Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-06-28


Is proof required2 "Acetic acid" says
Gorham in his Chemistry, lis transpa.
rent and colorIess liquid, OF very sour
and sharp taste, and Of pungent odor.-
1t is so caustic as TO excoriate (eat as 1t
were) the skin. 1t is infammabIe, and
takes fire on the application of fame"
Parkes says, in his Chemical Catechsm,
that tits very "pungent, acrid and volatile,
and corrodes animal substances" Is a
substance which thus coIrodeS or eats the
skin or flesh, any thing less than POI
son?
Orfila, distinguished French physi-
clan and chemist, In work on poisons,
has set down the acelic acid in his list of
what he called concentrated acids, of
whose effects on the human constitution he
gives the following account:
"lmmedialely after having swallowed a
concentrated acid, the following effects are
experienced "A very disagreeable acid,
burning taste; heat IN the throat and
stomach; acute pain in the throat, which
soon descends TO The bowels insupportable
fetor ofthe breath frequent risings; in
clination 10 vomI. abundant vomiting of
different colored mater, sometimes mixed
with blood, which reddens tincture ofturn.
sol like acids, aud produces sensation Of
bitterness ia the mouth; hiccough; con-
slipaton, but more frequently copious and
more or lees bloody stools; collie, or rath-
er such an acute pain in the belly, that the
weight OF even the mere linen is insupport-
able 10 the patient; these pains sometimes
extend to the chest difficulty of respira-
ton, anguish, pulse f eqlent and irregular;
burning thirst; drinks augment the pain,
and are soon vomited /; chIlls from time 10
time; the skin, an PARTICULAR Y the iferior
extremitIes, are almost as cold as ice cold
and clamy sweats: repeated and trunIeSs
efforts to void urine continual change of
position couvulsve movements OF the
face, lips aud muscles; considerable de-
preston of spirits; physiognomy little al
tered at first, but soon the hue becomes
pale or leaden the Intellectual faculties
preserve most frequently their powers
Ii is not rare to see the interior OF the mouth
and lips burned, thickened and filled with
white or black slough, which 10 seperat-
ing irrltate the patient, aad induce fa-
tiguing cough; the voice is then altered |;
there is sometimes painful eruption or
The skln.-Nnric acid, or aqaforlis, pro
duces also yellow spots upon the lips and
those parts Of the skin which it touches"
Vinegar, it is true, is this poisonous &C.
id diluted. II also contains some of the
IL. ~ ~
and the lauarc; together with gluten,
mucllage, and a little coloring matter
This, we say, Is It's constitution, whether
made of wine, cider, beer, sugaGor wood.
for science has found out that vinegar may
even be made from wood. But let it be
made from what substance il may, aud be
ever so much or 50 little diluted, 1t is win.
egar sill, and its basis is still the poison
Gus acetlc acid.
Now can such poison be fl for the hu-
man stomach2 No matter how small The
quantity. for though the strongest poisons
may be diluted yetthey are poisons still.
Is il possible for the tender lining mem.
brane olthis organ to be subjected loi cor
roding, caustic influences, without receiv,
ing more or less injury? Who that has
ever seen vinegar applied for consdera-
BILE time to the skin, and Witnessed its eli
fects, will believe, for one moment, that
they will be less striking, in the case frs
/ application to a membrane much more
susceptible
Aside from all this, however, there is
a strong suspicion resting on this liquid.
We have seen thai, generally speaking,
! il is the effect Of decomposition. Ii Is the
result of one more step IN the path to pu-
trefac!ion. The vinous change Is step
that way; bat the acetous change Is a
step fulhtr. Oae step more briggs u. to
the end of the course, even to putreflction.
Vinegar is, in truth, therefore, half cor
rupted substance; and is wendlng its way,
as fast as passible, to the great ocean Of
corruption Itself.
Another suspicion still. Vinegar. in
medical language, is seda.ivei that is,
! it lowers the ar.erisl action, and Weakens,
| for the time at least, the vital energies
Many an individual who was too corpu.
! lent. or who fancied herself so, has takea
vinegar to produce slender form. and
found it efttuaI. Can that which lowers
action, diminiShes nervous energy, aud
wastes the flesh, be wholesome!
Bat the snail quantity Of the poison
or corrosive principle, will still be talked
about, especially BY those who have been
trained TO lis. use. So for a long time wa:
the small quantity OF alcohol in beer, cider
and wine and flor similar reasons. Blu
science has taught Us diferenlly-sayins
nothing Of The truth or untru,h OF homo
oPathy Lei US learn to yield to truth il
practice, as well as in theory. Let u
learn 10 receive tha: which science, tht
! hanJmald OF truth and nature, tells us i
proper, and reject what she assures US i
Injurious Let Us learn TO obey God alh
er than man, or those pelverse appetite