Evening star., 1937-06-08

apols police. All, they found, had
at least . milligram and. . half OF
alcohol per eubAc eentimeter Of blood.
They fixed this amount rs the mini
mum on which anybody could be
pronounced too drunk to drive an
automobile. Many, Of course, might
reach that stage on much less.
They then determined that the
amount Of alcohol In two lters Of ex-
pired breath wAs equivalent to that
IN cubic centineter OF blood-that
Is, . millimeter and \ half would
mean that man was tight. All the
policeman need do is have the suspect
blow up rubber balloon capable
Of holding two liters. 1t Is well to
do this about two hours after an
arrest, when the alcohol has had a
chance to become generally diffused
over the system.
Then the procedure is to discharge
the air in the balloon through 4 mix
ture OF sulphutic acid and . red dye.
The alcohol removes the dye. The
amount Is so regulated that a milli-
meter and a half will make the mix
ture colorless. II It stays red the
man can hardly be declared legally
drunk, other evidence to the contrary.
The doctors admit that the device
might give = man who was slightly
intoxicated an edge on the police. On
the other hand it would be certain
to protect the innocent man, falsely
accused. He might be . victim Of
police intolerance or there might be
the odor Of liquor on his breath due
to 4 few sips or even to medicine he
had taken.
Mods Produce Medicines.
Valuable medicines produced by the
action OF various molds on glucose
sugar At the color laboratory Of the
Bureau OF Chemistry and Soils at
Arlington, Va.-some OF which were
priceless a few years ago but which
now can be made abundantly and
cheaply-featured another exhibit.
Among these is calcium glutonate
which is one Of the best mediums for
getting calcium into the system, by
intramuscular injections, In cases Of
calcium deficiency.
With another mold the Depart
ment OF Agriculture chemists have
been able to make out Of sugar a sub
stance known as kojic acid which Is
extremely poisonous to dogs, rats and
mice and which. according to some
investiga tors, is formed in the ami
NAL tissues in epileptic attacks Still
OF unknown therapeutic value, the
new substance may throw considera bic
light on the physiological mechanism
OF this mental disease. Started by
DR.. Orville Z. May = few years ago,
the work now is being carried on by
DR.. Percy Wells OF the bureau stan.
Surgical problems commonly dis
cussed fade into insignificance when
compared to the rising toll of auto
mobile injuries, DR.. Claire L. Straith
OF Detroit, said in 4 lecture before the
association. There were. he said,
$500 deaths from this cause during
the past year and $40, 900 non fatal
accidents OF which 10000 resulted IN
permanent disability.
As one means of cutting down this
appalling toll he urged moral
renaissance" of the general public.
What hue and cry would be raised, I"
he said, III typhoid fever or smallpox
were to bring a similar epidemic Of
death. Tuberculosis in its most de-
structive years was hardly more
devastating.
Studies show clearly 4 decided in
crease in the number OF accidents dur
ing the cocktail hour, and late at
night after the brawl is ended. The
holiday mood of the week end with
its carefree inebriety provides somber
headlines for blue Mondays news
papers. Whether legislation or er.
gineering can do more seems doubtful y
nr. Straith is fa. surgeon. Fully
IS per cent of the I@ore serious face.
crushing accidents 1der his care. he
said, are sustained . girls on the ont
seat beside tbs driver The driver
himself receives steering post injuries
involving the lower part OF the face.
The girl, having nothing to which to
cling for support. is thrown violently
against the Windshield. with injuries
to the middle third Of the face.