EFFECT OF WINE AT A BANQUET. 27 "If you attend a large dinner party you will observe after the first few courses, when the wine is beginning to circulate, a progressive change in some of those about you who have taken wine. The face begins to get flushed, the eye brightens, and the manner of conversation becomes loud. What is the reason of that flushing of countenance? It is the same as the flush from blushing, or from the reaction of cold, or from the nitrate of amyl. It is the dilatation of vessels following upon the loss of nervous control, which reduction has been induced by alcohol. In a word, the first stage-the stage of vascular excitement from alcohol-has been established. The action of alcohol extending so far, does not stop there; with the disturbance of power in the extreme vessels, more disturbance is set up in other organs, and the first organ that shares in it is the heart. With each beat of the heart a certain degree of resistance is offered by the vessels, when their nervous supply is perfect, and the stroke of the heart is moderated both in respect to tension and as to time; but when the vessels are rendered relaxed, the resistance is removed, the heart begins to run quicker-like a watch from which the pallets have been removed-and the heart-stroke losing nothing in force is greatly increased in frequency, with a weakened recoil stroke. . . . You will be interested to know to what extent this increase of vascular action proceeds." After detailing attempted experiments by himself which were not satisfactory Dr. Richardson proceeds: "Fortunately this information has been far more ably supplied by the researches of Dr. Parkes of Netley, and the late Count Wollowicz. The researches of these distinguished inquirers are so valuable I make no apology for giving them in detail. The observers conducted their inquiries upon a young and healthy adult man. They counted the beats of the heart first at regular intervals during what were called water periods, that is to say, periods when the subject under observation drank nothing but water; and next, taking the same subject, they counted the beats of the heart during successive periods during whic alcohol was taken in increasing quantities. Thus, step by step, they measured the precise action of alcohol on the heart, and thereby the precise primary influence induced by alcohol. The results are stated by themselves as follows: EXPERIMENTS OF DR. PARKES AND COUNT WOLLOWICZ. "The average number of beats of the heart in 24 hours, as calculated from eight observations made in 14 hours, during the first or water period, was 106,000; in the earlier alcoholic period it was 127,000, or about 21,000 more; and in the later period it was 131,000, or 25,000 more. The highest of the daily means of the pulse observed during the first or water period was 77.55; but on this day two observations were deficient. The next highest daily mean (water days) was 77 beats. If instead of the mean of the eight days, or 73.57, we compare the mean of this one day, viz.: 77 beats per minute, with the alcoholic days, so as to be sure not to overestimate the action of the alcohol we find : "On the 9th day, with one fluid ounce of alcohol, the heart beat 4,300 times more. "On the 10th day, with two fluid ounces, 8,172 times more. "On the 11th day, with four fluid ounces, 12,960 times more. "On the 12th day, with six fluid ounces, 30,672 times more. "On the 13th day, with eight fluid ounces, 23,904 times more. "On the 14th day, with eight fluid ounces, 25,488 times. more. "But as there was ephemeral fever on the 12th day, it is right to make a deduction, and to estimate the number of beats on that day as midway between the 11th and 13th days, or 18,432. "Adopting this, the mean daily excess of beats during the alcoholic days was 14,492, or an increase of rather more than 13 per cent. "The first day of alcohol gave an excess of 4 per cent., and the last of 23 per cent. ; and the mean of these two gives almost the same percentage of excess as the mean of the six days. "Admitting that each beat of the heart was as strong during the alcoholic period as in the water period (and it was really more powerful) the heart on the last two days of alcohol was doing one-fifth more work. EXTRA WORK OF THE HEART. 29 "Adopting the lowest estimate which has been given of the daily work of the heart, viz., as equal to 122 tons lifted one foot, the heart during the alcoholic period did daily work in excess equal to lifting 15.8 tons one foot, and in the last two days did extra work to the amount of 24 tons lifted as far. "The period of rest for the heart was shortened, though, perhaps, not to such an extent as would be inferred from the number of beats, for each contraction was sooner over. The heart on the fifth and sixth days after alcohol was left off, and apparently at the time when the last traces of alcohol were eliminated, showed in the sphygmographic tracings signs of unusual feebleness; and, perhaps, in consequence of this, when the brandy quickened the heart again, the tracings showed a mcre rapid contraction of the ventricles, but less power than in the alcoholic period. The brandy acted, in fact, on a heart whose nutrition had not been perfectly restored.” Commenting upon these remarkable results of experiments, the reliability of which as data for the public to depend upon, he avers, by adopting them as the basis of his own opinions, Dr. Richardson says: This "It will seem at first sight almost incredible that such an excess of work could be put upon the heart, but it is perfectly credible when all the facts are known. The heart of an adult man makes, as we see above, 73.57 strokes per minute. number multiplied by sixty for the hour, and again by twentyfour for the entire day, would give nearly 106,000, as the number of strokes per day. There is, however, a reduction of stroke produced by assuming the recumbent position, and by sleep, so that for simplicity's sake we may take off the 6,000 strokes, and speaking generally, may put the average at 100,000, in the entire day. With each of these strokes the two ventricles of the heart as they contract, lift up into their respective vessels three ounces of blood each, that is to say, six ounces with the combined stroke, or 600,000 in the twenty-four hours. The equivalent of work rendered by this simpler calculation would be 116 foot tons; and if we estimate the increase of work induced by alcohol we shall find that four ounces of spirit increase it one eighth part; six ounces one sixth part; and eight ounces. one fourth part." |