54 Effect of Alcohol on Psycho-Physiological Functions. 



a decrease in the latency in period 4, changing again to an increase in 

 periods 5 and 6. The curve for the secondary reflex latency follows 

 fairly close to that of the primary reflex. 



The course of the alcohol effect upon the reflex amplitude, as repre- 

 sented in figure 5, shows the greatest decrease in the amplitude in period 

 2, a somewhat less decrease in period 3, a rise to an absolute increase in 

 period 4, with a return below the base line for periods 5 and 6, that is, 

 in the case of the primary reflex. In period 5 the secondary reflex 

 shows its greatest depression. In every period except 6 the two groups 

 of curves, figures 4 and 5, are reciprocal, the one rising above the base 

 line as the other falls below, and vice versa. In periods 2 and 3 taken 

 together, which represent an interval of 80 to 90 minutes following the 

 ingestion of alcohol, there is an average increase in latency L, 9.5 per 

 cent, L', 7.8 per cent, and in amplitude A, —36 per cent, and A', —50 

 per cent. 



In figure 6 nine of the lid-reflex records for our subject are repro- 

 duced full size. These records have been trimmed down so as to per- 

 mit of a larger number being presented for comparison. They are 

 read from left to right, the time distance between the ordinates being 

 0.01 second. The curves which show the large depressions are direct 

 shadows of the artificial eyelash; the stimulus line is given below each 

 reaction curve. The first little peak in this line at the extreme left 

 indicates the moment of the sound stimulus. In records A to E, inclu- 

 sive, it will immediately be recognized that the primary reflexes are all 

 complicated by previous voluntary lid movements. The records were 

 so selected as to show the voluntary lid movements approaching nearer 

 and nearer the actual time of the reflex. In record F the voluntary 

 wink and the reflex wink fall together. The sharp, characteristic drop 

 of the reflex is, however, clearly to be seen in all of the curves. The 

 presence of these anticipatory voluntary lid movements is an individual 

 peculiarity for Subject VI, not exhibited in marked degree by any of the 

 other sub j ects previously employed. When the lid-reflex records of the 

 repetition series were spread out for careful inspection, it was noted 

 that in the period following the ingestion of alcohol the voluntary lid 

 movement preceding the primary stimulus did not occur. In other 

 words, all of the records were such as are shown in figure 6, Nos. G, H } 

 and J, each one of which is the first record following the dose on an 

 alcohol day. 



It seemed worth while to make a careful count of the records on the 

 following points: (A) the number of records showing voluntary fid 

 movements in the 0.15" preceding the first stimulus, or combined 

 with the first reflex; (B) number of records showing voluntary lid move- 

 ments in the 0.15" preceding the second stimulus, or combined with the 

 second reflex; (C) number of records showing voluntary lid movements 

 following the second reflex. The results are given in table 7. Only 



