TOXIC ACTIONS 359 



illustration of the so-called 'law of dissolution.' Its 

 effects are generally divided into four stages (1) stimulant, 

 (2) narcotic, (3) anaesthetic, and (4) paralytic. With ethyl- 

 alcohol these stages are usually distinctly marked. With 

 methyl-alcohol the excitement is more intense, the subse- 

 quent stages follow more rapidly ; but if the doses are not 

 lethal the effects pass off more quickly. With cenanthic and 

 caprylic, which are non-fermented alcohols, the stages are 

 less regular, and are marked by convulsions. Ethyl and 

 methyl alcohols are not so deadly as most of the others. 

 Their toxic dose is eight grammes to the kilogramme of the 

 live weight of the animal. The toxic dose of any crude spirit 

 is less than that of the same spirit after rectification, and 

 the impure spirit produces greater excitement and heavier 

 stupor. 



Large concentrated doses produce rapid narcosis with a 

 minimum of preliminary excitement. Hertwig gave an old 

 but serviceably sound horse eight ounces of ethyl-alcohol of 

 specific gravity *825. He became much excited and uneasy, 

 pranced, staggered, and after two minutes fell, struck out 

 vehemently with his feet, rolled his eyes the pupils at first 

 were contracted, but afterwards were dilated. He rapidly 

 became insensible, and died in about ten minutes. The 

 heart continued to beat for several minutes after death. 

 Four to six ounces produced similar motor excitability, but 

 did not prove fatal. 



Dogs about twenty pounds weight, retaining four or five 

 ounces of whisky, given quickly, soon become comatose 

 without any appreciable excitement, and die within a 

 few minutes. Percy injected strong alcohol into the 

 empty stomach in dogs, and they almost immediately fell 

 over insensible ; respiratory and cardiac movements ceased 

 within two minutes ; the blood was found charged with 

 alcohol. Similar sudden fatal paralysis occurs in men 

 swallowing quickly full draughts of whisky. Dogs receiving 

 one to two ounces of rectified spirit, the oesophagus being 

 afterwards ligatured, become uneasy, endeavour to vomit, 

 are unable to control their movements, become comatose, 

 and die in a quarter to half an hour. One to two drachms 

 induced in dogs reeling and stupor, which continued for 



