By augmenting the drug's surface area, Rabinowitz had increased its exposure to air, allowing it to quickly escapetheheat and vaporize without burning.
Emergency rooms in Prince George's County, Maryland, filled up Saturday by people looking to escapetheheat, said Fran Phillips, deputy secretary for the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The stench from overflowing toilets and drainpipes made some cabins uninhabitable and many people slept in corridors, while others took bedding out into the open to escapetheheat and foul smell.