POISON LIQUOR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 117, 14 April 1930, Page 7

POISON LIQUOR.

ARRESTS AT OKLAHOMA. Received April 14, 10.5 a.m. NEW YORK, April 13. As a result of the Jamaica ginger poisoning at Oklahoma City, 126 persons have been indicted for the sale of the beverage. Two chemist (-hop proprietors have already been arrested. The Federal authorities announced to-day that grand juries in various parts of the State had been hearing evidence, and would indict all those responsible for dispensing the paralysing liquor.

At Oklahoma City (stated a New York message of March 7) a hundred frightened citizens informed the polieo that they wero suffering from paralysis, apparently caused from drinking a concoction derived from Jamaica ginger. The majority lost tho uso of their feet in tho beginning, after which tho paralysis spread to the arms and face. Chemist shop owners wore held for selling tho drink. Among the victims were two physicians, four medical students, five ' chemists’ assistants, two school girls, and one minister. Mr James M. Doran, Commissioner of Prohibition, subsequently reported that an analysis of tho liquor revealed that it contained alcohol, ginger extract, crude carbolic acid, and crcasote. The drinking of this liquor caused tremendous shock and paralysis of tho legs, and a feeling of utter depression and melancholy. Mr Doran added: “The disinfectants used in tho new drink wero contained in ordinary sheep-dip, which could bo obtained at low cost.”