Washing out, or 



(2) Increased cell katabolism? 



Controls should be made with distilled water diuresis. 

 Nitrogen partition in blood may be studied by Folin's methods. 



b. Purine metabolism. 



(1) Uric acid in blood. 



By Folin's new colorimetric method; study effect of alcohol on uric acid 

 in blood. 



(2) Urine. On purine-free diet. 



With large volumes of urine by diuresis produced by alcohol and control 

 by drinking large amounts of water. 



(3) Does alcohol ingestion alter exogenous or endogenous purine metabolism? 



(Beebe.) 



c. Effect of alcohol on the nitrogen partition and the total N balance on 



(1) Starch-cream diet. 



(2) Protein-rich mixed diet. 



(3) Meat-fat diet. (Kayser's work.) 



