Prize thesis. An experimental inquiry, concerning the presence of alcohol in the ventricles of the brain, after poisoning by that liquid; together with experiments, illustrative of the physiological action of alcohol : for which, a gold medal was awarded by the Medical faculty of the University of Edinburgh / by John Percy.

Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Prize thesis. An experimental inquiry, concerning the presence of alcohol in the ventricles of the brain, after poisoning by that liquid; together with experiments, illustrative of the physiological action of alcohol : for which, a gold medal was awarded by the Medical faculty of the University of Edinburgh / by John Percy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    quantity of blood than can possibly be present within the cranium, yet I have, in general, been enabled to procure a much larger proportion of alcohol from the brain, than from all this quan- tity of blood. Indeed, it would almost seem that a kind of affinity existed between alcohol and the cerebral matter. Second. The rapidity with which alcohol may, under favourable circumstances, be absorbed from the stomach and conveyed to the brain, is remark- able. Third. That alcohol may be detected in the blood, the urine, the bile, and the liver. It may be separated with great facility from the bile and liver; and this circumstance may probably serve to explain the frequency of hepatic disease in habitual drunkards. I must repeat that I have only once succeeded in separating alcohol from the urine of dogs, although I have several times subjected this secretion to analysis. In the in- stance in which I succeeded, it will be observed that the bladder was fully distended with limpid urine (vide Exp. ii.); and, therefore, that I had the advantage of the most favourable circumstances.