96 Effect of Alcohol on Psycho-Physiological Functions. 



a second. For example, if the distance from R to R is found to be 12.8 

 mm. and the distance on the time line for the corresponding second, 

 that is, the second directly below the pulse cycle under measurement, is 

 15 mm., then the duration of the pulse cycle is 12.8 divided by 15, or 

 0.85 second; in terms of pulse rate this would be 70 beats per minute. 1 

 Obviously the longer the duration of the individual pulse cycle, the 

 slower the rate per minute will be. A duration of 1.00 second equals a 

 rate of 60 per minute. A duration of 1.1 seconds equals 55 per minute, 

 and so on. For the convenience of the reader the curves which follow 

 will be accompanied by a column at the right which will translate the 

 pulse duration into terms of rate per minute. 



A pulse cycle which fell partly in two divisions of the record was 

 counted as belonging to that one of the divisions — pre-tetanus, tetanus, 

 or post-tetanus — which contained the greater part of its duration. A 

 comparison of the pulse cycles in the pre-tetanus and post-tetanus 

 divisions which are indicated in A and B, fig ure 11, shows clearly that 



1 While it is more common to present pulse data in terms of rate per minute, when considering 

 individual pulse cycles as in these experiments such terminology seems misleading. 



Fig. 11. — Pulse and Finger-movement Records. 



A and B. July 2, period 1, No. 11, and June 29, period 2, No. 10, tetanus pulse records to be 

 read from left to right. In A the white vertical lines have been drawn in to make clear the divi- 

 sions of the record and the different sections have been marked. From the left to the first line i3 

 the pre-tetanus section, during which the subject was resting; between the vertical lines occurs the 

 tetanus section, when the muscles were voluntarily tensed; from the second line outward to the 

 right-hand end the subject was recuperating after the activity; this section is designated post- 

 tetanus. From the point in the record where activity began (left vertical line) six of the pre- 

 tetanus pulse cycles were numbered and measured. Also, from here proceeding to the right the 

 tetanus cycles are numbered and read until reaching the point where the muscles relax. The post- 

 tetanus cycles are numbered in order and measured from left to right. The P, R, and T waves of 

 the electro-cardiogram have been designated for one pulse cycle in A. It can be observed that 

 the R wave is definitely visible during the period of tetanus. The respiration-recording apparatus 

 was so arranged that the curves rise at inspiration. The time is in seconds. 



C. Section of post-tetanus record July 2, period 3, No. 11. Not infrequently with Subject VI 

 there were periods of several seconds without any appreciable respiration, as is shown in the left 

 portion of C. When a record 15 seconds in length has no rise and fall in the respiration tracing 

 save that the pulse is shown, it might be argued that the tambour which was placed on the sub- 

 ject was not properly located. This criticism can not apply to figure C. 



D. June 30, period 2, No. 1, after taking the first alcohol dose and before the patellar-renex 

 measurement. ' Two short vertical lines have been drawn through the respiration curve to indi- 

 cate the two points between which the pulse cycles were counted. 



E and F. June 29, period 3, Nos. 8 and 9. The pulse tracings in these two finger-movement 

 records illustrate the phenomenon described in the text, p. 117. A change in the electrical axis 

 of the heart seems the most plausible explanation for this reduction in the size and occasional 

 disappearance of the usual electrical waves. In E the finger-movement record has been divided 

 into four 2-second sections and these have been marked for the number of finger movements 

 occurring in 2, 4, 6, and 8 seconds, respectively. 



G. July 4, period 6, No. 6, pulse record taken during the last word reactions on the last day. 

 The extra oscillations of the string were caused by induction effects from the electrically driven 

 kymograph and the action of the word-exposure apparatus. The kymograph drum made a com- 

 plete revolution in 5 seconds (see text, p. 25), and at each revolution broke the circuit of the 

 exposure apparatus. The moments when this event occurred are marked by b in the picture. The 

 swift downward movement of the respiration curve shortly following every second break indicates 

 the reaction (marked r in the picture) which consisted in speaking the word exposed. 



H. July 4, period 1, No. 7, pulse following the word reactions. Occasionally the body elec- 

 trodes or the subject came into a position such that the respiration is seen to change the base line 

 of the pulse curve. Observe also the right-hand portion of C in this figure. 



