Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-29

dangerous liquor substitutes.
The support of every physician if the
city il to be asked in the fight. Every
case of alcoholic poisoning, no matter
how slight, is to be reported TO the
Board of Health Immediately.
Prompt investigation and prosecution
will follow
The CO. operative fight is the direct
result of four deaths from alcoholic
poisoning the result of drinking whisky
substitutes containing wood alcohol or
other poisons, in this city since Thanks
giving.
Numerous other cases have been re-
ported where the victims were in q
serious condition for sometime Others
are permanently affected from drinking
beverages containing wood alcohol or
other peisons.
Col, John ID. Mclean, acting head
Of the state Department of Health, is
studying the situation to determine
what, action his department can take
In the, matter.
Coroner Pledges Investigation
Coroner Knight pledged the fullest
Investigation into any death resulting
from alcoholic poisoning.
Such deaths are punishable under
the law on charge of manslaughter in
my opinion" said United States Dis
trict Attorney Kane. ''and the full
power Of my office win be c-thrown into
the fight against the persons who sell
poisonous alcoholic substitutes.
Health Director Krusen, suggests the
use of a test for the detection of the
poison.
"Dr. William c., Robinson. chemist
OF the health department" he says, ''ad-
vises this test for the detection of wood
alcohol. A bright copper wire, twelve
inches long, should be twisted at the
end in spiral manner and held over
a blue fame until black deposit ap-
pears on the surface of the wire. The
wire is then heated until it becomes
red hot. The heated spiral is then
plunged into a diluted sample of the
liquor, one part of the liquor to ten
parts of water. This is repeated a num-
ber of times, forming free formaldehyde.
Then should be added a tablespoonful
OF milk and few drops of commercial
suiphuric acid.
"TEe deposit on the test tube then
assumes bright purple color indi-
eating the presence of wood alcohol.
Test Very Effective
~ "The test is so effective that one part
OF wood alcohol in a million can be
detected"
Science knows no method of saving
the eyesight of persons poisoned by
wood alcohol, according to DR.. William
Zentmayer, Oculist, and member of the
staff Of the Wills Eye Hospital.
I'm some instances it causes alb
solute blindness" said Doctor Zent-
mayer. I'm every case the vision is
severely impaired, and nothing can be
done. permanently to restore the pa
tents sight.
THE poison actively affects certain
cells in the retina of the eye. which
sets up secondary degeneration in the
optic nerve. IL the poison is eliminated
as soon as taken by cleansing the stOm-
aeh and applying certain drugs to stim-
ulate circulation, the patient may be
saved from the worst effects of the
drug. The trouble is, however, that by
the time the symptoms of the poisoning
deYelop the damage is DONE
DIR. Il. Franklin Stahl, president of
the Philadelphia County Medical So
ciety, said:
''The danger of wood alcohol poi =
soning is recognized by all of US. Wood
alcohol is dangerous in any quantity.
You cans drink it and escape serious
consequences.
''The kick of wood alcohol is aw -
full. In Maine years ago l saw cases
Of it where man perfectly sober would
begin to tipple wood alcohol and in a
half hour be paralyzed."
Or: Horatio Z. Wood, Jr., pharma
cologist, explained how wood alcohol
affects the tissues.
Grain Alcohol Harmless
"The generally accepted theory. "
said Doctor Wood lis that wood al
cohol is not completely oxidized in the
body. Grain alcohol when taken in =
ternally is transformed into acetic
acid, which is further changed into
water and carbonic acid. These are
harmless.
"Wood alcohol, on the other hand.
changes by being oxidized into formic
acid. This is the active property of a
bees sting. Formic acid is an irritat-
ing substance which sets up low grade
inflammation of the nerves. 1t has a
peculiar affinity to the calls of the
optic nerve.
''It the acid is not sufficiently strong
70 kill, the optic nerve undergoes de-
generation, causing blindness. The
sudden death which frequently accom- :
panies the use Of wood alcohol prob
ably is caused by paralysis of the
muscles of the heart.
i"There are many cases on record of
poisoning by inhalation. Men have
bsen blinded by using varnish contain
ing wood alcohol in closed rooms.
There Is danger also in toilet prepare
tions-bRy rum, cheap perfumery
etc.-made with wood alcohol. 1t is
perfectly possible TO become blind from
the use of bay rum containing the
poison, even If none Of the bay rum is
taken into the stomach, inhalation OF
the fumes from using il on the face
and hair may cause blindness.
''Emphatically there should be ma
donal legislation against the use OF WOOD
alcohol for any purpose, commercial OF
otherwise, without poison label and &
skull and cross bones"
Professor Charles III. La Wall, ana
lytical chemist, said that even in III
purest possible form wood alcohol il
deadly.
''It was believed for a time that i
would be harmless If sufficiently puri
fed This proved to be fallacious.
year ago ! was called on to Rnalyz
sonae bay rum which was used as
beverage by three sailors at Leagu
Island, who died from its effects. TIL
hay rum was labeled '48 per cent al
cohol.' 1t proved 10 be wood alcohol
Unfortunately the national food an
drugs act does not cover use OF WOO
nieoh0l in toilet preparations, as thes
l.