The Nevada Democrat., 1861-06-01
Arsenic Eatlng-InterestIng Facts.

@AADN@-@C N~~-~-~~t1
Notwithstanding the intelligence Of cur
people, and the great danger to pc appre-
hended from the free use Of 80 poisonous O
drug, IL has been asserted that arsenic eat
ingis practlced to great extent in the
United States, and again stOutly denied.
The possibility of the existence Of such
habit Is sufficient to rouse the attention of
those engaged in criminal suits. If 1t be
generally acknowledged that arsenic can
be taken daily, In increasing quantities,
without danger to life, the testimony as to
its presence and as to the quantity necessa-
ry'to produce death in a given case. is like
ly to grow complicated ;for, as such a prac-
tice becomes settled, the demands Of the ap.
petite increase, aud the capacity for receiv-
ing the poison without immediate i'll effects
enlarges, so that what would contribute 10
the enjoyment Of one would prove fatal to
the other. 'A = y >'a s'' ''''' -
The tendency of the drug when taken in
small doses, is pleasantly to excite the rhervl
oGssystem, aud those habituated to its use
assert, like tobacco che%ers, that so far
from being deIeterious, it rather improves
the health. Marked effects are said to be
sometimes produced on persons of lax fiber,
restoring to them compact form, through
the action of the digestive and respiratory
organs, and of the skin. 1t will be remem-
bered that the death of a young girl was
chfohicled short time ago, who had taken
the poison to purify her complexion.
Arsenic eaters are often met with among
the lower orders 10 the Austrian provinces,
and among the peasantry of Switzerland.
They are ruddy, TO all appearance healthy,
and are said to live to an advanced age.
One Of them, named TRAINER, hunted The
Chamois with unfaillng activity and success
until at the age eighty-one years, fall
from a high cliff killed him. The hunters
say that arsenic Is an assistant TO their
lungs while running, leaping, and scram.
bling over the rocks and up the steep as
cents of the mountains. They begin to
take 1t in the form of the white oxide, in
doses varying from one-thirtieth to one-ff-
teenth of a grain, gradually increasing to
Quantity which seems Incredible. A man
at Sturzburg took from twelve to fifteen
grains daily. The superintendent Of an ar.
senic factory, forty-fVe years of age, and
in good health, communicated tle follow
ing facts He said that when q young man
he was told by German chemist of some
eminence that If he wished to remain per-
manently in the business without endanger-
ing his life, he must accustom himself by
degrees TO the Internal administration of
arsenic. He had followed this advice until
he was able to swallow twenty-five grains
daily. AT the request Of his friends he had
several times endeavored to conquer the
habit, but suffered so severely from inHam-
nation of the lungs in consequence, that he
was forced to resume 1t to save his life. He
said that many arsenic eaters, 10 advanced
life, on attempting to break off the habit,
die suddenly from apoplexy that, for him
eelf, he should follow carefully the instruc-
tions Of bis first preceptor, aud diminish his
allowance as regularly aud cautiously as he
had originally increased it.
Arsenic is sometimes given to animals,
with the same apparent effects. Old and
worn out horses are thus said to have been
almost rejuvenated. N
The body of the arsenic eater becomes so
completely impregnated that many years
after burial il has been found so we'll pre-
served rs to be easily recognizable by
friends.
It will be seen that the devotees of this
habit claim that it is quite as useful, and
with proper caution, attended With as little
.sata 20 20 si1s : ic, frri s.