272 



Dr. A. Dupre on the Elimination of Alcohol. 



acid obtained neutralized 6*05 cub. centim. d. n. soda, equivalent to 

 0'0278 grm. alcohol. 



In the first two experiments f , in the last § of the alcohol contained in 

 the 12 cubic feet of air was recovered in the distillate. In a blank experi- 

 ment, in which air only was blown through the apparatus, no trace of 

 volatile acid was obtained. 



Examination of Alvine Discharges. — These are stirred up with water, 

 the mixture is distilled &c, and the alcohol in the final distillate is esti- 

 mated as described. In the experiments recorded in the following Tables, 

 the alvine discharges were not examined, previous experiments having con- 

 vinced the author that, even in cases where very large quantities of brandy 

 are taken for some length of time, the amount of alcohol eliminated by the 

 bowel is extremely small. 



Examination of Cutaneous Exudations. — No attempt was made to esti- 

 mate the amount of alcohol eliminated by the skin. Qualitatively, how- 

 ever, the fact that traces of alcohol are thus eliminated may be shown as 

 follows : — Part of the body is enclosed for several hours in an air-tight 

 covering ; at the end of that time the perspiration collected is washed off 

 with clean water, the distillate from which is then tested with bichromate 

 and strong sulphuric acid. Dr. Anstie has made numerous experiments in 

 this manner, which show conclusively that the amount so eliminated is 

 always extremely minute. The actual amount eliminated might perhaps 

 be estimated, with tolerable exactness, by enclosing an ascertained fraction 

 of the entire surface of the body in an air-tight bag, through which a 

 current of dry air is passed. In this air the alcohol is then determined 

 exactly as in the case of the breath. 



By means of the method just described, two series of experiments on the 

 elimination of alcohol were made, and, for the sake of absolute certainty, the 

 author conducted them in his own person. 



First Series. — Having first abstained absolutely, for a space of 10 days, 

 from all alcoholic drinks or other articles of food containing alcohol, the 

 urine was collected on the 11th day, and the breath blown through the 

 apparatus for half an hour. On the 12th day, and on each of the twelve 

 succeeding days, 112 cub. centims. of brandy* were taken daily (28 cub. 

 centims. at 1 p.m., 56 cub. centims. at 6 p.m., and 28 cub. centims. at 

 11 p.m.). The urine was collected between the hours of 3 p.m. one day 

 and 3 p.m. the following day, on 1st, 6th, and 12th day of the brandy diet, 

 and 4 p.m. on the same above-mentioned days. Lastly, the urine was 

 collected during the 5 days following the cessation of the brandy diet. The 

 analytical results obtained are arranged in the following Table. 



* The brandy contained 43 - 47 per cent, by weight of absolute alcohol. 



