Dr. A. Dupre on the Elimination of Alcohol. 275 



ceptible; that is, the amount of volatile acid yielded on oxidation had sunk 

 to the normal amount 9 hours after the dose had been taken. The pro- 

 portion of alcohol eliminated in this second experiment, although still 

 small, is, however, considerably higher than it was in the first ; but this is 

 most likely owing to the different conditions under which the experiment 

 was made. The two ounces of brandy were taken within a very short 

 space of time and early in the morning, no other food being taken at the 

 same time. In consequence of this, the brandy had a considerable diuretic 

 effect during the first few hours, within which, as will be seen, more than 

 -j^j- of the total proportion was eliminated. 



It has been shown in the foregoing that urine, even after 10 days of total 

 abstinence, when treated as for the estimation of alcohol, yields some 

 volatile acid which, as judged by the smell, is acetic acid. A similar sub- 

 stance was also found in the urine of a teetotaler ; and a preliminary expe- 

 riment having shown that at least the greater part of this substance passed 

 over with the first portions of distillate, a somewhat larger quantity of the 

 same urine was obtained and examined. The total quantity employed 

 amounted to 180 ounces, being the greater part of 10 days' urine. To 

 avoid decomposition, the daily portion of urine was at once acidified 

 slightly, and J of it distilled ; this distillate was rendered alkaline and re- 

 distilled. At the end of the 8 days, all these distillates were mixed, acidi- 

 fied, and again distilled. This third portion was now twice distilled over 

 freshly ignited animal charcoal, after which the distillations were repeated 

 until the quantity of liquid was reduced to 10 cub. centims., care being 

 taken that never less than J was driven over. All the distillations were, 

 moreover, conducted with the usual precautions of having the receiver 

 closed by a mercury valve. These 10 cub. centims. showed the following 

 properties : — 



Specific gravity at 15°*5 C, 0*9996 water at the same temperature taken 

 as unity. Vapour-tension in Geissler's vaporimeter equivalent to 0*88 per 

 cent, by weight of alcohol. 



3*593 of it, when oxidized by bichromate &c, yielded an acid distillate 

 which, when neutralized by barium carbonate, filtered and evaporated, gave 

 0*0192 grm. barium salt; this barium salt, on decomposition with sul- 

 phuric acid, gave 0*0170 grm. of barium sulphate, and contained there- 

 fore 53*88 per cent, of barium ; pure barium acetate contains 53*72 per 

 cent, barium. The acid vapours expelled had the smell of acetic acid. 

 Another portion readily gave the emerald-green reaction with bichromate 

 and strong sulphuric acid, and finally they readily gave the iodoform test, 

 viz. when treated with iodine and an alkali, a yellow glittering precipitate 

 was produced, which, under the microscope, consisted of golden-coloured 

 six-sided plates, sometimes single, sometimes united into stars in the 

 manner of snow-crystals. 



The author having again abstained from the use of alcohol since May 

 the 16th, the urine was collected from May the 29th to June the 10th 



