HUNDREDS DEAD.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 15

HUNDREDS DEAD.

GOVERNMENT POISONS LIQUOR. PROTESTS IN UNITED STATES. tar cable-press association— copntiGflr.) 'ACSTBALIAN ASt) S.I. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) N"EW YOIIK, December 29. Twenty-seven died from poisoning by bootleg liquor during Christmas, and the list is expected to be considerably augmented. It is estimated that over 100 already have died throughout the States, and there are several hundred in hospitals. Figures' for 1926 already show that in Manhattan alone there were. 48b" dead, and 808 in New York State. In the meantime the newspapers feature protests by medical authorities against the Government policy of using poisonous denaturants. Dr. Robert AYoodburn, Superintendent of the Middleton Insane Hospital, declared that there had been 1002 alcoholic admissions already for 1926, compared with 9SO for the whole of 1925.

Dr. Gettler, City Tosologist, stated that Government denaturants, besides killing, are also reaping a large harvest of insane or organically-crippled, victims.

The Medical Examiner, Mr X orris, attacked the Government, holding that it was morally responsible for the deaths.

Dr. Gettler said, ''.My whole point in blaming the Government lies in the fact that alcohol has become a public menace to life and health. As medical examiner it is my duty to call attention to this menaco and place the responsibility where it belongs-. It is all very well to say persons do not drink liquor, but they do drink it, and the Government knows they drink it, consequently poisoned alcohol is an alarming menace." Both Dr. Gettler and Dr. Norris emphasised that the number of deaths reported was onlv a fraction of t'e toll.

The Department has not changed its stand, and despite protests plans to use a deadlier denaturant after January Ist.

_ Mr Wayne "Wheeler, of the AntiSaloon League, stated the proper verdict in a case of fiquor deaths should be "deliberate .suicide.''