Page 18 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20099, 9 November 1928, Page 18

PROHIBITION DEATH POLL DAILY MOUNTING.

23a TO ONE HOSPITAL JN ONE WEEK. (From the Times correspondent, New York, October 8, 1928.) • Twenty deaths yesterday and to-day in New York City, and 50 cases of illness treated in tho Psychopathic Ward of Bellevue Hospital arc attributed in the polico reports to poisonous liquor. Dr. Charles Norris, chief medical examiner, has ascribed the increase in the number of deaths front this cause to an increase iri tho number of private stills in tho slum districts, and tho growth of the habit of drinking "smoke" or raw alcohol to which lias been added a chemical or flavouring to lessen its burning effect on tho throat.

Dr. Xorris said yesterday that practically nil the liquor now sold in New York w;is toxic. It was "cut," that is, diluted willi tlcuutured alcohol, wliiili is reilislilleil but still contains a trace of adulterant. This liquor, however, was not responsible for (lie deaths from alcohol in the east, side and waterfront districts where most of the dead were picked up. Such liquor is too expensive for those who live in that part of New York. They drink instead alcohol distilled from cornmash, potatoes, fruit, and so on, which Dr. Norris said was not poisonous in the ordinary sense of the term. An ounce or two of it had, however, nn effect upon tlio heart equal to that of a quart of properly aged spirits, because the toxic elements had not had time to oxidiso and become inoperative. Drink of this sort was being sold for live and ten cents (2Jd and sd) a glass on the cast side. Two hundred and thirty-eight patients wore admitted last week to the alcoholic ward of Rellevue Hospital. Prevent poisonous substitutes replacing pure stimulants. Vote Continuance.— (Advt.)