THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN METHYL ALCOHOL POISONING

THE EXISTENCE of cerebral edema and the therapeutic value of drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid in acute methyl alcohol poisoning have been recognized. The use of frequent lumbar puncture in treatment of this type of intoxication was first recommended in 1920 by Zethelius and Wersen and by Pincus.1 In a series of 7 patients whom they treated with frequent lumbar punctures the visual capacity became normal in 4, while the remaining 3 had restoration of fairly good visual acuity. Other authors2 have corroborated their results. Duursma and Huizinga2b cited a case from the clinic of psychiatry and neurology at Groningen in which the spinal fluid was examined for methyl alcohol. The spinal fluid was found to contain methyl alcohol, and the patient's condition was improved after the first spinal tap. Duursma and Huizinga concluded that treatment must be aimed at removal of the toxin from the spinal