18/0.] 



Alcohol on the Human Body. 



389 



became very strong. As to the exact amount of alcohol passing off, we 

 can say nothing ; but, looking to the delicacy of the test, it was probably 

 not great. 



In the case of the brandy, we attempted on the first day to determine 

 the quantity by the method of Dupre, viz. converting the alcohol into 

 acetic acid by heating with chrome-alum. 



The results indicated rather a larger quantity than he found ; but still 

 the amount was small. In the whole day's urine only * 1 763 gramme, or 

 2*7 grains of alcohol were discoverable by this method. 



Elimination by the Bowels. 

 The stools were mixed with distilled water ; and after standing for seven 

 or eight days in covered vessels, the water was poured off, and 30 c. c. were 

 distilled from 250 c. c. 



Day. 



Fluid taken. 



Eeaction of distillate with the 

 bichromate test. 



11. 

 12. 



Alcohol. 



Decided, but not great. 



13. 



>> 

 >> 



>> 



14. 







We think it can scarcely be doubted that the elimination of alcohol does 

 not take place so rapidly as is supposed. Looking to the evidence of the 

 pulse, of the sphygmographic tracings, and of the urine on the twentieth 

 day, we must conclude that, twenty-nine fluid ounces of absolute alcohol 

 having been taken in six days, the body had still traces of it on the sixth 

 day after the alcohol was left off. 



The evidence of xlnstie and Dupre is certainly strong against the urine 

 being a great channel of elimination ; but possibly, though not excessive at 

 any one time, the exit is longer continued than they supposed ; and when 

 the constant passage from the skin and from the lungs and bowels is re- 

 membered, we can easily suppose that the totality of elimination may be 

 really considerable. 



But whether all the alcohol thus passes off, or whether some is de- 

 stroyed, our experiments do not enable us to state. 



General Conclusions. 



1. One and two fluid ounces (28"4 c. c. and 56*8 c. c.) of absolute alcohol 

 given in divided quantities in 24 hours to a perfectly healthy man seemed 

 to increase the appetite. Four fluid ounces lessened it considerably ; and 

 larger quantities almost entirely destroyed it. On the last day of alcohol 

 the man was three quarters of an hour eating 8 ounces of bread, and could 

 hardly do so. Had he been left to his own wishes the amount of food 

 taken would have been much diminished. 



It appears, therefore, that in this individual some point near 2 fluid 

 ounces of absolute alcohol is the limit of the useful action on appetite ; but 



2 g 2 



