The Republican journal., 1905-06-29

forms. The number of deaths may in
the meantime be limited by putting all
methylated preparations on the list of
pOiSOns and prosecuting all persons
adulterating foods and drinks with it.
Labelling preparations containing wood
alcohol with the notice, "This fluid
taken internally is likely to produce
blindness would certainly have a
deterrent effect.
Poisoning by inhalation of the fumes
of wood alcohol generally occurs when
the exhalations are mixed with re-
breathed air, as in vanishing the in
terror of beer watts, small rooms, etc.
1t is highly probable that in susceptible
subjects repeated, or even single,
methylated alcohol rubs may produce
poisonous symptoms through ABSORB
ton of the spirit by the skin.
| Chronic or partial poisoning from
wood alcohol taken in the shape o.
nips of methylated Jamaica ginger,
bay rum, punch, &C., is the most insid-
ious and probably not an uncommon
form of intoxication. Its symptoms
are not SO pronounced nor SO easy of
recognition as in the acute form. but
the eyes, digestive apparatus and nerv-
Gus systems undoubtedly suffer.
Liz duultCldClOu VI W llShCy vi OGuCl
spirits with wood alcohol is grave
evil, and one that should be stopped
| promptly, these physicians say. But
the manufacture or adulteration of
| flavoring essences, internal remedies
and preparations for external use with
| wood alcohol is an even worse form Of
poisoning.
A person may buy medicinal rem
edy with the hope that it W ill do him
good, and may be either killed or
blinded. Again, in the case of individ-
uals susceptible to the effects of the
poison, the application of witch hazel
or bay rum containing wood alcohol
after shaving, the rubbing in of lini-
ment or of alcohol, may, by means of
absorption or by its fumes, result in
grave injury to health.
The cheapness of wood alcohol has
tempted certain INSCRIPTIONS or
ignorant manufacturers to substitute it
for grain alcohol, and this circumstance
constitutes grave menace to the pub
lie health. Until laws are enforced to
restrict the use of wood alcohol to its
proper limits, some physicians think it
would be prudent not to buy cheap
liquors, cheap unidentified proprietary
articles and unidentified grades of
witch hazel and bay rum which have
no standard of strength or quality or to
use any remedy, internal or external,
in which there is even the suspicion
that it may contain wood alcohol.
This may seem an exaggerated view
to take of the matter, but in considera-
ton of the happenings recently in
Tenth avenue, and the belief that in
the neighborhood of 400 deaths and
cases of total blindness have been the
outcome of persons unsuspiciously tax
ing wood alcohol in one form or another,
it must be admitted that the situation
calls for prudence. A person who buys
a preparation for internal use, or for
external use, like witch hazel or bay
rum, does so in the faith that the stuff
will at least do no harm. Unfortunate
ly, he is to great extent at the mercy
of the manufacturers and retailers.
Finally, it may be said that the treat
ment of severe wood alcohol intoxica-
ton is unsatisfactory. This condition
usually ends in death or blindness. The
treatment of the blindness in particular
is of little avail.
AS evidence of the great concern
manifested in the question by the
medical profession at large of this
country, resolutions were adopted by
the section of ophthalmology, at the
last meeting of the American Medical
Association, held in June of this year,
to the effect that the employment of
wood alcohol in spirituous liquors, or
in preparations for internal or external
use, was a very dangerous practice, and
should be prevented by law, and that it
was advisable to have wood alcohol
placed on the list of posons. The
| ,Io oh n Of fbn
committee on legislation of the Ameri-
can Medical Association, who were in
structed to urge the proper Federal and
State authorities to take action in the
matter.