550 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



ALCOHOL FROM A SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEW 

 II. The Relative Toxicity of the Vaeious Alcohols 



By Db. J. frank DANIEL 



UNIVEBSITT OF CALIFORNIA 



IN a previous study on " The Discovery and Nature of Alcohol," ^ we 

 have seen that the various alcohols differ among themselves as to 

 their molecular weights and boiling points. These two differences char- 

 acterizing the alcohols are associated further with a difference in toxicity 

 or poisonous effect. This we shall now consider. 



The relation between the molecular weight of a substance and its 

 toxicity was seen as early as 1837 by Black, but it was not until more 

 than a quarter of a century later that Rabuteau was able to generalize 

 this relationship. In his study of the metals he observed that the higher 

 the molecular weight and boiling point, the greater the toxicity. This 

 law experiment has shown often to be in default for the metals. For 

 the alcohols, on the other hand, it has a striking application. 



If greater toxicity be associated with a higher molecular weight and 

 boiling point, it would follow that an alcohol such as amyl, with 88 

 atoms to the molecule and a boiling point of 138° C, would be more poi- 

 sonous than ethyl alcohol with 46 atoms to the molecule and a boiling 

 point of 78.4° C. Such, in fact, was early shown to be the case. But 

 it may be objected that the difference between the two is extreme. It 

 would be more convincing if two alcohols, such, for example, as ethyl 

 and methyl, closely approximating in molecular weights and boiling 

 points, complied with the law. 



To a comparison of these we shall return. 



We shall first consider the experimental evidence which has given to 

 us a measure of the exact toxicity of the various alcohols. 



Early Experiments on the Toxicity of Alcohol 

 Fr. Petit, who was among the first to busy himself with the study of 

 the toxic effects of alcohol, showed that if alcohol is injected into the 

 veins of an animal, a rapid death ensues. Following this simple experi- 

 ment a considerable period of time elapsed before the subject was again 

 taken up. The next work recorded is that by two Italian physiologists, 

 Lussana and Albertoni. 



These investigators, by a series of interesting experiments, esti- 

 iPop. Sci. Mo., p. 567, June, 1913. 



