Studies in experimental alcoholism / by Reid Hunt.

  • Hunt, Reid, 1870-1948.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Studies in experimental alcoholism / by Reid Hunt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    b This is true notwithstanding the fact that animals were given intox¬ icating doses daily for years. Thus the experiments on swine of Dujardin-Beaumetz and Audige (1879-1884) extending over several years were practically negative. In Friedenwald’s experiments, car¬ ried out in Welch’s laboratory, rabbits were given intoxicating doses of alcohol for long periods—sometimes for years; the results were stated by Welch to be meager. Doctor Welch further states, “No systematic experiments have been made to determine the pathological effects on animals of the long-continued use of alcohol in quantities so small as to produce no manifest symptoms of intoxication; but in view of the comparatively meager results in the experiments with moderate intoxicating doses, it seems improbable that experi¬ ments of the former character would yield positive results,” and, fur¬ ther, that from the clinical side, however, “instances have been reported in increasing numbers in recent years of the occurrence of diseases of the circulatory, renal, and nervous systems, reasonably or positively attributed to the use of alcoholic liquors in persons who regarded themselves, or were regarded by others, as moderate drinkers.” In many cases the injury was latent, and only manifested itself as the result of some accident or of an acute febrile disease. The relation of alcoholic liquors to gouty manifestations has long been recognized, as well as the increased liability of alcoholics to contract certain diseases or to contract them in especially severe form. Much has also been written, from both the clinical and experimental side, on the relation of alcohol to infection; the results, which are, as yet, not very concordant have recently been summarized by Meltzer.® In most, if not all, of this experimental work the alcohol was given in intoxicating doses. In a series of experiments to be described in this paper I have found profound modifications of certain physiological processes to result in a comparatively short time from doses of alcohol so small that indica¬ tions of intoxication never occurred. So far as I am aware this is the first series of experiments in which distinct physiological changes have been found to result from what may be called the strictly moderate use of alcohol. Although there may be some doubt as to the exact explanation of the results I have obtained, any positive results in this field may prove of interest. Before describing these experiments, however, a few words may be said upon the more general effects of alcohol upon the metabolism. The views upon this subject and especially upon the effect of alcohol upon physiological oxidations have undergone great changes in the aBrit. Med. Journ., Nov. 24, 1906, p. 1463; see also Meltzer, Atner. Med., vol. 4,