74 Effect of Alcohol on Psycho-Physiological Functions. 



suits obtained with Subject VI and with the other normal subjects in 

 the former series. It does not, however, explain why the memory 

 results after alcohol should be opposed to those found for most other 

 processes. It is noteworthy that on the last day, July 4, the subject 

 obtained a conspicuously higher score than on any other day. His 

 best work in this test came in periods 4 and 5 of the day, 1 i. e., towards 

 the last of the session. These same features were striking in the re- 

 sults of the word-reaction test, which employed almost the identical 

 apparatus used for the memory work and demanded somewhat the 

 same attention and cooperation on the part of the subject. 2 



SENSORY THRESHOLD FOR FARADIC STIMULATION. 



The Kronecker inductorium, which was calibrated for the Nutrition 

 Laboratory by Professor E. G. Martin, and the accessory apparatus 

 recommended by him for the determination of the sensory threshold for 

 faradic stimulation, were used in the same general arrangement as 

 described by Dodge and Benedict. 3 The only change consisted in the 

 introduction of a key for the making and breaking of the primary 

 circuit of the inductorium which was mechanically operated by a small 

 motor at the regular rate of two breaks per second. The adoption of 

 such a mechanical key offered two chief advantages: 



(1) The subject could be near the apparatus (of course it was not in 

 his direct view) and at the same time be ignorant of the exact moment 

 when to expect the stimulation. The key was placed in a sound-proof 

 box in the dark room of the laboratory and operated continuously 

 during the test. Its action could be judged from the operator's point 

 of view by watching the needle of the ammeter. 4 The shocks were 

 controlled in intensity by the horizontal movement of the secondary 

 coil and were further delivered to the fingers of the subject or not, 

 according as the short-circuiting key in connection with the secondary 

 coil was opened or closed. The operator constantly had his hand on this 

 key, which could be used noiselessly. 



(2) The increase in the rapidity and the regular rhythm of the shocks 

 seemed to be more favorable for attention than an isolated shock, which 

 may be easily confused with pulse-throb and muscle-twitches, particu- 

 larly when the shocks are near to threshold value. 



The most unsatisfactory point in our use of this measurement was 

 the determination of the tissue resistance, this being necessary to 



1 This does not take account of period 1, which is set off from the rest of the records as preced- 

 ing the dose; furthermore, the factor of residual memory seems to have had a much greater effect 

 on the results in the first period. 



2 Subject VI did not employ regularly the method of fitting the words into a story during the 

 time of their first exposure. If an average is made for the "saving" on the first word in every 

 series on each day, the value 179 will be obtained; and in like manner the values for the second 

 to the twelfth words will be in order as follows: 139, 100, 102, 83, 80, 73, 99, 110, 93, 83, 107. 

 Word series No. 11 was by far the best remembered from one day to the next. 



3 Dodge and Benedict's report, p. 95, fig. 14, and p. 137. 



4 The current used in the primary circuit was 0.5 ampere. 



