T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
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but he cannot trust the judgment of an experienced bar or saloon keeper. HOW WOOD ALCOHOL POISONS
“Now, as regards the question of the poisonous properties of wood alcohol,” added the expert: “It is inconceivable that any ordinarily intelligent person can now be in doubt on this subject, in view of the hundreds of cases of death and blindness resulting from its use. Twenty years ago when such cases first began to be reported there was some reason for a little uncertainty on this subject, not only on the part of the public, but of chemists and of those physicians who were not familiar with certain pharmacological experiments on dogs. The odor, taste, and other properties of pure wood alcohol are so like those of ordinary alcohol that chemists were inclined to attribute the bad effects from the former to the presence of impurities in the commercial samples. But none of the impurities in the latter are as poisonous or cause the same effzcts as the absolutely pure wood alcohol itself. Pharmacologists, moreover, from experiments on dogs, had, years before, shown that the action of wood alcohol upon the animal organism is fundamentally different from that of ordinary alcohol. This difference may be briefly summarized. When ordinary alcohol is taken into the body it is rapidly converted into water and carbonic acid gas which are harmless substances, always present in the body, and any excess of which is promptly eliminated by the kidneys and lungs. Wood alcohol, on the other hand, instead of being changed into harmless substances which are easily eliminateq, remains in the body as such for a considerable time and is thea slowly converted into another poison-formic acid-the acid which is found in ants. These poisons and perhaps a third formed from the wood alcohol, formaldehyde, attack the brain and other organs and cause death or blindness. “Poisonousness is an inherent quality of wood alcohol,” continued Dr. Hunt. “It is as impossible to prepare nonpoisonous wood alcohol as it is to prepare nonpoisonous prussic acid, HOW MUCH IS A FATAL EOSE
“Individuals vary considerably in their susceptibility to wood alcohol; some die or become blind from amounts which seem to do no harm to others. This is true, however, of all poisons. Death or blindness has resulted from two teaspoonfuls and from one or two tablespoonfuls of the poison. Sixty to seventy-five per cent of those taking four ounces, that is, a quarter of a pint or half a ‘glassful,’ have died or become permanently, blind. That wood alcohol is properly placed in the list of deadly poisons’ is evident from the fact that the mortality from arsenic poisoning is only fifty to seventy-five per cent and that from bichloride of mercury even less. Of a group of 130 men who drank a mixture of wood and grain alcohol all but 3 2 died or became blind. “At the present time when the manufacture and sale of genuine alcoholic beverages are illegal the only safe course to pursue is to refrain from buying, drinking, or dealing in anything purporting to be such a beverage.--[Bulletin 2511 ~
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a n d in purification of water (other than small glass laboratory stills), the person for whom such still is made will be required to submit to the Collector evidence under oath showing that the still is not to be used for the production of spirits and setting forth specifically the actual purposes for which i t is to be used.
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All stills set up, whether intended for use or not, must be registered with the Collector of the district on Form 26 in duplicate. This applies to all stills of whatever size or for whatever purpose intended, whether for distillation of spirits or for pharmaceutical or other purposes, except as to small glass laboratory stills. Copies of Form 26 may be obtained from the Collector of Internal Revenue for the district in which the stills are to be set up, and instructions will be given as to filling out such forms. Failure to register such still or distilling apparatus will be a violation of Section 3258 R. S.
EXTRACT FROM THE FEDERAL LAW RELATING TO T H E REMOVAL OF THE “COUNTRY OF ORIGIN” FROM IMPORTED ARTICLES UNITEDSTATES TARIFFACTOF 1913, SEC. 4, PAR.F, SUBSECTION 2
If any person shall fraudulently violate any of the provisions of this act relating to the marking, stamping, branding, or labeling of any imported articles or packages; or shall fraudulently deface, destroy, remove, alter, or obliterate any such marks, stamps, brands, or labels with intent to conceal the information given by or contained in such marks, stamps, brands, or labels, he shall upon conviction be fined in any sum not exceeding $5,000, or be imprisoned for any time not exceeding one year or both.
DlSAPPEARANCE OF DR. ARTHUR LACHMAN T h e disappearance, o n December 11, 1919,of D r . A r t h u r L a c h m a n , of S a n Francisco, was noted i n t h e last n u m b e r of THISJ O U R N A L . T h e causes suggested are foul p l a y or t e m p o r a r y dementia. T h e accompanying description a n d p h o t o g r a p h are printed here in t h e hope of developing some clue.
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REGISTRATION OF STILLS A question has been raised as to whether the law requiring registration of stills applies to distilling apparatus used in chemical work. A notice issued by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue reads in part as follows :
To Collectors of Internal Revenue, Revenue Agents, and Others Concerned:
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All persons, firms or corporations thus manufacturing a still or worm to be used in distilling are deemed manufacturers of stills. This applies to all stills capable of the production of distilled spirits but does not apply to small laboratory stills (usually glass) for legitimate laboratory purposes, or to water stills which are not capable of and intended for the production of distilled spirits. Ordinarily, laboratory stills are small, constructed of glass, and not adapted to the production of distilled spirits in commercial quantities, and many water stills are also of such construction that they are not adapted to the commercial production of distilled spirits. Any stills or worms adapted to the production of distilled spirits for commercial or beverage purposes are presumed to be intended for such use. * * * In order to remove such presumption in the case of stills and worms intended to be used in Che manufacture of essential oils, vinegar, and like products,
Vol.
ARTHURLACHMAN
ADDRESS: 358 Holbrook Building, San Francisco, Ca1.-Sutter 4653; 143-14th Avenue-Pacific 3926. HEIGHT: 5 f t . 7 in. WEIGHT: 170 lbs. COMPLEXION: Fair EYES: Light blue HAIR: Very bald-gray, Reddish mustache, turning gray GLASSES: Wore eye glasses CLOTHING:Gray-green suit, small plaid Black vici kid shoes Dark gray, knee-length overcoat Dark fedora hat EFFECTS: Pipe; curve cut old English tobacco Illinois watch Black silk vest chain, initial slide, letter “L” set in pearls Gold cuff buttons each set in one diamond and one ruby “Lefax” memorandum book
ADVANCED WORK FOR HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHERS Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: From time to time articles have appeared in various chemical journals advocating more thorough training for men in chemical professions. A great deal has been said about chemists doing advanced work and in a number of instances provision has been
