ore necessary, in the scientific study of the question,
to take these possibilities into consideration. In my
investigations, the results of which I am now to lay before you,
I have endeavored to select as subjects for my experiments both
abstainers from alcohol, and those who indulge more or less in
its use, in such a way that their conditions of life and their
habits in other respects should be as nearly as possible the
same. All persons, for instance, suffering from any acute or
chronic disease were rejected, and very few of the persons
selected were smokers. The subject of this research has been
human blood, and especially its two principal components,
namely, red blood-corpuscles and blood-serum, both of which up
to the present time have been very little studied in relation to
the question under discussion. I have gone into these matters
chiefly because the modern theoretical study of immunity during
the last few years has, in general, attracted greater attention
to the blood, and shown the important role which the different
parts, properties, and capacities of the blood play in defending
the organism against internal and external injurious agencies.
Further, the subtle methods employed in the study of immunity
(such as organic reactions, and reactions between greatly
attenuated organic liquids) would also seem to be available for
our purpose, as they allow of the detection of the minutest
differences which alcohol may produce in any part of the
organism in question.

"During the course of this research, which has lasted over a
period of three years, I sought to investigate the action of
alcohol on the resistive power of human red blood-corpuscles. I
wished to ascertain whether the resistivity of the red
blood-corpuscles in a healthy man could be lowered by the
consumption of alcohol. * * *

"It may be well for me here to explain that in this lecture I
mean by the term 'drinker' a person who has taken alcohol in any
quantity whatever. Many of these 'drinkers,' therefore, were in
fact most moderate consumers of alcohol. By the term 'abstainer'
I mean a person who has never taken alcohol in any quantity
worth mentioning. In the course of my investigations I have
examined blood from two hundred and twenty-three persons. They
were of different classes and ages. There