Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-26
MANY DEATHS DUE
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 a substitute for grain
alcohol has caused the National Com
mittee fer the Prevention of Blindness,
100 East Twenty-second street, to send
warnings broadcast throughout the
country. The records in the Office of
the committee show more than 1000
cases of blindness in the country re-
sulting from wood alcohol covering a
period of several years, according to
Gordon r. 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
In q 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. l. 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
se -. Ar. 10 - kt.fs
danger, as laws regarding the sale of
wood alcohol can be eyaded
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 sala, and, besides, il 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 sit 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"
r,tn 49,, n,,tg, n.;+;,. ba,,o .,a.,o.ol
times called attention to the increase
I'm the last few months of the use of
wood alcohol as a beverage and efforts
have been made through the health de-
partment to enforce the ordinances.
Several months ago DR.. Charles II.
Norris, city medical examiner, sent
letter to Health Commissioner Cope
land telling of several deaths from
wood alcohol In New York. and offer
Ing his assistance In a campaign to
prevent the sale OF the spirits for
drinking purposes. DIR. 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 If July
1. The action of wood alcohol Is very
much like ordinary alcohol, except
that 1t is more severe. Within few
hours after drinking acute headache
is noted, usually accompanied by vio-
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-
struetiye distillation of birch, beach,
maple, oak, elm and alder. The chief
uses to which 1t 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 a fuel and
illuminant