Evening star., 1919-12-27
WOULD GUARD SALE
OF WOOD ALCOHOL
Alarmed by Deaths Report
ed, Revenue Bureau May
Ask Legislation.

Legislation by Congress to throw
safeguards. around the sale Of Wood
alcohol may be asked by the bureau
OF internal revenue. IT was stated by
officials today, it this appears to be
the only means of preventing the sale
of the poison in whisky substitutes
OF. to be used as an ingredientsof any
beverage. 81
It. was stated tliat the bureau has
no special power or authority to deal
with such matters. It was said, how
eyer. that special efforts are being
made to arrest snd~prosecute all boot
legYers or moonshiners, whether the
whisky they sell Is pure or not.
Publicity Urged.
7 Wood alcohol is a poison when TAX
en- internally, it was pointed out. and
when used as q beverage or as an in
gredient of . beverage may cause
paralysis, total and d.permanent blind
nesssor death. The bureau Of internal
revenue. has urged a. campaign OF
publicity to educate the public to the
danger Of, buying bootleg liquor or
using any beverage of which wood al
cohol is an ingredient. "a -
The statement and warning of the
bureau resulted from = reports of a
and in several New England cities
from drinking bootleg liquor made
chiefly OF wood alcohol.
None of the wood alcohol beverage
was shipped to this city, SO far as the
local police have been advised, but i,
is known that sucir poison has beer
used for beverage purposes here since
shortly after Washington became dry.
Mai. Pullman issues Order.
Several days ago Maj. Pullman, eu-
perintendcnt of police, learning of a
H. 1nnN l.,
i'll by beverages containing denatured
alcohol, issued an order to, the depart
ment in an effort to- prevent|the in
discriminate sale of the product. His
order reads: ~ >ss.s
Information has reached headquar-
ters that denatured alcohol IS easily
obtained Z at auto service stations
through the city by representing that II
vas to beaused in automobiles and al
cohol lamps In many cases it is OBJ.
taineds I'M this manner for drinking
purposes.
'.ou will instruct the members OF
Jour Command to notify all such sta
theSe sales and request them to assis,
this department in every way possible
ir Suppressing this evil
1t is reported that sales OF mixtures
containing wood or denatured alcohol
have been made in a number of in
most such mixtures are prepared for
personal use by individuals unable to
purchase whisky at the profiteerine
price asked by bootleggers.
Many persons have been made sick
by imbibing such mixtures. but it is
stated, no. death resulting from its
consumption has been the subject OF
Investigation by a .coroners jury
Health Officer William c. Fowler
upon learning today of deaths in other
cities believed to have been caused
by the use Of whisky substitutes, in
structed his clerical force to watch
the certificates for any deaths which
might be traceable to wood alcohol
Or other concoctionS.
DIR. Fowler said his records do 10:
show any deaths in Washington which
might have been caused by the Use
Of home made intoxicants.
The Washington Asylum Hospital
has in recent months treated a good
many persons for alcoholism, but nc
deaths have been reported that could
be attributed to the drinking Of whis.
Ky substitutes.