Modes of admission to hospital: a survey of emergency admissions to a general medical unit

In a survey of the modes of referral and disposal of "acute patients" to a general medical unit during the period 1 February 1968 to 31 July 1970 only 1,432 out of 3,455 were referred by general practitioners. There was a high incidence of self-referral to hospital, and this trend was on the increase. A large percentage of self-referred patients came from their homes, and 65-77% of these arrived by ambulance ordered by themselves.

Clinical studies on the effect of laevulose on the rate of metabolism of ethyl alcohol

A study of the effect of laevulose upon the rate of metabolism of ethyl alcohol was undertaken. The rate of disappearance of ethyl alcohol from the blood of normal volunteers was estimated under normal conditions and also following the administration of oral and intravenous laevulose. These results were compared with the rate of disappearance of ethyl alcohol from the blood of inebriated patients under normal circumstances and following intravenous laevulose.

The investigation confirms that ethyl alcohol is metabolised at a constant rate which varies from individual to individual and that the administration of laevulose significantly increases this rate of metabolism.

It is suggested that laevulose is helpful in the management of inebriated patients in whom there is clinical suspicion of accompanying head injury.