Answer me this then.
Is it an urban myth or does home-made cider really make you blind if consumed in major quantities?

I was told that as a teenager and I've been a bit wary about cider ever since.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:24, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

I wouldn't have thought it does
not any more than any other booze at least
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:26, Reply)

Something in it which destroys the optic nerve
Like I say, I've never been quite sure whether this is true or not.

I suppose I could look it up but that's a lot of effort.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:28, Reply)

methanol
The concern is due to the presence of methanol (wood alcohol), an optic nerve poison, which can be present in small amounts when fermenting grains or fruits high in pectin. This methanol comes off first from the still, so it is easily segregated and discarded.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:30, Reply)

That's a different answer to the one I've just found.
Apple pips contain minute traces of Cyanide (it says) and by scoffing enough the Cyanide damages the optic nerve.

Although you need to scoff immense quantities for this to happen.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:36, Reply)

I think the methanol explanation is more likely
I've heard about the cyanide in apple pips thing before and you would need vast vast quantities.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:38, Reply)

I think you're right
Concentrated Cyanide kills by destroying the central nervous system, but you'd need a hell of a lot of it via the medium of cider.

To go blind by scoffing cider you'd have to somehow bypass death by cirrhosis.

I feel liberated and able to try raw cider, uninhibited by assumed knowledge from my youth.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 21:54, Reply)