Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-24
MANY DEATHSDuE
ITO WOOD ALCOHOL
Increases in Fatalities and in
Blindness Recently Shown
by Records.
WARNS OF PERIL IN USE
Committee for Prevention Of Blindness
Begins Nationwide Campaign
OF Education--Many States
Take Action.

New York.--The increase in the
number Of deaths and eases of blind
ness resulting from the drinking Of
wood alcohol as II substitute for grain
alcohol has caused the National Com
mittee for the Prevention of Blindness,
$50 East TWenty-sec0nd street, TO send
warnings broadcast throughout the
country. The records in the Office of
the committee show more than 1000
eases Of blindness in the country re-
sultng from wood alcohol covering a
period Of several years. according to
Gordon l., 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, 20 the larger quantity
taken by the victim. Upward Of twenty
five deaths have occurred in New York
City and vicinity since Jan. |. Similar
conditions are said to prevail in all
parts of the country.
Edward NJ Van, Cleve. managing d.
rector of the National Committee, de-
Clared that The use of wood alcohol for
drinking purposes had increased to an
ai"ih'i's 'A'ch' !" every sta'e III 'i''
.h'oh' nv ''C''o" '''HS rN''npt iio'H
its use by those ignorant OF its dangers.
ine p"' p'N' VI 'i'' ->""'''"' ''i''-
mittee is To educate The people To the
-, ,,,..,, ,,.,.,.,,,. ,.,a -
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nesu'''eo IN "afy otates.
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 il has been found that the
laws have not been ri9idiy 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 iii. In New York city.
'he oio''a''''S o' '"e ie'''t oe''"rt
ine'. p'o,'"t ,""' . '''''''N - !"
use ,i.i' "''''' ~ '''N q" ~ va '''"'
beverage UT iheu'ci'i"i or 'ui'e' prep
aiatlon i''''i'''''' Ao' 'A'''' i"' Va ''l''-
hai luihuh use
The city authorities have several
times called attention to the increase
IN the last lew months OF the use "I
wood alcohol as beverage ana efforts
have been made through the heaith ue-
partment to enforce the ordinances
Several months ago Dr. Charles II.
Norris, city medical examiner sent
a letter to Health commissioner cope
land telling OF several dea'hs from
wood alcohol III New YORK, ana oner-
ing ms assistance ID caihl'aiSh 10
prevent the SAFE OF 'he spirits TOT
ulihhihs puiposes' ~ >'.A"i''e' We
"e'''ei' do tho'''i0'' p"''o'oe'', "''
p'ous''' " '''' V"''"' y. ''' 49,,
department anu 'ie p"o'lo So "iis
'ie ,he,e"'eu nu'noe' % u'"'''' lawn
"'ou "''o'''''
runes Also harmful
The increase in the use OF Woo al
cohol for beverage purposes is said to
have started with the increase in the
price of whisky during the winter and
with the wartime prohibition Of July
l. The action of wood alcohol Is very .