24 2 ON THK DIGESTION OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS. 
determined by directing the gases and vapours evolved 
during respiration by a man who had taken a considerable 
dose of alcohol through a WoulfPs bottle, surrounded by a 
freezing mixture. After the operation had been conducted 
for two hours, only a minute quantity of alcohol was found 
in the condensed fluid. None escaped by the urine or other 
secretions. 
In the case of a man who, after a three days' debauch 
upon strong punch, was seized witli a succession of epilep- 
tic fits, they found that blood drawn immediately from the 
jugular vein contained both alcohol and acetic acid in small 
quantity, while that taken an hour later contained none. 
They found, however, by Trommer's test, distinct indica- 
tions of the sugar which had been present in the punch, 
from which the authors draw the conclusion, that alcohol 
is digested more rapidly than sugar. 
From these experiments the authors conclude that alcohol 
is absorbed by the veins, and not by the lacteals; and that, 
with the exception of the small quantity which escapes by 
the lungs, it is entirely oxidized into carbonic acid and 
water, either directly or by passing through the interme- 
diate stage of acetic acid.— /row tdnn, de C/iim, et 
Phys. 
