THE METABOLISM OF ALCOHOL 299 



practically equaling that in the blood (Widmark (a), 1915- Nicloux C6) 

 1900). 



Distribution of Alcohol After Absorption 



The maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood is usually equal 

 to or slightly higher than one would find if there were even distribution 

 of alcohol throughout all the tissues (Mellanby(e), 1919). Analysis of 

 various organs and tissues of the body after alcohol has been taken show 

 that alcohol is quite equally distributed everywhere, but apparently there 

 are some small differences, for the liver and heart muscle in rats have been 

 reported as containing relatively low while the brain and blood contain 

 relatively high percentages of alcohol (Pringsheim, 1908). This is shown 

 by the following experiment: 



Alcohol 5 c.c. per kilogram body weight given. 



If equally distributed there would be 0.5 per cent throughout the body. 

 There were found in the 



Blood 0.52% 



Brain 41% 



Kidney 39% 



Liver 33% 



The percentage of alcohol in the blood, or in the urine, should prove a 

 good index as to the pharmacological and psychological effects to be ex- 

 pected; one observer states that intoxication does not appear unless the 

 concentration of alcohol in the urine exceeds one-tenth of one per cent 

 (Widmark (6), 1917). 



Effects of Alcohol on Total Metabolism 



Alcohol in moderate amounts does not increase the total metabolism 

 of the human body (Atwater and Benedict (e), 1902; Zuntz and Berdez, 

 1887; Geppert(a), 1887; Higgins(6), 1917). Both the heat production 

 i.nd the heat elimination are essentially unchanged, for moderate quantities 

 of alcohol cause no appreciable change in body temperature (Atwater and 

 Benedict, 1902). However, large quantities of alcohol lead to marked 

 peripheral vasodilatation with fall in body temperature; this is a cause 

 of increased heat elimination, which in turn is followed by increased 

 heat production as the body temperature returns to normal. Alcohol 

 in being burned acts to replace some other source of energy and 

 neither a stimulant nor a depressor of the metabolism, and does not serve 

 merely for "luxus consumption." 



