Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-24
NORWICH HAS SIX
 CASES OF DIPHTHERlA

-~~ Norwich according to the weekly nor bidity report issued by the state de- pertinent of health. The report is for the week ending December 20. It shows total of nine cases of diphtheria in the county. There IS also one case of measles in Norwich, this being the only case of this particular disease in the country The weekly report calls attention to the great danger of the wood alcohol for beverages. The statement says:
 Owing to the heavy increase recent ly noted in the number of deaths and cases of blidness resulting from the drinking of wood alchol by those ig- norant of it's dangers, the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness is sending broadcast special warnings of the tragic consequences which may follow the use of wood, all cohol, denatured alcohol and medicat- ed alcohol for bevarage purposes.
 Occasional cases of this nature have been occurring from time to time for many years but since national proi1i- bftion went into effect, there has been an alarming increase in all sections of the country due to the preparations of drinks in which wood alcohol has been used or in some cases where it has been taken straight.
 The harmful action of this poison comes not only from taking it intern ally, but may likewise be induced by breathing it's fumes, and by absorption ] through the mucous membranes of the body. It's effect is usually noticeable very shortly after exposure. Within few hours after drinking, acute 1 headache is usually noted, usually ac- companied by violent attacks of vom = iting, body pains. extending over the regions of the kidneys, and excessive dizziness. Vision may become impair ed, total blindness occur, and death itself result.
 l Only within recent years has wood alcohol become so dangerous to life and sight. Formerly it was dark bad smelling, bad tasting fluid whicr no onelwas tempted to drink Later a process Was developed by which this color, smell and taste are removed
 Wood alcohol, when purified in this way, looks smells and tastes lik:
 substituted for it by interruptions per.
 sons.
 Denatured alcohol usually consist; of ninety per cent. grain alcohol ant
 ten per cent. wood alcohol thus ren-
 dering it unfit for drinking It is beins increasingly substituted for wood al. cohof ln many industrial uses, tt eliminate the great dangers attend ant upon the use of the latter.
 Pharmacists who hold permits ant
 nave been given bond are allowed te medlcate alcohol and sell it for non,
 beverage purposes in quantities nc,
 exceeding one pint. providing they frs
 medlcate 1t in accordance with any one of nine formulas specified by the
 commissione rof internal revenue, U 5. Treasury Department. Carbolic acid
 formaldehyde and bichloride of mer.
 cury are the chief of these denaturins agents. The container of such medi.
 cated alcohol must bear a poison
 label. The sale by, pharmicists of med icated alcohol for industrial purpose.
 IS prohibited. It is sold chiefly fo,
 rubbing purposes.
 In spite of these regulations and ore
 cautions some persons are using thes, po1sons for drinking purposes. com
 pietely disregarding the "poison,' Ia
 bel which may have appeared on th,
 bottle. In other instances, the yictim
 nave been ignorant of tn dangers 0
 tlat winch they were using, the sbey
 craze havlnS been prepared by other
 ana sold under faluse apretenses o | eS'No VI tliioi ildluTe Cd1 De anDre
 hended he has been in many instances
 subjected to severe punishment bv fh
 courts. One teaspoon Of wood alcohol talk
 en internally is sufficient to cause fo
 tai blindness, a larger quantity ofte, causes death. Never use wood alec : hol, denatured alcohol or medicated al t t cohol for drinking purposes. Pass thi : knowledge on if you would assist i reducing the fatalities which are oc ] curing from this. cause, = '