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

E.AfE.k1ENCE OT AN AKS EMU
EATER.
The director Of the arsenic works
near Salzburyh, and an arsenic eater,
gives the following sketch of his own
experience:
"At seventeen years Of age, while
studying assaying, l had much to do
with arsenic, and was advised by my
teacher, NJ. Consch, professor OF
chemistry and inineralogy at Eislcben,
TO begin the habit Of arsenic eating.
I quote the precise words he addressed
to me- II you wish to continue the
study OF assaying, and become here
after superintendent Of q factory,
more especially of an arsenic factory,
in which position there arc so few, and
which is abandoned by so many, and
to preserve yourself from the fumes
which injurc the lungs of most it not
all, and to continue to enjoy your Gus
tomary health and spirits, and to
attain \ tolcrably advanced age, l
advise you. nav, il is absolutely neces-
sary, that besides strictly abs'ainibg
from spirituous liquors, YOU should
learn to take arsenic; but do not forget
when you have attained the age 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. y
l have made trial ofmy prcceptor's
prescription till now, the torty.fifth
year ofmy age. The dose with which
l began, and that which l take at
present, inclosc; they arc taken once
a day, early, in any warm liquid, such
as coffee, but not in any spirituous
liquors. The doses sent were No, l,
original dose. three grains; No. 2,
present dose, twenty three grains OF
pure white arsenic in coarse powder.
About all hour after taking the first
dose { took the same quantity for
three mon,hs,) there followed slight
perspiration, with gripping pains in the
bowels, and, after three or four hours, a
loose evacuation, this was followed by
a keen appetite, anda feeling of excite,
mcnt. With the exception ofthc pain,
the same symptoms follow every in
crease of the dose. I subjoin, as a
caution, that it is not advisable to begin
arsenic eating before the age oftwclve
or after thirty years. Evil conscqucn.
ces only cnsue from long continued
|interruDt;on. Circumstances often
oblige me to leave it off for two or
days. and I feel only slight languor
and loss of appetite, and / resume
taking the arsenic in smaller doses.
On two occasions, at the earnest
solicitations ofmy friends, ] 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 splits
mental weakness, and total loss o1
the little appetite still had; sleep also
entirely deserted me. On the fourth
| day l had violent palpitation Of the
heart, accompanied by profusc pcrspi
ration.
inflammation of the lungs followed
and was laid up for nine weeks, tx
same rs on the first oc casion Of leaving
off the arsenic. Had I not been blcd
l should most likely, have died o1
apoplcSy. AS restorative; ] resumed
the arsenic eating in smaller doses ,and
with a firm determination never to be
scduced into leaving it off, except as
originally directed by my Preccptor
The result on both occasions were
precisely the same, and death would
ccrtainly have ensucd, had l not re-
! sumcd arcscnic eating.