New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-10-10
From the Commescia! Advertiser.
Poisonous effects OF Lead Pine

Poisonous effects OF Lead Pine.
Notwithstanding the many cautions which have
been published from time to time III relation 70
the use Of the lead pipe for conveying Croton wa
ter into our dwellings, ] am surprised to ilnd that
the danger to which the lives and health OF our
citizens arc exposed from this cause are very gen
orally overlooked or dsrcgardcd. Many suppose
that the small quantity of lead which is dissolved
by water conducted through such pipes cannot
produce any very dcIclcrlous consequences, and,
indeed, is too small to merit any serious notice or
consideration. But the physician who has stu
died the effects Of posons upon the animal ccQno-
my will tell YOU that thC3c minute doses, often
repeated, are far more injurious 10 the health than
large doses occasionally administered. 1t is not
from single dose Of caiolnel, for example, that
we dread the poisonous effects of mercury but
from small quantities, frequently administered
Since the Cro;on water introduced INTO
our city, have had frequent occasion. as ply
sican, to notice what mad no hesitation IN pro
nouncing the effects of lead upon the system IN
those who habitually made use Of the water coil
Quoted in pipes made Of tins nctai. Us very
common error to suppose that the symptoms pro
duccd hv small doses of such agent VIII nc
chiefly manifested upon The digestive organs )
whereas the nervous system feels It's influence III
a more especial manner, although every organ IN
/ the body becomes more or cSS affected. II IS.
indeed characteristic Of lead, IN common With
the other mncra! posons, to unite chemically
with the tissues Of the body thus forming part
of tc living structure The effect OF this com
hina,ion is the total destruction, III the pat where
il takes place, Of !hc power Of cficcnng those
changes which go to constitute organic ilie or
which are the usual result of this principle.
There is :, constant struggle gong Oh between
the vital force and the chemical acton OF the
poison. II hs is III small quantity or OF feeble
power, or the vital force is strong, then combHa-
ton takes place only i'll (. small degree. In some
cases the poison remains combined. without pro
ducing the death OF tho part. Where the guam
tty taken IS very large. destruction OF substance
occurs and is followed, 81 Il burn on the SKIN
would be- BY inflammation, and casting oil tho
dead by the living parts. But this OCCURS only III
| rare cases: IN general, y |rcat sf:iveng oil The
parts to w!iril the poison is applied takes place
the combination not totally destroying. but only
impeding the healthy functions. This goes on
quietly for weeks and months, and possibly IN
some eases even yea s. each month or year add
inr It's effect TO that Of t1c preceding, vet caV
ing no visible trace in the parts OF It's acton, TIL
finally the whole system becomes so saturated
with the poison that palsy and death cnsue.
Dr. Dana thinks that the poison once com
bined with the tissue is redissoyed By an excess
of the poison and the parts are thus affected with
a general softenng and pulpincss s. This h.
remarks, us not an inircquent trace OF disease,
which is found on dissection Of those who have
been supposed to have died from the effects Of
| Io,I Ercp, tho nf lead *
evident that we are DOT to look for marks of vio-
lent disease after death, bat rather for tfncken
| nCs hardenings, couractions. or great sottncss.H
| Lead is one of those agents which, when admin
stcred IN small doses and largely diluted, are ia
| ken up by the absorbent vessels, and thus nitro
! duccd into the blood. 1t is thus carried TO every
fibre Of the living body, combining with every or
Gan with which it comes III contact and I'M
peding the action of every part with winch 1t com
! bncS, bringing disease, with 4 long tram OF
anomalous symptoms, :" Till finally, before the
cause has been suspected. and while the sufferer
is still under the daily influence of that cause, the
deposited lead begins TO be redissolycd, general
soitenng of the vital organs takes place, and
death closes the laboratory of life"
The usual symptoms which have noticed, and
Which attribute 70 lead arc principally OF a
rheumatic character, occurring in different parts
of the body especially the back, Ions and limbs,
together with more or less headache, and gene
raj sensation of assitudc and debility. Motion;
and all exercise of al active kind arc lrksomc ;
the mental faculties arc often as languld as the
bodily functions; the appetite is less affected,
| though in some instances | have found 1t capri
cious. To those who arc already under the m
iluencc of this subtle poison as Dr. Dana has re-
marked, two remedies may be proposed, one
wholly on chemical principles the other on the
principle Of common sense. The last is TO alb
stain at once from the use Of lead water. The
first is drink daily, for some time, a small por-
ton OF sugarcsl water. rendered sour lemonade,
by oil of vitrol. This will dccomposc the COM
pound of lead with the tissues with which 1t may
come in contact. and form perfectly nsolublc
salt of lead, which is harmless. Under this
course the poison may probably be finally eradl-
Gated from the system.
In several instances where families have sul-
lcrcd from the effects of lead, and the timed
lead has been substituted for the pure lead pipes
which had previously served Tor the introduction
of water into their houses. these sypoms have
gradually disappeared, and they now ENJOY good
health. As prevention is far easier and cheaper
than cure, would it NOT be well for those about to
introduce tie Crolon INTO their houses TO procure
the aforementioned, or some other pipe of equal
safety If such were the general practice, am
certain that the Croton water would prove 4 tar
greater blessing TO our City than otherwise II will
MEDlCUS.
Is The ENcfANGF ilorEl. AT BALTIMORE i;
one of the very best houses iii America, having
in fact no superior among our first class cstab
hshmcns. Wehavc recently had an opportunity
f ,cstrr its merits and have never been bette