METHYLATED SPIRITS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 276, 18 May 1912, Page 3

METHYLATED SPIRITS

PROHIBITORY MEASURES DEMANDED. Methyl, says an authoritative dictionary, is the name given to the hypothetical radical of methylic alcohol or wood spirit. The same unimpeachable authority adds that methylated spirit is a mixture of nine parts of alcohol with one of pyroxilic or wood spirit ("to prevent peopled rinking it," the authority adds), used for spirit lamps, varnishes and other things. The proceedings at an inquest in Christchurch on Sunday last proved very conclusively that the mixture of methyl with alcohol does not "prevent people drinking it," and strong comments on the habit were made by the Coroner (Mr. H. W. Bishop) and the doctor giving evidence, Dr. William Irving, who stated that the habit caused fibrous degeneration and drove the subject mad. Enquiries made in the city (says the Lyttelton Times) showed that there was an increasing tendency among prohibited drunkards to evade the law by satisfying their cravings by taking methylated spirits. Not only prohibited persons made use, of this spirit, it was found, but others for whom a depleted exchequer made economy a necessity. That the habit was gaining ground was emphasised by the fact that within thp past week two in- • quests had been held in which the spirit i had been stated to have caused, directly or indirectly, the deaths of the persons using it. ' After the inquest on Tuesday, in the course of which he had made strong remarks regarding the habit, the Coroner was asked for his opinion as to the pre- ! valence of the habit. "It has grown "normously within the last few years," Mr. Bishop said. "At one time it was very seldom heard of, but now hardly a day passes but I have some degenrate up before me who shows unmistakable signs of the fact that he is addicted to this insane indulgence. Its murderous effects are fairly well known, and it is i unnecessary for me to go into them, but there is no doubt that it spells the ruin of anyone who takes to it." Statutory means, Mr. Bishop said, could' only be employed by means of calling it a poison, and restricting its sale in this manner, but its wide use . as a fuel would make this somewhat difficult. A better means would be to ■mix with it some deleterious foreign j substance, which would not impair it as ' a fuel, but would deter inebirates from drinking it. The subject was one which required careful consideration, and it was extremely desirable that some means should be arrived at by which the alarming increase in deaths from its continued use could be stopped. ( A local chemist, when spoken to, said: 1 that he fully agreed that the consump- j tion of the spirit had increased greatly 1 in the last few years, and that in spite of the fact that the chemists were now more chary of selling it. "At one time," he said, "some of the Christchurch chemists' shops did a big trade in methylated spirits on Sunday. Now, however, a number of them absolutely refuse to sell it on Sunday, though at times they are almost besieged by customers asking for it. On Saturday night, also, after the public-houses have closed, the chemists have numerous requests for a bottle of spirits. The majority of the chemists, however, exercise their power of discretion, and sell the spirit to those alone who appear to be perfectly respectable. Numbers of people, notably old men of 1 an obviously disreputable character, are turned away every day." Another chemist stated that for some time he had had one customer, an old man, who had bought three bottles of methylated spirits regularly every Saturday. He bad supplied the old man for some time, thinking that the supplies were for a stove, till on questioning his daughter he found that the old man was in the habit of drinking the spirit, and he promptly stopped supplying him. ■ A number of other chemists who were interviewed all agreed that demands for 'methylated spirits for drinking purposes were on the increase. One stated that men frequently came into his shop in a state of semi-madness asking for the spirit. '' A police officer staled that the habit 'was undoubtedly on the increase in Christchurch. In the last twelve , months six cases had come under his notice. He lnul held for some time that ' the sale of the spirit should be restricted ■by licensing. This might be thought to be a restriction on trade, but he did not .think it would be, as no reputable person would be refused supplies. The was consumed largely by prohibited persons. Tn was quite unpalatable, but that was no objection so long as it satisfied the craving for strong drink. Prohibited persons could not be prosecuted ;for using the spirit, because it was not ■ liquor within the meaning of the Licensing Act. lie did not think that doctor- . iug it further would reduce the consumption, for it would continue to be used .while it was anything short of a deadly poison. Tn the interests of everybody its sale should be restricted.