374 
ACTION OF ALCOHOL ON THE SYSTEM. 
chemical view to which all these observers have given their adhesion—viz., 
that alcohol is resolved into carbonic acid, which must pass out by the 
lungs, and thereby increase the evolution of carbon. Lallemand, to whom 
we shall refer presently, when denying the transformation of the alcohol, 
says that he does not understand how alcohols lessen the excretion of 
carbonic acid, but upon this point lie had not experimented.” 
Having shown the objections that could be fairly raised to 
the experiments from which these inferences were drawn by 
him, he adds— 
“The results of my experiments have not entirely corresponded with 
those now referred to; but having collected the carbonic acid for five or ten 
minutes at a time every fifteen minutes during the action of the alcohol, 
with the expiration quite free; having maintained a uniform state of rest, 
having experimented in the absence of food or any other cause of disturb¬ 
ance, and having taken one moderate dose at each experiment, it is hoped 
that the nearest approach to the true action of alcohol has been made. 
Moreover, the number and extent of the experiments far exceed those 
which all previous observers have recorded. Eor the description of the 
method and apparatus employed, as well as the details of the experiments, I 
must refer to the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ for 1859. 
“Alcohol, in every dose up to the usual one in taking spirits and water, 
increased the amount of carbonic acid evolved, but not with the uniformity 
of a food, nor to a greater average extent than one-eighth to half a grain 
per minute. The effect was much more sustained when a small dose, as 
half an ounce, was repeated every quarter of a hour. Prout, and all 
observers, have noticed the want of precise uniformity in the action of 
alcohol.” 
Having combated the statement that alcohol arrests the 
waste of tissues, and at the same time diminishes the amount 
of urea, which principle “may proceed either from the 
tissues, from the transformed food, or from excess of food/''’ 
he adduces the scientific researches on this subject of 
“MM. Lallemand, Perrin, and Dnrov, who have just shown that when a 
moderate dose of alcohol has been taken, either by a man or a dog, the 
alcohol can be found in the expiration, the perspiration, and the urine, for 
at least eight hours afterwards. They have not collected the alcohol, but 
they have shown its presence by its action upon the bichromate of potass in 
sulphuric acid, and have proved that this action is not produced by the 
allied substance aldehyde. They affirm, therefore, that alcohol is not trans¬ 
formed in the system, but passes off from the body unchanged; and the 
fact that alcohol is fouud unchanged in the brain for a period of seventeen, 
and, it is said, for thirty-six hours, strengthens their belief. I have care¬ 
fully repeated their experiments, and have shown, on several public 
occasions, the reaction of the alcohol on the breath for four hours after an 
ounce and a half has been taken. In the ease of the skin, M. Lallemand 
proved the secretion of alcohol, by enclosing an Italian greyhound in a glass 
case, and passing a current of air over it and through the test; but I have 
proved its presence in the vapour passing oft from so small a part of the 
body as the arm, and even the hand only, of man. In repeating this latter 
experiment, sheet caoutchouc must not be used, neither must the containing 
bag or vessels be employed a second time without having been well cleansed 
