1926 – Dec 25-27, Fed. Gov. poisoned methanol and industrial alcohol, NYC, NY   –11-23

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-5-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–23  Rosen. “Poison’s Legacy,” Canadian Medical Assoc. Journal, 11-9-2010, 182/16, p. 1767.

–11  INS. “Eleven Deaths Due to Poison Liquor…Place Blame Upon Government.” 12-27-1926.

Narrative Information

Rosen: “….during [the] era of Prohibition (1920–1933) were self-induced methanol poisonings, as consumers threw caution to the wind and imbibed whatever they could find. Often leaving its victims permanently blind — when not killing them outright — methanol was cheaper and much easier to come by than the more tightly regulated ethanol, and was mixed into much of what unscrupulous bootleggers were smuggling into the speakeasies of New York. But as author Deborah Blum points out, the bootleggers were but partly to blame. In 1926, the federal government, in an effort to enforce the so-called ‘Noble Experiment,’ mandated adding poisons (including methanol) to industrial alcohol so as to discourage people from drinking it. Unfortunately, instead of leading to decreased consumption, this only resulted in more death and suffering, with the toll from that year’s Christmas celebrations reaching 23 dead and dozens more blinded in New York City alone.”

Newspapers

INS, Dec 27: “New York, Dec. 27. (INS) – Eleven deaths from poison liquor and 73 persons treated in hospitals for alcoholism was the gristly toll today in one of the wettest Christmas holiday seasons New York has known since prohibition went into effect.

“Dr. Charles Norris, chief medical examiner in Manhattan, charged that the government was responsible for most of the deaths because government chemists were using two poisons in denatured alcohol in an effort to prevent its use as a beverage after re-distillation by bootleggers. ‘The government knows that it is not stopping drinking by putting poison in its alcohol,’ said Dr. Norris. ‘It knows what the bootleggers are doing with it, and yet it continues its poisoning process, heedless of the fact that people determined to drink are daily absorbing that poison.’

“Policemen familiar with the situation said they believed the number of arrests for drunkenness since last Friday would be greater than last Christmas.

….

“Bellevue hospital alone admitted 63 persons who were suffering from alcoholism, some are in serious condition, threatened with blindness or partial paralysis.” (INS. “Eleven Deaths Due to Poison Liquor…Place Blame Upon Government.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque IA, 12-27-1926, pp. 1-2.)

INS, Jan 5, 1928: “New York, Jan. 5. – (INS) – Wirth 700 deaths chalked against poisonous liquor during 1927 in New York City, the new year brought to a close the worst ear as regards alcohol fatalities in the city’s history. The figures were disclosed by the Department of Health.” (INS. “Poison Liquor Kills Hundreds in N’York City [in 1926].” Olean Evening Times, NY. 1-5-1928, p. 1.)

Sources

INS. “Eleven Deaths Due to Poison Liquor…Place Blame Upon Government.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque IA, 12-27-1926, pp. 1-2. Accessed 3-5-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubuque-telegraph-herald-dec-27-1926-p-1/

INS. “Poison Liquor Kills Hundreds in N’York City [in 1926].” Olean Evening Times, NY. 1-5-1928, p. 1. Accessed 3-5-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/olean-times-jan-05-1928-p-1/

Rosen, Dennis. “Poison’s Legacy,” Review of The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age Niew York by Deborah Blum. Penguin Group (USA); 2010. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 11-9-2010, Vol. 182, No. 16, p. 1767.