THE PHYSIOLOGICAL POSITION OF ALCOHOL. 
157 
inferior animals what was the actual degree of vascular excite- 
ment induced by alcohol, and my results were full of interest. 
They have, however, been entirely superseded by the observa- 
tions made on the human subject by Dr. Parkes and Count 
Wollowicz. 
These observers conducted their enquiries on the young' and 
healthy adult man. They counted the beats of the heart, first 
at regular intervals, during what were called water periods, 
that is to say, during periods when the subject under observa- 
tion drank nothing but water ; and next, taldng still the same 
subject, they counted the beats of the heart during successive 
periods in which alcohol was taken in increasing quantities : 
thus step by step they measured the precise action of alcohol 
on the heart, and thereby the precise primary influence induced 
by alcohol. Their results were as follow : — 
“ The average number of beats of the heart in 24 hours (as 
calculated from eight observations made in 14 hours) during the 
first, or water period, was 106,000 ; in the alcoholic period it 
was 127,000, or about 21,000 more ; and in the brandy period 
it was 131,000, or 25,000 more. 
The highest of the daily means of the pulse observed during 
the first or water period was 77*5 ; but on this day two observa- 
tions are deficient. The next highest daily mean was 77 beats. 
If, instead of the mean of the eight days, or 73*57, we 
compare the mean of this one day, viz., 77 beats per minute, 
with the alcoholic days, so as to be sure not to over-estimate 
the action of the alcohol, we find : — 
On the 9th day with one fluid ounce of alcohol the heart beat 
430 times more. 
On the 10th day, with two fluid ounces, 1,872 times more. 
On the 11th day, with four fluid ounces, 12,960 times more. 
On the 12th day, with six fluid ounces, 30,672 times more. 
On the 13th day, with eight fluid ounces, 23,904 times more. 
On the 14th day, with eight fluid ounces, 25,488 times more. 
But as there was ephemeral fever on the 12th day it. is right 
to make a deduction, and to estimate the number of beats in 
that day as midway between the 11th and 13th days, or 18,432. 
Adopting this, the mean daily excess of beats during the 
alcoholic days was 14,492, or an increase of rather more than 
1 3 per cent. 
The first day of alcohol gave an excess of 4 per cent., and the 
last of 23 per cent. ; and the mean of these two gives almost 
the same percentage of excess as the mean of the six days. 
Admitting that each beat of the heart was as strong during 
the alcoholic period as in the water period (and it was really 
more powerful), the heart on the last two days of alcohol was 
doing one-fifth more work. 
