DEADLY POISON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 392, 29 November 1932, Page 2

DEADLY POISON

DANGERS CAUSED BY CARBON MONOXIDE EXHAUST FUMES. CASES NOT UNKNOWN. Dr. H. A. des Voeux, in his presidential address at the conference of the National Smoke Abatement Society at Newcastle-on-Tyne, dnew attention to some dangers caused by carbon monoxide from the exhausts of motor cars. "It is not generally known," he said, "that an ordinary car running at about 30 miles an hour emits one cubic foot of this deadly gas per minute. Every motor car owner knows how unsafe it is to allow the engine of a car to be rupning with the door of a garage closed; but what is unknown is what danger there is in large garages where many cars are started within a short time of one anothetf. Is there such a thing as chronic carbon monoxide poisoning ? What is the eff ect on still days of this gas on occupants of cars when in a long line of traffic? So far none has been traced, but I have a strong suspicion that cases such as one I will quote are not so uncommon as is generally supposed." Dr. des Yoeux then told of a man of his acquaintance who collapsed after driving on a cold. day in a closed car with all windows but one closed behind a lorry which was emitting excessive -exhaust fumes in a narrow lane. He became nearly unconscious. His hlood showed the usual signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, but had not his chauffeur suffered the same evening from violent headaches the driver's illness would have been considered an ordinary attack of syneope or f aintless, for which he was actually treated.