Continuous in-vivo estimation of blood alcohol: with special reference to its application to the study of alcohol metabolism.

Automated chemical analysis was applied to constant in-vivo experiments on dogs for the determination of blood alcohol. The continuous blood collection was similar to that in earlier experiments for determination of blood glucose in humans. Although interferences by glucose was observed in the chemical methodology used, preliminary data show that the rise of blood alcohol is slower following t.V. ad. ministration of alcohol-water mixtures than with alcohol-saline solutions. With the experimental animal under pentobarbital anesthesia, the alcohol equilibrium is reached more rapidly and the elimination period is significantly prolonged.