The Washington times., 1914-10-19

Willful ignorance is for the most
vicious Of all crimes. 1t threatens
not only the health. strength and
endurance. of individuals. but of
whole races. The obstinate neglect by
both physicians and the employees of
photographers. dyers. chemists, gold
and silver platers. tin and brass
workers. and the others already
named, Is equal to their ignorance
Of the dangers Of wood alcohol.
Over 100 instances of blindness and al
most as many deaths occurred last year
from the fumes Of wood alcohol, ehemi-
cally known as nethyl alcohol and Co
lumbar spirits. The latter Is positively
as poisonous. when refined, as when ac-
companied by the unpleasant odor.
Since the effects of the vapors upon
the human eye are duplicated on the
dogs, cats's, rabbits's and guinea pigs
eyes, it occurred to the New York sa-
wants that the men who can but will
not learn of Columbian spirits and wood
alcohofs deadly effects, might be taught
dramatic lesson If these experiments
were carried out.
Gathering Evidence BY Tests.
They built a wooden box about twelve
inches wide. twenty inches ion and
thirty inches deep. At each end there
was an opening; half an inch wide.
Air passed out through a mica valve
at one end, while rubber tubing pro-
jected from the other end through
which air could enter.
A glass slide completed the roof OF
the box. A little dog, rabbit or guinea
pig was then placed In the box and two
ounces Of Columbian spirits were put
upon a sponge on the box. In an hour
the box would be opened and the ami
NAL examined. 1t was usually drunk
from the fumes.
Day by day from two to five ounces
of wood alcohol was soaked into the
sponge and the animal kept in the box
for an hour each day. Dogs were USUAL
ly dead drunk and in dying condi-
ton after two or three such days. but
If kept in the air two days they were
as well and lively as usual. TWO days
more of the poison. after two weeks or
so Of freedom, caused the death Of the
dog.
Usually four such intervals of ex-
posure of an hour for two days caused
either death or blindness TO rabbits.
dogs and other animals. Certainly no
one dares think that the human animal
is any more resistant TO its fumes than
the other creatures Of God.
Causes Many Other Ills.
To show. however, once for all and
conclusively that the manufacturers Of
Columbian spirits and other alleged ere
fined" forms of wood alcohol have no
ground to stand on, and that employers
who allow their workers to use it are
committing a crime, a monkey in per-
feet health was placed in g. larger
wooden box, upon the sides of which
three ounces OF wood alcohol were
sprayed. An hour in the box had no
effect. Three other exposures 70 its
fumes. spread over three weeks, caused
the death OF the monkey.
Moreover, when the Vapor of wood al
cohol was allowed only for BRIEF
period upon animals without causing
their death, it was found to produce not
only blindness, but destruction of red
blood and tissue degenerations, especial
~ Of the spinal cord.
Many alleged instances Of uric acid
rheumatism" and other Pigments of
easy-going medical imaginations, when
found in the two and more million OF
workers in occupations which use hair
tonics.'' face washes. bay runs. polishes,
rarnishes. dyes. and chemicals are real
~ examples of the poisonous effects OF
the various forms of methyl alcohol.
Copyright. 1914. Newspaper Feature Service