The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-10-02
Increases in Fatalities and in
Blindness Recently Shown
by Records.
WARNS OF Peril IN use
Committee for Prevention of Blindness
Begins Nationwide Campaign
of Educaton--Many States
Take Action.


ness resulting from the drinking O
wood alcohol as a substitute for grail
alcohol has caused the National Com
mittee for the Prevention of Blindness
1870 East Twenty-second street, to sent
warnings broadcast throughout the
country. The records in the office OF
the committee show more than 1,00t
cases of blindness in the country re
sulting from wood alcohol covering 8
period of several years, according tt
Gordon t. Berry, field secretary. This
record is admittedly incomplete.
In recent months, Mr.. Berry said
there have apparently been more
deaths than cases of blindness result
| ing from the drinking of wood alcohol
due, he said, to the larger quantity
taken by the victim. Upward of twenty
| five deaths have occurred in New York
City and vicinity since Jan. 1. Similar
conditions are said to prevail in all
parts of the country.
Edward M. Van Cleve, managing d.
rector of the National Committee, de-
clared that the use of wood alcohol for
drinking purposes had increased to an
alarming extent in every state in the
Union, no section being exempt from
its use by those ignorant of its dangers.
The purpose of the National Com
mittee is to educate the people to the
danger, as laws regarding the sale of
wood alcohol can be evaded.
Regulated in Many States.
Mr. Berry said that twenty states
have passed laws for the regulation
and control of the sale and use Of
wood alcohol, either through pure food
legislation or through the pharmacists.
However, it has been found that the
laws have not been rigidly enforced,
he said, and, besides, if enforced would
not entirely stop the sale and use of
the dangerous spirits for beverage pur-
poses. In nearly every state, he said
the druggist is required to label
Poison" on every bottle of wood alco-
hol that is sold, but this does not pre-
vent the use of-it in any manner the
purchaser sees fit.s In New York city,
the ordinances of the health depart
ment provide that sit is unlawful to
use this alcohol in any article of food,
beverage or medicinal or toilet prep
aration intended for external or inter-
nal human use."
The city authorities have several
times called attention to the increase
in the last few months of the use Of
wood alcohol as beverage and efforts
have been made through the health de-
partment to enforce the ordinances
Several months ago DR.. Charles K.
Norris, city medical examiner, sent
a letter to Health Commissioner Cope
land telling of several deaths from
wood alcohol in New York, and Offer
ing his assistance in a campaign to
prevent the sale of the spirits for
purposes. DR.. Alexander 0.
Gettler, as chemical pathologist, also
brought to the attention of the health
department. and the public generally
the increased number of deaths from
wood alcohol.
Fumes Also Harmful.
The increase in the use of wood al
,ohol for beverage purposes is said to
lave started with the increase in the
price of whisky during the winter and
With the wartime prohibition of July
|. The action Of wood alcohol is very
much like ordinary alcohol, except
hat it is more severe. Within a few
lours after drinking, acute headache |
S noted, usually accompanied by vio-
ent attacks of vomiting, pains extend |
ng over the region of the Kidneys and |
Excessive dizziness. Vision may be- |
ONE impaired, total blindness occur,
nd death itself result. Harmful ac-
ion of this poison may also be induced |
y breathing it's fumes, and by Absorb
lon through the mucous membranes
t the body.
The wood alcohol used in the United
tates is obtained chiefly from the de-
tructiye distillation Of birch, beach,
1aple, oak, elm and alder. The chief
SEES to which it is put are for the de-
aturing Of grain alcohol; for various
urposes In. lines of common manufac-
IRE, Especially as solvent in the
Of shellac, varnish, dyes,
tc..) as an ingredient in medical and
Pharmaceutical preparations; in the
hemical industries and as fuel and
luminant.