Carcinogenic Hydrocarbon Effect on Rat Liver in Vitamin A (Abstract)

The depleting effect of methycholanthrene on rat liver vitamin A stores was studied by use of the antimony trichloride method. Phenanthrene injected rats served as controls for the carcinogenic agent. The results were checked on a later series of animals by the use of fluorescent microscopy for the deletion of vitamin A in the tissue

Four Hundred Drunken Drivers

During the past several years in this state it has not been compulsory for persons under arrest to submit to chemical tests to determine the concentration of alcohol in their body fluids. Generally, however, law enforcement officers have asked arrested motorists who showed signs of intoxication to submit to a blood or urine test. Charges of driving while intoxicated have usually been filed if the alcohol concentration of the blood was 150 mg. per 100 cc. or over. A sufficient number of persons have been tested under this routine to give a cross section of the drivers on the highways of this state. From the records of this laboratory for a two year period just ended we have summarized the results of blood tests on 402 drivers in central Iowa who have submitted to the test. Deductions from these tests are presented in this paper

Alcohol in Preserved Blood Specimens (Abstract)

Since blood alcohol determinations are coming into prominent use in law enforcement, knowledge of the reliability of analyses on blood that has aged is important. Suitability of various preservatives is discussed in relation to data on maintenance of the alcohol content of blood specimens. The data is in such a form as to be a reference for the expected change in alcohol concentration in an aged blood sample. A method of analysis for alcohol is presented. Discrepancies in alcohol content by different types of analyses are found on aged specimens

Studies on Alcohol Gelation of Serum

Lewin (1) described a gelation reaction which takes place in human blood serum when it is mixed with an equal quantity of 80 per cent ethyl alcohol in vitro. Varying degrees of rigidity of the mixture were noticed with sera from different persons. In this study an attempt was made to discover whether there was any correlation between the degree of gelation and the type of disease had by hospitalized patients. In later studies search was also made for correlation of this reaction with composition and physical properties of the sera

Simplified Blood Cholesterol Method

In the treatment of diabetics it is desirable to use the blood cholesterol value as an indication of effectiveness of the control measures. The diabetic individual is usually accustomed to the finger prick for obtaining blood for sugar determinations; so a method using capillary blood has been devised for cholesterol determination

Apparatus for Distilling Alcohol from Biological Fluids and a Calculator for Harger Titrations

For the determination of alcohol in body fluids the Harger (1935) titration is extensively used with distillates obtained in various ways; e.g., by steam distillation, desiccation, distillation from picric acid, picrate-tartrate or tungstic acid. Gibson (1939) has combined it with the simple distillation from picric acid solution (Nicloux, et al. 1934) to produce an essentially satisfactory and rapid determination. Clinical simplicity with research accuracy has been achieved by the use of a specially designed distillation apparatus with the method (Johnston and Gibson, 1940). After using this method for a long period the authors have been able to revise it for still more convenience in use, and to design a calculator for obtaining the alcohol concentration in a body fluid directly from the burette readings of Harger titrations. This paper presents the revised design of the apparatus, with some modifications in use, and the calculator

Effect of Added Salts on Solubility of Hippuric Acid in Urine (Abstract)

Solubility data are presented for the effect of added salts on the precipitation of hippuric acid from urine in quick liver function tests. Calculations appearing in the literature are inaccurate because they apply to varying solubility conditions. The effect of added salts is to standardize these conditions and give accurate calculations

A Study of Preserved Blood Specimens Taken for Alcohol Determination

From the beginning of our experience with blood alcohol determinations for evidence in legal cases we have been called upon for information concerning the change of alcohol content in blood specimens after they have been drawn. Samples usually come to this laboratory in chemically clean glass vials stoppered with new corks and containing sufficient dry potassium oxalate to prevent clotting. These containers are obtained ready for use from this laboratory by county officials. However, many blood samples received have been contained otherwise, and often the temperature treatment of the specimens has not been uniform. To have available information about the probability that samples at the time of analysis contained the same amount of alcohol as at the time of drawing we performed suitable determinations, the results of which are presented here

Intoxcation Tests - A Third Year Report

Motorists arrested for intoxication during 1939 and 1940 were classified according to the blood analyses done in this laboratory (Marron, 1941). Examination of the results indicated that the average man apprehended for driving while in an intoxicated condition had a concentration of 226 mg. of alcohol per 100 cc. of blood. It was calculated that he drank 11 to 14 ounces of whiskey, 11 to 14 bottles of 3.2 % beer, or the equivalent. Ninety-two percent of those submitting to blood tests were intoxicated according to the standards of the National Safety Council. Seventy-two percent had consumed a minimum of three-fourths to one and one-fourth pints of whiskey or its equivalent in alcoholic beverages

Differences in the Phosphatase Systems of Plant and Animal Tissue by a Michrotechnic

Gomori1 has shown the location of phosphatase m animal organs by a michrotechnic. The principle is as follows: tissue sections are incubated in the presence of a substrate. Phosphate ions will be split off by the enzyme and in the presence of the calcium ion will form insoluble calcium phosphate at the point of liberation. Calcium phosphate can be converted to a dark colored insoluble precipitate. The visible precipitate then indicates the location of the phosphatase. The purpose of this research has been to subject the plant material to a similar procedure and so demonstrate any similarity or dissimilarity to what is known concerning animal material