Acute poisoning caused by ingestion of ethylene chlorohydrin.

It is thought of interest to. report a fatal case of poisoning caused by the ingestion of ethylene chlorohydrin. Cases of poisoning by this substance through the gastro-intestinal tract have not previously been recorded except for two deaths from drinking a solvent mixture containing 25% of ethylene chlorohydrin (Guithert, 1944). Ethylene chlorohydrin (glycol chlorohydrin, chloroethyl alcohol), CH2Cl-CH2OH, is a colourless mobile liquid, with an odour resembling that of a mixture of alcohol and ether. The chlorohydrins or halohydrins are derived from dihydric and polyhydric alcohols, in which the halogen atom replaces a hydroxyl group; they are stable compounds. Ethylene chlorohydrin is generally obtained by the action of hypochlorous acid on ethylene. It has an extensive field of application; it is used as an intermediate product in the preparation of many chemical compounds as an industrial solvent, in the manufacture of a number of insecticides, as a fixative in the colour printing of textiles, for degreasing machinery, and in the treatment of potatoes, particularly sweet potatoes, before sowing in order to hasten germination.