This report describes the presence of a substance giving the color reactions of methyl alcohol in the tissues of a young girl dying of diabetes mellitus complicated by acidosis and coma. As far as the authors are aware, such a finding has not previously been reported.
The circumstances surrounding the death did not permit an orderly elicitation of the facts. This explains the gaps in the evidence needed to fulfil all the criteria for an absolute diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The facts, however, are adequate to support such a diagnosis.
REPORT OF CASE
A white girl aged 15 was admitted to a hospital at 1: 30 a. m. in stupor. The father stated that for the past few weeks the girl had been losing weight, although she had been eating fairly well. About one week before admission to the hospital she had consulted a physician because her menses had not