A Study of the Rate of Metabolism of Ethyl Alcohol; With Special Reference to Certain Factors Reported as Influencing this Rate

Abstract

The rate of metabolism of alcohol in the anesthetized dog was 3 mg./kg./min. This rate was constant over the range of 20-250 mg% blood alcohol. Pretreatment with tetraethylthiuram disulfide did not alter the rate of metabolism of subsequently administered alcohol although blood acetaldehyde was greatly increased. Pretreatment with glucose and/or insulin did not influence the rate of metabolism of alcohol. Hepatectomy markedly decreased the ability of the animal to metabolize alcohol.