168 



and is utilized in the exercise, the capacity for pei'forming a definite 

 sort of work is reduced under the influence of alcohol and a rise 

 in the metabolism takes place Whereas after taking alcohol the walk 

 took up 20 proc. more time only about 7 proc. of energ;y was gained 

 per time-unit, as calculated from the oxygen intake. 



In our work experiments we used the bicycle with adjustable and 

 registrable resistance described in detail in our previous paper ^), 

 They were executed as follows : at 9 o'clock a. m. a determination 

 was made, the subject sitting quietly on the bicycle; subsequently 

 while breathing freely, he began to pedal for twenty minutes, the 

 brakeband being tightened in order to fatigue him before the expe- 

 riment proper. The work done in this way amounted to 570 K.G.M. 

 per minute. Then, on the so-called alcohol-days, 60 cc of 96 % 

 alcohol diluted to 150 cc was taken at one time and immediately 

 after the pedalling was begun, while the subject was breathing freely 

 for 15 minutes and thereafter for five minutes through the valves. 

 Now the resistance was such that the amount of work was the same 

 as in our earlier experiments, viz. 380 K.G.M. per minute. After 

 this the exhaled air was collected for the analysis while the subject 

 wsnt on pedalling. 



One hour later the subject resumed the exercise, breathing freely 

 for J 5 minutes and through the valves for five minutes, the quantity 

 of labour performed being 380 K. G. M. per minute. Subsequently 

 the air was again collected for the analysis while the pedalling was 

 continued. The same process was gone through at 3 p. m. 



To control our results we carried out precisely the same experi- 

 ments on other days without alcohol. The same person was subjected 

 to an alcohol test only every four or five days, so that getting used 

 to the influence of alcohol was out of the question. 



Our individual experience was that, especially close upon the 

 taking of the alcohol the work was done with greater ease and 

 pleasure; but already the second time, i.e. about l^j^ hour later the 

 pleasure subsided, while in the afternoon the work was even a 

 little more trying than before. 



Alternately four sets of experiments with alcohol were performed 

 and four without. The temperature at which the following tests were 

 made varied from 8^ to 15° centigrade. 



The determination before the pedalling was made with a view 

 to noting any possible anomaly in the subject's respiration. The 

 gas-exchange proved to be rather constant and the fluctuations 

 comparatively slight. 



1) C. J. G. V. HooGENHUYZE and J. Nieuwenhuyse 1. c. 



