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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    Reprintedfrom the BRITISH JOURNAL OF INEBRIETY, April, 1920. I ■■ --- -- ■■■ ■ ■ ■ ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION.* BY EDWARD MELLANBY, M.A., M.D. (CANTAB.), Professor of Physiology in the University of London, Household and Social Science Department. THE investigation I am about to describe to-night has been Idirected more particularly to the acquisition of knowledge con¬ cerning the conditions affecting the development of symptoms which form the picture of acute alcoholic intoxication. The results obtained formed the answer to specific problems of Alcoholic intoxication requiring elucidation by the Central Control Board. It is clear that in such an inquiry the actions of (Icohol on the central nervous system demand most attention, ?his does not mean that the toxic effects of alcohol on other systems in the body—as, for instance, the alimentary canal, liver, End circulatory system—are not important, but rather that hese latter assume greater comparative importance in investi¬ gations concerning the more chronic actions of alcohol. While it is true also that, even in the case of acute actions, the effects Pc * . . • ’ • T ' ' - * - * . • r ~ ■ 1 * , • r - ,1 f _ • ^ . bf small doses of alcohol present a large field of investigation, it was desirable in the experiments to be described to produce the iully developed symptoms of intoxication in most of the experi¬ ments. Many of the facts observed can, no doubt, be extended ! o the more mild symptoms resulting from small doses of alcohol. In beginning an investigation of this type, the obvious and most f irect method to employ would be to determine the effects of Icohol on the nervous system by measuring these actions and 1 (■elating them to the amount of alcohol in the nervous system. Unfortunately this mode of attack is impossible, for any surgical * Paper and Epidiascope Demonstration given before the Society for the 3 (Study of Inebriety on Tuesday, January 13, 1920, in the Rooms of the