A THIRST DEVICE

Southland Times, Issue 18846, 11 June 1920, Page 2

A THIRST DEVICE

“DRINK, PRETTY CREATURE, DRINK.” Cable messages published in these columns last month announced that as a means of circumventing the prohibition law in America, people, had taken to drinking wood alcohol, a deadly poison, and that many deaths had occurred from that practice. A resourceful reader of the New York Tribune offers the following suggestion : —■ "To the Editor of the ‘Tribune,’ “Sir, —Read this notice carefully. It may save your life to-day. To avoid being poisoned by wood alcohol carry a guinea pig in your pocket. Before touching a drink allow the animal to lap up a few drops of the precious fluid. Watch the rodent carefully for about fifteen minutes. If a pleased expression or smile comes over its face, you may take the drink without fear. If the animal dies do not take the drink. Leave it alone I “Each guinea pig should only bo used in testing three drinks. After that it is almost impossible to tell if the animal is dead or dead drunk. In testing cocktails the cherry should first be removed; otherwise the beast will eat the cherry and will not consume any of the beverage. “There is for sale at a smart shop on the avenue a case so constructed os to have ample room for four rodents. It is made to fit the pocket of evening clothes, or can be carried by ladies, like a vanity case.”