The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-20
CAUSES BLINDNESS.
The Terrible Effect of Wood Alcohol
When Put in the Eyes.

| The Terrible Effect of Wood Alcohol
When Put in the Eyes.
From the American Medicine.
Since the beginning Of 1899 quite an
alsrming number OF cases of blindness af-
| ter the Injection OF methyl. or wood alco-
hol have been reported, principally in the
| ophthalmic journals OF this country. one
or two cases We're noted as far back as
1896 The clinical histories Of these cases
have a wonderful similarity in their es-
| sentlnl details In from twelve TO forty
| eight hours after the injection OF the drug
| the victim becomes blind nearly always
completely so. The pupils arc widely
| clated and fixed. The ophthaimoscopc
shows no marked changes In the optic
| nerve or retina. IN suue cases acre UIc
| accompanying symptoms OF nausea, vomlt-
| ing or coma, which may be so profound
| as TO end In death. In the course of
week or more there may be some improve
| ton, and the final result Is usually blind
| ness-more or less complete. Within four
weeks appearances of optic nerve atfophy
are noted by the oph kaleidoscope. This
| progresses rather rapidly to perfectly
| white optic disk, but with little II any
| change In the size of the retnal blood yes
| sells. This is a complex OF symptoms which
| has heretofore been considered MS charac-
| teristc Of retrobular NOTWITHSTANDING to
| that produced, for instance, by toxic doses
| or qulnlne. Inc puihuIuSH ol tue ulScusS
! IL. however, obscure, though the. expert
/ ments Oh rabbits and chickens, OF Birch
/ Hirschfeid published In Gruhs ArchiY. Il.
| Ill: Alb =. H.. 1901. seems 10 substantiate
! the Jews OF Holden as TO toxic amblyopias
generally in placing the primary lesion in
| the ganglion cells OF the retina. Much
| experimental work is yet needed to clear
| IN the doubtful points. The quantity con-
sumed has varied from an ounce TO prob.
| ably a large quantity, The coztposition OF
wood alcohol Is CH3hO, Wnie that OF gram
or methyl nlcohol Is C2H5HO II Is possible,
however that there may be other matter
carried over. in the distillation Of the wood
which is the poisonous agent. Acute
toxemia by grain alcohol does not cause
blindness II should be said, however that
In some of the cases reported, pure wood
alcohol known as columbian spirits" was
the agent taken. The danger from his
agent Is still further Increased by the eni-
pnyment by some manufacturing firms q [
least one that Is known--of wood alcohol,
ON account of its greater cheapness, rs q
substitute for grain alcohol In the manu-
faeture Of various essences such as ginger,
VANILLA peppermint etc. In prohibition
| Intoxicating effect when the regular alc0-
hole stinulant can not be obtained. We
have, then. an agent largely consumed by
| the people. dangerous TO vision ana 70 life,
! and with no Law requiring that It should
| 10 so labeled as to indicate this danger
/ Is II not time that steps should be taken
| 10 protect In some way the people from the
ravages Of such a subtle foeF
| In commenting on this peculiar trouble
! DR. Seymour tells us that Houston has its
! share Of this trouble. not because WHISKY
| Is hard 10 get, for those who have The
! price; but he, reports some very interesting
| ing wood alcohol by mistake. and In one
| vary nitlful case Il was evidently mis-
| take on the part Of the druggist