of wood spirit. Proof
spirit contains a little over 49 per cent. of absolute alcohol; brandy
or whisky, 53 per cent.; port wine, 20 to 25 per cent.; ales and stout,
4 to 6 per cent.
_Symptoms._--Acute poisoning; confusion, giddiness, staggering gait,
headache, passing into stupor, with subnormal temperature, and coma.
Vomiting may occur and recovery ensue, otherwise collapse sets in.
Pupils usually dilated.
Dipsomaniacs suffer from indigestion, vomiting and purging, jaundice,
albuminuria, diabetes, cirrhosis of liver, degeneration of kidneys,
congestion of brain, peripheral neuritis, alcoholic insanity, and
various forms of paralysis. In the acute form delirium tremens is the
most common manifestation.
_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Deep red colour of lining membranes of
stomach. Sometimes congestion of cerebral vessels and meninges. Lungs
congested, blood fluid. Rigor mortis persistent.
_Fatal Dose._--Death from 1/2 pint of gin and from two bottles of port,
but recovery from larger quantities.
_Fatal Period._--Average about twenty-four hours.
_Treatment._--Stomach-tube, cold affusion, electricity, injection of a
pint of hot coffee into the rectum.
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