Bulletin of Semashko National Research Institute of Public HealthBulletin of Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health2415-84102415-8429FSSBI «N.A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health»2389Научная статьяIMPACT OF METHYL ALCOHOL ON THE EYESIGHT (based on the medical press materials of early 20th century)EmelyanovaN. A-National Research Institute for Public Health151220154-524325014042022Copyright © 2015,2015The article provides a historical overview of some publications of Russian medical press of early 20th century. These publications report cases of blindness after consuming methyl (wood) alcohol. World medical practice in 1906 identified over 300 cases of intoxication from methyl alcohol. 45% of these resulted in death of the patients; the others lost their eyesight either completely or partially. Anti alcoholic measures adopted in Russia in 1914 were supported by the country’s ophthalmologists. On the pages of the “Vestnik Ophthalmologii” and the “Russian Doctor” were published some important materials that laid foundation to the study of blindness after consumption of methyl alcohol and other substitutes of alcohol. These problems were also in the focus of interest of foreign, in particular, American ophthalmologists. At the beginning of 20th century a professional study of intoxication from methyl alcohol began. In 2015 several Russian cities reported cases of intoxications from methyl alcohol that resulted in death and blindness of patients.alcoholismmethyl alcoholmethanolintoxicationblindness“Vestnik Ophthalmologii”алкоголизмметиловый спиртметанолотравленияслепота«Вестник офталмологии»1.Метиловый спирт. БМЭ. 3-е изд. т. 15. М., 1981. С. 108-110.2.Протокол 59-го заседания Общества глазных врачей в Москве 19 декабря 1906 г. Вестник офталмологии. 1907; 24(2): 274-276.3.Протокол 115-го годичного заседания Общества глазных врачей в Москве 27 января 1915 г. Вестник офталмологии. 1917; 34(1): 33.4.Чемолосов А.С. Разстройства зрения при отравлении метиловым (древесным) спиртом. Вестник офталмологии. 1912; 29(5): 352 - 367.5.Чистяков П.И. Два случая слепоты от древесного спирта. Вестник офталмолологии. 1912; 29 (12): 883 - 887.6.Чистяков П.И. Киндер-бальзам (Spiritus aromaticus), как причина амблиопии и слепоты. Русский врач. 1910; 6: 184-185.7.Яковлева А.А. Случаи потери зрения после употребления внутрь одеколона, денатуированного спирта и т. п. веществ, наблюдавшиеся в Петроградской глазной лечебнице. Вестник офталмологии. 1915; 32 (6): 277 - 304.8.Kuhnt H. Zur Kenntniss der acuten Methyalkohol-Intoxication // Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde. 1899; I: 38-43.9.Понарин А. Пойло из интернета // http://ngs24.ru/news/articles/2315653/.