Evening star., 1926-08-03
CHEMIST REPORTS
ALL LIQUOR POISON
Revenue Bureau Analyst De-
cIares Alcohol Used Now
Contains Sure Death.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, August 3.-'Slow
death hootch," a veritable fifth
horseman of the Apocalypse. Is rid
ing abroad in the land, slowly but
certainly taking a toll in human life,
carrying on the grim work behind
the mask of conviviality, according to-
J. w. Quillen, chief chemist of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue In the
New York district.
Mr.. Quillen has been examining the
spoils of raiding prohibition agents
for the Bureau Of Internal Revenue
since November, 1921, and under his
analyzing hand and eye have come
many specimens of the nectar that
is being quaffed during Americas dry
era. At first 1t was good liquor, he
points odt. but gradually the quality
diminished until today he describes it
tersely and aptly as "slow death
hootch."
When in November. 1921, the sec
ond year of prohibition" Mr.. Quill
len told The Washington Star cor
respondent in the old Federal build
ing here today, II became connected
as chemist with the Bureau of In
ternal Revenue, IS per cent of the
hard liquors received was straight
whisky. This percentage gradually
diminished until the year 1924. when
real whisky was completely exhaust
ed. AS the whisky samples de-
creased. the flow of beverage samples
made from specially denatured al
cohol increased, but no samples
showed any indication of being made
from completely denatured alcohol,
until March, 1925, when samples con-
tanning kerosene were received.
Special Still Found.
Soon after this a large still was
discovered in Vesey street in New
York, which was perfect mechanically.
and had been imported from France
for the fractionation of volatile oils,
but upon investigation 1t was found
this still was being used for the re-
covery of completely denatured alco-
hol, formula No s, which is made
from benzine. kerosene, pyridine,
and grain alcohol"
On Mr.. Quillen's recommendation.
this formula was revoked by the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue. the
cancellation becoming effective Febru-
ary l, 1926. In the meantime, be-
tween April, 1925, and February,
1926, several other stills were discov-
cred that were trying to recover this
formula.
Few samples were received in the
Government laboratories in New York
prior to May l." Mr.. Quillen said.
that contained wood alcohol. as they
were made largely from specially de-
natured alcohol, and completely de-
natured alcohol that had not been de-
natured with wood alcohol. On or
oh dofn MI or IN
come in that contained wood alcohol.
and these samples have increased
since that date until now aproxi-
mately 20 per cent of the samples re-
ceived contain wood alcohol in vari-
Gus quantities"
Stills Made in Buffalo.
Mr.. Quillen says that he reported
to Mai. Chester P Mills, prohibition
administrator for the New York dis
trict, in the early part of May, that
samples were coming under his an
alysis containing wood alcohol. Stills
were being made in Buffalo, he also
reported, allegedly for the manufac-
ture of ethyl acetate and other chem
ical compounds that require diStilla-
ton. At Maj. Mills instance Mr..
Quilien went to Buffalo and when he
investigated in that city he found
stills being sold throughout the coun-
try for the alleged manufacture of
ethyl acetate, but which could be
used for the recovery of completely
denatured alcohol.
"The persons buying these stills"
Mr.. QuiIlen said, were informed of
this particular feature by the manu-
facturers."
"Present-day whisky must go to the
consumer cursed with wood alcohol,
the chemist said. 1T can't be re-
moved" he pointed out, whether by
the most careful laboratory manipu-
lation or by the stills guaranteed to
remove 1t. Men are fooling them
selves by paying $40 quart for a
distilled anti-freeze solution. The A
persons reported having died in Buff
falo and adjacent cities from alcoholic
poisoning recently were the victims
Of this slow death hootch and every
one who now drinks the kind of stuff
being sold as whisky is taking the
same risks as did these victims"
Drug Stores Not Infallible.
Another assurance of the prohibi
tion drinker, who says, This is o. X.
because I got 1t at the drug store,
was smashed by Mr.. Quillen with the
announcement:
Druggists have, as well as speak
easies. resorted to the sale of 'hootch'
made from recovered completely de-
natured alcohol, which contains wood
alcohol.
Straight grain alcohol, commonly
Known as pure alcohol" Mr.. Quillen
said, "is for medicinal and internal
use. Specially denatured alcohol is
used for the manufacture of bay rum,
hair tonic and toilet perfumes. This
alcohol is unfit for beverage purposes,
but can be recovered to such an extent
to make it not Immediately harmful,
MM -sH