Wood Alcohol Poisoning: An Era Gone By

Someone I know committed suicide by drinking antifreeze. This is exactly what happened to her.

When I was a kid, there was a little ditty-rhyme we used to sing that had the phrase "wood alcohol" in it and I had no clue what it was. Somehow never occured to me to ask! Now I know, thanks

Quote from FarawynSomeone I know committed suicide by drinking antifreeze. This is exactly what happened to her.

Quote from Brenda F. JohnsonI am so sorry! That is heartbreaking

Never treated anyone but it's what killed my grandfather. Being a single mom with 4 kids during the Depression was no cake walk.

Quote from Libby1987Never treated anyone but it's what killed my grandfather. Being a single mom with 4 kids during the Depression was no cake walk.

Methonal is a by product of making Moon shine, It's generally in the first few ounces of a batch. An inexperienced or rushed cook can not get it cleared, poisoning the batch. I"ve also seen it in prison hooch and other people trying to make their own alchohol.

Quote from Libby1987Never treated anyone but it's what killed my grandfather. Being a single mom with 4 kids during the Depression was no cake walk.

Not an era gone by yet in other parts of the world The first line treatment for methanol poisoning, in was 5DW mixed with up to 5% ethanol IV, in order to override liver alcoholdehydrogenase and slow down formaldehyde production, which is the main toxic agent causing injury of optic nerve and blindness. People LOVED those IVs. There were a few frequent fliers who were quite adept in telling stories about yet another bottle of vodka brought by someone nobody knew just in order to get that IV cocktail. They claimed it produced not a typical inebriation but something else, much more pleasant - and for free!I still remember one guy brought after 12 hours or so after drinking methanol. He died within an hour or so but was able to give name and address of the place which sold that "brandy" to him. All those cases were subjected to immediate criminal investigation, so police was called. Just in case there would be someone else needing medical intervention on the spot, the squad took me to go with them. Upon coming to the apartment, we found the merry widow of the deceased guy and the whole bunch of his buddies, neighbors, etc. all happily drinking for the peaceful passing of the guy's soul to the heaven... with the very same "brandy" which killed him. It tok quite some time to let everyone know that fun was over for the evening.

Very interesting. Is this the same as "Jake leg" that was common during prohibition?

Hey I learned something new today..