Synonyms: Wood alcohol; methanol; carbinol
Inhalation: A slight irritant to the mucous membranes. Toxic effects exerted upon nervous system, particularly the optic nerve. Once absorbed into the body, it is very slowly eliminated.
Symptoms of overexposure may include headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, blindness, coma, and death. A person may get better but then worse again up to 30 hours later.
Ingestion: Toxic. Symptoms parallel inhalation. Can intoxicate and cause blindness. Usual fatal dose: 100-125 milliliters.
I believe I've heard of bootleggers adding wood alcohol to their moonshine and poisoning people. They thought that the wood alcohol would make their booze more potent.
I'm guessing that these Balinese were thinking the same thing.