ACTION OF ALCOHOL UPON CIRCULATION— WOOD AND HOYT. 



47 



SERIES SECOND. 



In this scries we made only two experiments, which were performed on doos suffering from 

 distemper accompanied with the usual systemic disorder and marked fever. These experiments 

 are as follows: 



Experiment 5. — Dog suffering from distemper. Temperature, lfi.5 O. Very weak and ill. 

 Weight, \ kilns. Ether used. Alcohol, 50 per cent. 



Experiment 6. — Dog suffering from distemper. Temperature, '/<>■■>' < '■ Weight, 7 kilos. 



Ether used. Alcohol, 50 ji< r cent. 



An examination of the records just given will show that in Experiment 5 it was not possible 

 to cause rise of the arterial pressure by alcohol, whereas in Experiment a slight but distinct 

 rise was produced, so that it would appear that in the dog suffering from the general prostration 

 and circulatory disturbance of an infective fever alcohol has no consistent pronounced influence 

 in elevating the blood pressure, but at times does have such effect. The drug therefore seemingly 

 acts upon the circulation in fever in no way differently from that in which it acts upon the 

 circulation in health. 



A remarkable effect noted in these dogs, not connected with the circulation, was the influence 

 of the alcohol upon the nervous system, an influence so pronounced as to suggest that very 

 possibly in human fever alcohol is of service as a calmative agent. The animals were suffering 

 from fever and its discomforts; were of necessity restrained in the ordinary dog trough; 

 were violently restless and howling at the time of the intravenous injection of the alcohol. 

 The alcohol was not given in sufficient dose to produce a recognizable narcosis, yet within 

 two or three minutes after its injection the animal became perfectly quiet and apparently 

 blissful lv content. 



