Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-02-20
! EXPERIENCE OF AN ARSENIC
| EATER

EXPERIENCE OF AN ARSENIC
EATER.
The director of the arsenic works
near Salzburgl, and an arsenic eater,
gives the following sketch of Lis ox,1
experience:
"At seventeen years of age, while
studying assaying, I had ,thth to dc
with arsenic, and was advised by my
teacher, NJ. Consch, professor o1
chemistry and mineralogy at Eislebcn
to begin the habit of arsenic eating
I quote the precise words he addressed
to tnc-'1 1t you wish to continue the
study Of assaying, and become here
after superintendent Of a factory,
more especially of an arsenic factory
in which position there are SO few, and
which is abandoned by so many, and
to preserve yourself from the fumes
which injurc the lungs of most if not
all, and to continuc to enjoy your Gus.
tomary health and spirits, and to
attain a tolcrably advanced age,
advise you. nav, it is absolutely ncces.
sary, that besides strictly abstaining
from spirituous liquors, you should
learn to take arsenic; but do not forget
when you have attained the ago Of fifty
years. gradually to decrease your dose,
till from the dose to which you have
become accustomed, you return to that
with which YOU began, or even less. ~
l have made trial of'my prcceptor's
prescription till now, the forty fifth
year ofmy age. The dose with which
I began, and that which l take at
present, inclosc; they are taken once
a day, early, in any warm liquid, sucl,
as coffee, but not in any spirituous
liquors. The doses sent were No, l,
original dose. three grains; No. 2,
present dose, twcaty three grains Of
pure white arsenic in coarse powder. I
About an hour after taking the first
dose [ | took the same quantity for
three MONTHS there followed slight
perspiration, with gripping phihs iii the
bowels, and, latter three or four hours, a
loose evacuation, this was followed by
a keen appetite, and a feeling Of excite.
mcnt. With the exception ofthc pain,
the same symptoms follow every in
crease of the dose. / subjoin, as a
caution, that it is not'advisablc to begin
arsenic eating before the age oftwelvc
OF after thirty years. Evil consequen.
ces only cnsus from long continued
interruption. Circumstances often
obligc me to 1cate il off for t*o or
days, and 1 feel only slight langtor
and loss Of appetite, and I resume
taking the arsenic in smaller doses.
On two occasions, at the carnes,
solicitations ofmy friends, I attempted
entirely to leave off arsenic. The
second time was in JANUARY 1855. ]
was induced to try it a second time
from belief that my first illness might
have arisen from some other cause
Or the third day of the second week
after leaving off the dose, I was attack
with taintness, depression Of sri'Ns
mental weakness, and a total loss o.
the little appetite still had; sleep also
entirely deserted me. On the fourth
day l had violent palpitation of Tho
heart, accompanied by profusc pcrspi
fatioh.
inflammation Of the lungs followed
and Mas laid up for hihe weeks, tlu
same as on the first OCCASION of Leaving
off the arsenic. tIad I not been bled
l should most likely, have died o
apoplexy. AS restorative; ! resumed
the arsenic eating in smaller doses ,and
with a firm determination never to be
seduced into leaving 1t off, except a.
Originally directed by my trcceptor
The result on both occasions were
precisely the same, and death woulc
certainly hare ehsued, had l not re
sumcd arcsenic eating.