416 REPORT — 18G9. 



regular intervals spontaneously ; but the}' can bo excited by a touch at any 

 time, and in the intervals, when thej' are absent, there is frequent twitcliing 

 of muscles. The tremors themselves are not positivclj- muscular contrac- 

 tions, but are rather vibrations through the whole muscular system, and are 

 connected with extreme want of true contractile power. While they are pre- 

 sent the temperature declines, and a difference of a fiiU half degree may be 

 observed both before and after each paroxysm. When the tremors are once 

 established, they may continue without furtlicr administration of alcohol for 

 ten and twelve hours steadily ; and so slowly do they decline, that I have seen 

 them occurring in the pigeon thirty-six hours after the intoxication. They 

 subside by remission of intensity and prolongation of interval of occurrence. 



There cannot, I think, be a doubt that these tremors, produced in animals 

 by the heavier alcohol, are identical with the tremors observed in the human 

 subject during the alcoholic disease known as delirium tremens. "What the 

 nature of the muscular movement is, what unnatural relationships exist between 

 the nervoiis sj^stem, the muscles, and the blood to cause them, these are ques- 

 tions of singular interest. Involuntary, developed even against the will, ex- 

 cited by any external touch that sets up prostration, attended with great 

 reduction of temperature, and remaining so long as the temperature is low, 

 they indicate clearly an intense depression of animal force, a condition in which 

 all the force that remains seems to be expended on the organic acts of life, 

 on the support of the motions of the heart, the muscles of respiration, and the 

 functions of the secerning glands. The voluntary systems of nerve and muscle 

 are indeed well nigh dead, and recovery rests entirely on the maintenance of 

 the organic nervous jiower. 



In the extreme stage of intoxication from butylic alcohol the arterial 

 blood loses its red colour, and the blood, which flows with ditRculty from 

 veins, is of dirty hue. Coagulation occurs readily, but the clot is loose, and 

 yields much coloured serum. The corpuscles are closely massed togetlier in 

 roUs, several appearing as if they made oue distinct column. Tho iibrine 

 separates in masses or bands, forming a coarse network or mesh very di- 

 stinctive in character. 



Amylic Alcohol. 



I have already reported, at the Birmingham Meeting of the Association, 

 on amylic alcohol. In its etfects, as a reference to my Report will show, it 

 differs only from butylic alcoliol in that the symptoms are even more pro- 

 longed. The tremors are most persistent, and complete recoverj% as indicated 

 by rcstoi'ation of the natural temperature, is not often attained in a shorter 

 interval than three days. At the same time, owing probably to the compara- 

 tive insolubility of this alcohol by the blood, it is very difficult to destroy life 

 with it b}^ simple gradual administration. When to the ordinary observer 

 recovery seems impossible, when there is perfect insensibility, Avhen there is 

 perfect paralysis of voluntary muscle, when even tremors cannot be excited, 

 and when the only evidence of life is a feeble respiration at intervals of 

 many seconds, recovery may be made certain. 



Review of the Alcohols, 



Reviewing the alcohols as a class, we find that their physiological action, 

 less extended in regard to particular organs than the nitrites, and more ex- 

 tended than the insoluble hydrides, is expressed both on the organic and 

 cerebro-spinal centres, reducing the active functions of both systems, and 

 at last so reducing the function of the cerebral hemispheres as to remove coQ' 



