The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28
WOOD ALCOHOL DENOUNCED
AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
Experts Declare That Fumes Cause
Blindness and Death and Depre-
cate Its Use in Pharmacy.

Up to within a comparatively recent
period cases of poisoning by wood
alcohol were among the rarities or
medical practice, for so long as the
substance was manufactured by the
old processes it's offensive smell and
taste were sufficient to deter even the
most hardened drinker from using 1t to
satisfy his craving for alcoholic stimu-
lants. Since the time, however. that
"deodorized" wood alcohol has been
placed on the market. under various
names, the fatalities from its use have
gone up by leaps and bounds.
Not only may 1t be used in place OF
grain alcohol in the manufacture and
adulteration of spirituous liquors. but
1t is also largely and widely used as a
menstruum in many toilet preparations
and remedies for internal and external
use. The reasons for this practice are
twofold. First, and that which aD-
peals most forcibly to human nature.
is the comparative cheapness of wood
alcohol, it being untaxed. and costing
but fifty cents a gallon. while grain
alcohol, taxed, costs at retail 81 so a
gallon. The second reason is the igno-
rance OF many manufacturers as to the
deadly nature of methyl alcohol. In
deed, even among members of the
medical profession views with regard
to the poisonous nature of methyl
alcohol are widely divergent. and some
who have had no experience in cases
of wood alcohol poisoning are openly
skeptical concerning it's reputed toxic
properties. In order, therefore. to de-
eide the question, DR.. Frank Butler Of
Montreal and DR.. 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 Medi-
cal Association. The investigators
found that about IT'S cases of blindness
and about 100 deaths during the last
seven or eight years could be directly
imputed to wood alcohol in the various
forms in which ii is manufactured.
This estimate is conservative one.
and only treats of public instances Of
death and blindness.
Drs. Butler and Wood consider that
the Investigations undertaken by them
confirm the suspicious entertained by
many physicians that the fumes Of
wood alcohol. under certain favorable
conditions, are 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 it's external use in
liniments, alcohol "rubs'' in baths in
cosmetics. hair tonies. perfumes. ETC..
is always devoid of danger to the eye
sight.
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 whisky. but also of
internal remedies and toilet prepara-
tions, manufactured 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 its forms should be
treated as a poison. and subject to the
laws of the various States restricting
and regulating the sale of poisons.-
Medical Record.