1870.] 



Alcohol on the Human Body. 



383 



and the man had a chill ; there was slight shivering, pain in the hips, and 

 frequent sneezing. The temperature of the axilla reached 100° at 6 p.m., 

 and 99°*2 at 8 p.m. ; the temperature of the rectum at 10 p.m. was 100*2. 

 The urine decreased greatly in amount (from 1440 cub. centims. to 1060 

 cub. centims.), and became very turbid from lithates. The urea increased to 

 38*65 grammes, giving 18*05 grammes of nitrogen, and the nitrogen by 

 soda-lime was no less than 20*32 grammes. As this large excess surprised 

 us, both processes were repeated three times with the same results ; and it 

 is therefore to be concluded that, in consequence of this ephemeral fever, 

 there was a larger amount of urea (i. e. of substances precipitated by mer- 

 curic nitrate), and also a great excess of nitrogenous substances not preci- 

 pitated by mercuric nitrate. 



On the following day the ephemeral fever was better, though the tem- 

 perature was high in the early part of the day : the amount of urine then 

 became excessive (1800 cub. centims.), but the urea and the nitrogen 

 determined by soda-lime both fell to the average. If this fever-day 

 be deducted, the average of the five remaining alcoholic-days gives 

 16*067 grammes of nitrogen, or practically the same as in the water- 

 period. 



We draw the conclusion that some, probably all, the excess of nitro- 

 genous elimination during the alcoholic period was due to this transient 

 fever, which, it may be noted, was neither hindered in coming on nor appa- 

 rently prevented in passing off, by the 6 and 8 ounces of absolute alcohol 

 which were taken on those days. 



In the period after the alcohol the amount, both of ureal and total nitro- 

 gen, increased. The excess was chiefly due to a great elimination on the 

 sixteenth day. On this day again a slight febrile attack recurred, and the 

 temperature ran high. At 8 p.m. it reached 100°*7, and then fell rapidly, 

 so that at 10 p.m. it was normal in both axilla and rectum. The mean 

 temperature of the day was 98° * 8, which was considerably higher than on 

 any other day in this period. 



On the following three days the nitrogen continued high, and fell on the 

 next day far below the average. In the brandy period it continued to fall, 

 and in the last period (three days of water-drinking) was almost precisely 

 the same as in the first. 



The disturbing influences from these febrile attacks being allowed for, 

 and the small amount of the changes in the quantity of nitrogen, even if 

 these attacks are included, being taken into account, it may be concluded 

 that alcohol in the above quantities produces no effect of importance in 

 altering the elimination of nitrogen in the healthy body when, the ingress 

 of nitrogen is constant. If any change does occur, which is not certain, it 

 is on the side of increase ; and this might possibly be accounted for by the 

 increased rapidity of the heart's action, and the augmented flow of urine, 

 which would carry a little more urea with it. 



