Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-05
DANGER OF WOOD ALCOHOL.
Harmful Results Frequently Follow
Its Use in Medical Preparations.

I'D to 4 comparatively recent period
cases of poisoning by wood alcohol
were among the rarities of medical
practice. for so long as the substance
was manufactured by the old process es
it's offensive smell and taste were suffi-
Gent to deter even the most hardened
drinker from using it to satisfy his
craving for alcoholic stirnulants. Since
the time, however. that "deodoriZed
wood alcohol has been placed on the
market, under various names, the
fatalities from it's use have gone up by
leaps and bounds.
Not only may it be used in place of
grain alcohol in the manufacture and
adulteration of sprituous liquors. but
it is also largely and widely used as
menstruum in many toilet preparations
and remedies for internal and external
use. The reasons for this practice are
tWofold. First and that which appeals
most fOrcibly to human nature, is the
comparative cheapness of wood alcohol
it being untaXed and costing but 30
cents a gallon, while grain alcohol
taxed, costs at retail $3.50 per gallon.
The second reason is the ignorance Of
many manufacturers as to the deadly
nature of methyl alcohol. Indeed, even
among members of the medical profess
sion views with regard to the poison
Gus nature ef methyl alcohol are widely
divergent and some who have had no
experience in cases of wood alcohol
poisoning are openly skeptical concern
ing its reputed toxic properties. In
order therefore, to decide the question,
DR. Frank Butler, of Montreal. and DIR.
Casey Wood, of Chicago. undertook in
the beginning of 1904. an investigation
of the subject under the auspices of
the section on Ophthalmology of the
American Medical Association. The
investigators found that about 175
cases of blindness and about 100 deaths
during the past seven or eight years
could be directly imputed to wood
alcohol in the various forms in which
it is manufactured. This estimate is q
conservative one, and only treats Of
published instances Of death and blind
ness.
Drs. Fuller and Wood consider that
the Investigations Undertaken by them
confirm the suspicious entertained by
many physicians that the fumes of
MOOu itItoICl. certain
conditions. are a dangerous menace to
eyesight. and they, moreover. believe
that the consensus of opinion is op-
posed to the statement of the makers of
the various forms of "deOdorized'' wood
alcohol that its external use in lini-
ments, alcohol ''rubs.' in baths in cos
metics. hair tonics, perfumes. &C.. is al
ways devoid Of danger to the eyesight
The practice of substituting wood for
grain alcohol in the manufacture Of
medicinal preparations would appear to
be most insidiOus and pernicious
means of poisoning. and the sale not
only Of methyl Whisiley. but also of in
ternal remedies and toilet preparations
manufa ctured or adulterated with
wood alcohol should be restricted by
law. In fact, there is every reason why
the proposition of Drs. Butler and
Wood should be adopted that methyl
alcohol in any Of it's forms should be
treated as Il poison and subject to the
laws of the various states restricting
and regulating-A the sale Of poisons.-
Medical Record.