Alcohol and alcoholic intoxication / by Edward Mellanby.

  • Mellanby, Edward, Sir, 1884-1955.
Date:
[1920?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Alcohol and alcoholic intoxication / by Edward Mellanby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that a higher maximum of alcohol in the blood is attained—i.e.9 an accumulative effect is produced. Now, the maximum point on the curve is also the point of maximum intoxication, and although there may appear to be but a small difference in the maxima on the screen, this small difference involves a very large increase or decrease in intensity of intoxication. In fact, it can be generally stated that any condition which depresses the point of maximum alcoholic concentration in the blood has a great effect in depressing the maximum intensity of intoxication. Fig. 2 shows the effect of drinking different quantities of alcohol when all other conditions are equal. On different occa¬ sions the same animal was given 20, 30, 50, and 55 c.c. res¬ pectively of alcohol in a 20 per cent, solution. Analysis of these curves shows several points of interest: 1. Except with small quantities of alcohol, the amount in the blood at the maximum points is roughly proportional to the amount drunk. 2. The decline of the curves represents the rate at which the blood gets rid of the alcohol. You will notice that the rate is practically constant in all cases. The interpretation of this point