Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1919-10-10
MANY DEATHSDUE
TO 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 cases of blind
ness resulting from the drinking OF
wood alcohol as substitute for grain
alcohol has caused the National Com
mittee for the Prevention Of Blindness
$50 East Twenty-second street, to send
warnings broadcast throughout the
country. The records In the office OF
the committee show more than LION
cases of blindness in the country re-
sulting from wood alcohol covering q
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, 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 di'
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. In New York city
the ordinances of the health depart
ment provide that ait 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 f.
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 q campaign to
prevent the sale of the spirits fol
drinking purposes. DR.. Alexander o.
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
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
ha % aln 10
much like ordinary alcohol, except
that ii is more severe. Within few
hours after drinking, acute headache
Is noted, usually accompanied by VIC
lent attacks of vomiting, pains extend
ing over the region of the kidneys, and
excessive dizziness. Vision may be
come impaired, total blindness occur
and death itself result. Harmful ac
ton Of this poison may also be induced
by breathing its fumes, and by absorb
ton through the mucous membranes
of the body.
The wood alcohol used In the United
States is obtained chiefly from the de-
structive distillation of birch, beach
maple, oak, elm and alder. The CHIEF
uses to which il Is put are for the de
maturing Of grain alcohol; for various
purposes in lines of common manufac
ture, Especially as solvent In the
preparation of shellac, varnish, dyes
etc., as an ingredient in medical and
pharmaceutical preparations; in the
chemical Industries and as fuel and
illuminant.