The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-09-03
ING DEATHS FROM POISONOUS SUBSTITUTES
FOR A NATURAL STlMULANT
BLINDNESS BECOMES GRAVE DANCER
Russian Newspapers Tell Terrible Stories of Fatalities and
Suffering That Now Follow in the Wake Of
Prohibition

More and more news is constantly
coming from the most authoritative
newspapers in Europe. conhimins the
already well established facts con
corning the desperate condition
caused in Russia by the substitution
of the Illicit manufacture of strong
drink and the many substitutes resort
ed TO by the people.
The New York Sun adds the follow
ing testimony to the daily increasing
list of witnesses to the lamentable
state OF affairs caused by the new
regime.
After the government liquor stores
were closed on Oct. 10. when fhe pro
hibition decree became effective. many
Illicit saloons and distilleries sprang
up and sold secretly all kinds OF sub
stitutes for vodka. These beverages
for the most part were composed of
wood alcohol and denatured alcohol
extracted from yarnish and lacquer.
spices, SNUFF, dry yeast. cider and wild
hops. The consumption OF these sub
stitutes has been increasing and they
are proving a source of serious dan
ger. OF course II is the wood alcohol
that does the chief harm.
Substitute For Vodka.
OF the various noxious connections
that are being drunk in Russia one is
"kvasok" 1t is made of cider. wild
hops, dry yeast, wood alcohol and
snuff This snuff is sold in large guam
titles. Another of the substitutes is
"khanza." OF which the chief ingredi-
ents are red pepper and other strong
spices along with wood alcohol.
These substitutes are for the poorer
classes People better of have resort
ed 10 such things as cologne and tine
ture Of valerian. In some places con-
ditions have become so deplorable that
pharmacists have applied 10 the au-
thorities TO regulate the sale OF sub
stitutes for vodka. although the in
creased demand has meant extra
profits In other districts the medical
authorities prompted the government
officers to post notices in all public
places warning the population about
the dire results of drinking the substi-
tutes for vodka
Here are some items taken from
Russian newspapers which illustrate
the danger arising from the present
situation.
Ravsges Of aoxlous Drinks.
I'm Pskov party OF eight were poi
soned through the consumption OF var
nish and eau de cologne. which they
drank in the absence OF vodka. Seven
Of the party died"
I'm Petrograd, unable 10 buy vodka.
W. Shaskov, As years old, drank eau
de cologne and died on the way TO hos
pital. A. Zelentzon. a tailor, drank
denatured alcohol and was taken to
the hospital in an unconscious condi-
ton"
AT Kursk a party OF petty officers
OF the engineering corps in Belgorod
discovered a place where they could
get wood alcohol. They went off on
an orgy with the result that p. Pelu-
krov, S. Lozkin. A. Zavaritzky. ~ Mar
kov and F. Lyanin are dead. The 9th
er five officers are seriously ILL.,"
AT Kieff, in the Lukianov police
district, the police found an unknown
man on the street in an unconscious
condition. Notwithstanding the inn
mediate aid given him the doctor
could not revive him and he was ia
ken in an automobile 10 the hospital.
There he was revived, but shortly aft