Drinking by alcoholic patients following hospital admission.

Ad lib fluid intake of abstinent alcoholics and alcoholics in acute withdrawal exceeded that of psychiatric controls for 3 d following admission to hospital. The urinary output of abstinent alcoholics reflected their high fluid intake, but alcoholics in withdrawal displayed an initial oliguria. Routine blood and urine analysis did not provide any evidence of dehydration among alcoholics in withdrawal. Some possible causal factors contributing to a generalized alcoholic polydipsia are outlined.