A Big Problem with Wood Alcohol - It's Deadly

1920

NO WOOD ALCOHOL DEATHS IN IOWA

Des Moines, Jan. 1.— No reports have been received by the state board of health of death in Iowa from drinking wood alcohol concoctions. Some weeks ago the death of two negro porters in Sioux City from drinking a toilet preparation was reported. One report of blindness from drinking bay rum has been received.


WOOD ALCOHOL CLAIMS TWO MORE

Chicago, Jan. 1 -- Two deaths resulted from wood alcohol poisoning supposedly the result of New Year's eve celebrations, were reported today. Today's victims were John Walstrom, 18, and Joseph Pinco, 65.

--Waterloo Times-Tribune, Waterloo, Iowa, January 2, 1920, page 2.


ALL WOOD ALCOHOL IS VERY POISONOUS

New York, Dec. 31. -- All wood alcohol is poisonous and it does not possess a single property by which anyone except a chemist can distinguish it from ordinary "grain" alcohol. This warning was issued tonight by Dr. Reir Hunt, professor of pharmacology at the Harvard medical school, in a statement explaining dangers of the poison. "It is impossible to prepare non-poisonous wood alcohol."

--Waterloo Times-Tribune, Waterloo, Iowa, January 1, 1920, page 1.