726 
DE. E. SmTH ON THE ACTION 
5. Alcohols. 
Alcohol, and substances containing much alcohol, disturb the respiration rather than 
influence it uniformly in any direction. Certain members of the class increase, whilst 
others decrease the activity of that function, probably according to the elements other 
than alcohol of vfoich they are composed. 
Alcohol— W^rc\-i 9 (8 exps.). 11 drachms of Spt. Vini (76 per cent, of pure alcohol) 
in 6 oz. of cold \vater, caused in myself an average increase of -18 gi’. of carbonic acid, 
and a maximum of AQ gr. per minute ; and on another occasion. May 6 (7 exps., Plate 
XXXVI. fig. 44), an average increase of *8 gr. and a maximum of 1-64 gr. per minute. 
Mr. Moul on the latter occasion had no average change, but a maximum decrease of 
•72 gr., and an increase of -4 gr. per minute. The quantity of air was increased 4 < cubic 
inches and 53 cubic inches per minute in myself, and 26 cubic inches per minute in 
Mr. Moul. The rate of respiration declined throughout in the first, but in the 
second experiment there was an increase in both of us, and a subsequent decrease in 
myself. 
Dec. 21 (5 exps.), fig. 45.— I took ^ an oz. of alcohol, spec. grav. *858 (76 per cent.), 
with 2 oz. of cold water, every quarter of an hour for three times, after which (as also in 
the experiment on March 9) I was nearly unconscious. The carbonic acid was increased 
•74 gr. per minute, and the air 37 cubic inches per minute. The rate of respkation 
was scarcely changed, but that of pulsation rose. In 70 minutes from the fii-st dose^the 
quantities fell to the basis. The vapour exhaled from the lungs increased foom 3-12 
grs. to 3-76 grs. per minute. 
JVhishj . — April 6 (6 exps.), Plate XXXVI. fig. 46. 1^ oz. of whisky, spec. grav. -936 
(42 per cent.), in 6 oz, of cold water, caused an average decrease of carbonic acid m 
myself of -33 gr., and a maximum of -7 gr. per minute. The rate of respiration was 
unchanged, but that of pulsation fell 7 per minute. 
April 29 (6 exps.).— 2 oz. of the finest whisky, spec. grav. -875 (69 per cent.), bottled 
more than twenty years, with water, taken after an experiment on the influence of the 
vapour of ivine, gave an average increase of ‘29 gr. of carbonic acid hi myself, and 22 
gr. in Mr. Moul; with maxima of decrease of ‘73 gr., and of increase of 1 oo gi. in 
myself, and a maximum increase of ‘78 gr. in Mr. Moul. My quantity of air was at 
first increased and then lessened, whilst it varied in Mr. Moul. The rate of respiration 
fell, and that of pulsation rose in both. Since the basis quantity in this experiment was 
due to the inhalation of wine, it is possible that the comparative results thus given niay 
not be quite normal. 
May 4 (6 exps.), fig. 47.-2 oz. of the whisky which was used in the fii’st experiment, 
spec. grav. ’'928 (45 '5 per cent.), caused an average decrease in carbonic acid of '57 gi., 
and a maximum of 1 gr. per minute, whilst in Mr. Moul the average increase was -29 
gr., and the maximum ’66 gr. per minute. The rate of resphatioii declined considerabh 
in myself, and, with one exception, in Mr. Moul also. The rate of pulsation fell in 
