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Show I . Many Deaths Doe to Wood Alcohol The wood alcohol used in the United States is obfaiued cbielly from the destructive de-structive distillation of birch, beach, maple, oak, elm and alder. The chief uses to which it is tint are for the denaturing de-naturing of grain alcohol ; for various purposes in lines of common manufacture, manufac-ture, (especially as a 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. Increases in Fatalities air' Blindness Recently Shown by Records. WARNS CF PERIL IN USE Committee for Prevention of Blindness Begins Nation-Wide Campaign of Education Many States Take Action. New York. The increase in the number of deaths and cases of blindness blind-ness resulting from the drinking of wood alcohol as a substitute for grain alcohol has caused the National Committee Com-mittee for the Prevention of Blindness, 130 Fast Twenty-second street, to send warnings broadcast throughout the country. The records in the oflice of the committee shew more than 1.000 cases of blindness in the country resulting re-sulting from wood alcohol covering a , 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 resulting result-ing from the drinking of wood alcohol, due, he said, to the larger quantity taken by the victim. Upward of twenty-five twenty-five deaths have occured in New York City and vicinity since .Ian. 1. Similar , 'hues called attention to the increase in the last few months of the use of wood alcohol as a beverage and efforts have been made through the health department de-partment to enforce the ordinances. Several months ago Dr. Charles F. Norris, a city medical examiner, sent a letter to Health Commissioner Cope-land Cope-land telling of several deaths from wood alcohol in New York, and offering offer-ing his assistance in a campaign to prevent the sale of the spirits for 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 alcohol 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 1. The action of wood alcohol is very much like ordinary alcohol, except that it is more severe. Within a few hours after drinking, acute headache is noted, usually accompanied by violent vio-lent attacks of vomiting, pains extending extend-ing over the region of the kidneys, and excessive dizziness. Vision m-.iy become be-come impaired, total blindness occur, and death itself result. Harmful action ac-tion of this poison may also be induced by breathing its fumes, and by absorption absorp-tion through the mucous membranes of the body. conditions are said to prevail in all parts of the country. Edward M. Van Cleve. managiVig director di-rector of the National Committee, declared 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. TI.e purpose of the National Committee Com-mittee is to educate the people to the danger, as laws regarding the sde 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-xses. pur-xses. In nearly every state, he said the druggist Is required to label "'Poison" on every bottle of wood alcohol alco-hol that Is sold, but this does not prevent pre-vent the use of It in any manner the pnrctuiner sees til. In New York city, the ordinances of the health department depart-ment provide that "it is unlawful to use this alcohol in any article of food, beverage or medicinal or toilet prep-ai'-Uion intended for external or internal inter-nal human use." The city authorities have several |