Alcohol

William A. Hammond, M.D., Amer. Journ. of Med. Sci., October, 1856, p. 305.

Inferior Extremities p. 283

The action of Alcohol where a uniform weight of the body was preserved. Took 12 drachms of Alcohol daily for five days.

My weight increased from an average of 226.40 pounds to an average of 226.85 pounds, being .45 of a pound difference. The carbonic acid and vapor of water in the expired air had respectively decreased 1324.50 and 196.51 grains, the feces 1.22 ounces, the urine 3.43 ounces, the urea 87.19 grains, the chlorine 37.59 grains, the phosphoric acid 24.47 grains, and the sulphuric acid 13.40 grains. The free acid and uric acid (especially the former) were so slightly affected as to render it probable that the Alcohol had exercised no influence upon them.

During these experiments, my general health was somewhat disturbed. My pulse was increased to an average of 90 per minute, and was fuller and stronger than previously ; there was headache and increased heat of the skin, and my mental faculties were certainly not so clear as on the days when no Alcohol was taken. There was general lassitude, and indisposition to exertion of any kind. My appetite was variable. The amount of flatus discharged from the intestines Avas sensibly diminished.

Second E-aperient.

The action of Alcohol when the body lost weight from a deficiency of food. Took 12 drachms daily for five days.

During the experiments immediately preceding these, my weight decreased an average of .28 of a pound daily, falling from 226.73 pounds to 225.34. In the present series, under the same conditions, except the use of the Alcohol, this decrease has not only been overcome, but there is an actual average daily increase of .03 of a pound, the weight rising from 225.34 to a mean of 225.50 pounds. The mean weight of the body is less than the mean of the last series, owing to the fact that the average daily gain is not so great as the previous average daily loss. The carbonic acid decreased on an average of 129.08 grains, the aqueous vapor 312.06 grains, the feces .19 of an ounce, the quantity of urine 1.37 ounces, the urea 54.51 grains, the chlorine 10.08 grains, the phosphoric acid 8.70 grains, and the sulphuric acid 6.11 grains. The free acid of the urine, and the uric acid, were apparently slightly increased. The general condition of the system was never better.

Third Experiment.

The effects of Alcohol when the body gained weight from an excess of food. Took daily, for five days, 12 drachms of Alcohol.

During the series of experiments immediately preceding the present, the average daily increase of weight was .22 of a pound. By the action of the amount of Alcohol, the average increase was raised to .31 of a pound per day. The average amount of carbonic acid excreted, compared with the mean of the last series, was reduced to 581.99 grains, the aqueous vapor 266.21 grains, the feces 2.34 ounces, the urine 4.15 ounces, the urea 93.27 grains, the chlorine 26.92 grains, the phosphoric acid 8.29 grains, and the sulphuric acid 14.87 grains. The free acid and uric acid were but slightly affected. The perspiration was sensibly diminished. The healthy action of ray system was very much disturbed. Headache was constant, sleep was disturbed, the skin was hot, pulse full and bounding, averaging 98 per minute, and there was on two occasions after eating, slight palpitation of the heart. My appetite was capricious. Sometimes disgust was created by the mere sight of food, at other times I ate with a good relish.