DETERMINATION OF ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION DURING LIFE BY SPINAL FLUID ANALYSIS

Abstract

In a paper (1) published from our laboratories, Gettler and Tiber described a method for the quantitative estimation of the alcohol content of the brain, lungs, and liver.In another paper (2) the same authors showed that the quantity of alcohol in the brain determines the degree to which an individual is affected by the alcohol-an index of intoxication.It is evident, however, that this method is applicable only to cadavers.In seeking a method for proving intoxication in living individuals, it occurred to us that perhaps the alcohol content of the blood or spinal fluid would be of value.The problem confronting us was to analyze the brain, blood, and spinal fluid of cadavers, and the blood and spinal fluid of living alcohol drinkers, and then determine whether there is any constant relation between the alcohol content of the brain and that of the blood or of the spinal fluid.It is upon this work that we wish to report.The method used in this investigation is the same as that outlined by Gettler and Tiber (1) for the brain and other tissues.Certain details of the method had to be modified because the amounts used for analysis were much smaller, the blood is a coagulating fluid, and the acidity control may have a different value.The changes introduced were as follows :10 cc. of blood or spinal fluid were used for the analysis.Paraffin was used to prevent frothing; it served the purpose better than white mineral oil.Steam distillation was made use of.The flask containing the blood or spinal fluid, however, was not heated.Steam alone was used for heating and distilling.In this way, in the case of blood,