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GOVT. AYURVEDIC COLLEGE,
PATIALA.
DEPTT. OF AGADTANTRA
TOPIC: ETHYL AND METHYL
ALCOHOL
( )

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( . .ख.4/21-22)

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ETHYL ALCOHOL
• Introduction: It is a colourless, transparent, volatile liquid
which has a spcific odour of spirit. Its is extremely
hygroscopic.
• Poison classification: Inebrient cerebral poison
• Synonym: Grain alcohol, ethanol
• Chemical poison: C2H5OH
• Boiling point: 78.4° C

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Uses of alcohol
• It is used to dissolve bromine, iodine, resins,
volatile oils.
• It is an antiseptic.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Preservation(rectified spirit)
• Cough syrups
• Perfumes ,mouth washes
ACUTE POISONING
• This may result from consumption of any
preparation containing alcohol either in small doses
at short interval, or in one big dose.
• While a few cases of intoxication from inhalation of
vapours are on record, this route cannot be
regarded as being of toxicological significance.
• Alcohol tends to produce three stages viz.

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1.Stage of excitement
2. Stage of incoordination
• It is also called stage of confusion
• Muscular incoordination leads to staggering gait
• Slurred speech
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hiccups
• Dirty and dishevelled appearance
• Dilated pupils

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• Medicolegally it is important stage as offences are
committed during this stage.
3.Stage of narcosis
• Also called stage of coma
• Person only respond to strong stimuli
• Pulse rate increases
• Temperature decreases
• Dryness of mouth and tongue
• Pupils may be contracted
• Macewan's sign: On stimulation on the subject,eg by
pinching his neck or face, I pupils dilate initially and
slowly return to their original size.
ETHANOL TOXICITY
• Cause of death: asphyxia due to respiratory paralysis
• Fatal dose: 150 to 250ml of absolute alcohol or
0.35%concentration of alcohol in blood
• Fatal period: 12-24 hours

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TREATMENT
• Stomach should be lavaged with care with 5%
solution of sod.bicarbonate in warm water.
• Patient should be kept warm.
• Vit. B6 is administered in dosage of 50-100 mg
• Artificial respiration may be necessary along with
oxygen inhalation.
Intravenous administration of flumezenil(3 mg) for
respiratory depression.
POSTMORTEM APPEARANCE
• Clothes may have stained by vomit material
• Rigor mortis remain for longer period
• Delay in putrefaction
• Smell of ethanol
• Liver, brain and lungs are congested
• Medicolegal importance: humans affected by
alcohol die by crimes influenced by alcohol or
accidents more than its poisoning.

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CHRONIC POISONING
• This results from continous use of alcohol and is
characterised by a gradual physical, mental and
moral deterioration (alcoholic dementia)
• It is also known as alcoholism.
• Symptoms:
• Deep desire for alcohol
• Withdrawl symptoms
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Restrict the use of alcohol.

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TREATMENT
• Balanced diet.
• Multivitamins.
• Vit E for clotting disorders.
• Folic acid.
• For withdrawl symptoms: diazepam, carbamazepine.
Aversion therapy: Disulphiram 0.2-0.75 gm/day orally.
METHANOL
It is obtained from destructive distillation of molasses.
• It is colourless liquid which have a light spirit like
odour.
• Classification: Inebrient cerebral poison.
• Synonym: Methanol, wood spirit
• Uses:
To varnish furniture
Antifreeze
Paint remover

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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
In small doses
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
In moderate doses
• Tachycardia
• Drowsiness
• Mydriasis (dilation of pupil)
In high doses
• Metabolic acidosis
• Convulsions
• Retinal oedema
• Coma
• Respiratoy failure and death

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• Fatal dose: 60-250 ml
10-15 ml cause blindness
• Fatal period: 24-36 hrs
TREATMENT
• Stomach wash by 5% solution of sod.bicarbonate in
warm water.
• Convulsions- paraldehyde I. M
• Acidosis- 2gm sod. bicarbonate solution in 250 ml of
water.
• Hypokalaemia potassium salts.
• Cover the eyes from light.
• Symptomatic treatment
• Ehanol is considered as antidote for methanol.
• Ethanol has higher affinity for alcohol
dehydrogenase enzyme than methanol and hence
prevent th formation of formaldehyde and formic
acid.

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POSTMOTEM APPEARANCE
• Mucus membrane of stomach and intestine are
congested
• Lungs are congested with oedema
• Brain and its meninges are congested
• Kidney-tubular degeneration
• Eyes-degenerative changes in retina, optic disc.
• Liver-necrobiosis
MEDICOLEGAL IMPORTANCE
• Accidental poisoning
• Methanol mixed cheap,ellicit alcohol abuse
• Abuse of paint remover, lather dyes, windshield
washing fluids or ingeation of its vapours.