New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-08
BAN ON WOOD ALCOHOL
Health Department Begins a
Crusade Against Sale.
USE OFTEN CAUSES DEATH
White Brandy and Poisonous
Whiskey Sold in Many East
Side Saloons, Says Lederle.

A city-wide crusade against the sale of
wood alcohol in liquor stores has been
begun by Commissioner Lederle of the De-
partment Of Health. Many persons living
on the lower East Side are regular con-
surners OF wood alcol ol and white brandy
and whiskey." according 10 reports TO the
department. Chemical analysis has shown
both these mixtures to be acute poisons,
producing total blindness or death in many
cases.
Commissioner Lederle has list of sew
eTal saloons and liquor stores on the lower
East Side. the proprietors OF which have
been charged with selling wood alcohol
and white brandy" Warrants have Been
served on them. AMI they will soon be
raigned in court. In the mean time the
Health Department is conducting a rigor-
Gus investigation. and has more than a
hundred samples Of white brandy" which
will be submitted to analysis.
Several cases of practically total blind
ness. caused by drinking wood alcohol sold
in liquor stores on the lower East Side.
having been reported to the Department of
Health" said DR.. Lederle yesterday. Il
have. as a result of careful investigation,
caused cases TO be prepared against three
liquor dealers and warrants have been
issued for their arrest.
1t is well known that the effects on the
human system from drinking wood alcO-
hol are In the highest degree poisonous.
Either death or total blindness usually re-
suits from the Introduction of wood alco-
hol In sufficient quantities into the system.
Methyl Alcohol a Deadly Poison.
Scientific Investigations have demon
strated that the action Of methyl, or wood.
alcohol in the body is very different from
that Of ordinary or ethyl alcohol. Methyl
alcohol. however pure in its preparation, is
totally unfit for use as a substitute for
grain alcohol in any preparation which is
TO be taken internally. 1t either causes
death or paralysis Of the respiratory CEN
tres. or blindness by what is known TO
oculists as choked disk and atrophy Of the
optic nerve.
DIR. II. Moulton has reported that in
thirty recorded cases of persons who drank
one or two drains Of methyl alcohol. 30
per cent lost their sight and all were made
i'll Dr. +. g. Hoitt reported six cases Of
drinking methyl alcohol at night or which
four died before morning.
The present investigation of the Depart
ment Of Health was undertaken as conse-
quence Of a report of DR.. E. l. Meierhof.
of No. 1l4O Madison avenue. Of three cases
Of practically total blindness at the New
York Eye and Ear Infrmary caused by
drinking wood alcohol.
The visioTAn these cases is gone forever,
on account Of atrophy Of the optic nerve.
DR.. Meierhof stated that the victims were
made blind by single drink sold under the
name Of white brandy or white whiskey,'
and in some cases mixed with kummel or
anisette. The drink is also known on the
lower East Side as weiss schnapps.'
DR. Rosenbluth. of No. 7i6 9Th street.
reported that he had the case OF a man
who had been drinking for a week or
more. and who sent his wife 10 get ten
cents worth Of whiskey at a saloon on the
corner Of 9Th street and Avenue B. Soon
after drinking the liquor the patient went
suddenly blind and died shortly after.
Half Gallon fer Fifty Cents.
Among other cases reported were those
OF Joseph Leasing. of No. 22S Broome street
who purchased weiss schnapps' at a
saloon in Rivington street; Charles lie Lu-
ca. If No. 81 East 106th street. who bought
half a gallon of the liquor from a pedler
for 30 cents The bottle and contents in
this case were subsequently obtained at the
New York Eve and Ear In1rmary. and the
showed the presence OF wood alcohol in
dangerous quantities.
The progress of the investigation dis
closed that practically every saloon OF the
East Side sells the drink known as weiss
schnapps' and that there are many ped
lcrs doing the same thing. These pedlers
ostensibly sell lunches to the inmates Of
sveatshops and cloak factories. but. a
matter OF fact, the supposed lunches are
bottles OF whiskey covered with paper bags.
4 large number If samples collected by the
inspectors Of the department and BY rep
| It sentatives OF the District Attorneys Of
I fec were analysed, and in three cases wood
alcohol was found 10 be present
As a result cases have been prepared and
warrants issued involving the saloons Of
Handelnlan & Kellar. in Avenue u. and
Samuel Svrop, in Rivington street In the
mean tine the department is pushing this
/ Investigation vigorously, and one hundred
additional samples of white whiskey" have
. been obtained from the East Side for
analysis