Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-07
Terrible Lead Poisoning Case in Orr
ange County, N. Y.-Over 800 PeO-
pie Poisoned by Lead Mixed in
Flour.

About two months ago the people of
Middleton, in that part of Waikiki Valley in
the eastern part of Orange County, n. Y,
were attacked with virulent disease which
baffled the skill of the physicians, and ap-
peared to exhibit the most positive Symp-
toms of lead poisoning, yet the sufferers
denied that they had eaten anything con-
taminated with lead. In many cases the
patients died, and a great number have
their constitutions ruined for life, and will
waste away as victims of this malady.
The physicians were very much puzzled
to determine the cause of the disease, the
only symptom which was regarded as con-
elusive that lead was the primal cause, was
the blue line at the margin of the teeth,
which was present in almost every case.
After patient study and investigation they
became convinced that the malady was
caused by lead in the system, and they i'm
mediately directed their efforts to ascertain
how it was conveyed there.
After considerable research it was found
that the lead Was conveyed into the stom-
achs of the sufferers by bread and meal,
and as a greater part of those staples were
manufactured at the mill of a Mr.. Marsh,
at Philipsburg, an investigation was at once
made in that direction, and the following
facts were eiCitvd, greatly TO the suriorise of
1t appears that M Marsh had gained an
enylable notorlety for the superior quality
of his flour, and that the farmers for many
miles around were in the habit of bringing
their wheat and corn to his mill to be made
into flour and meal Aside from this he
exported largely, so that his mill, which
was four run of stone, was kept constantly
gOing-by night as well as by day. One set
of these stones was set apart for "custOm"
work. This was an old set, constantly
needing repairs, and large cavities frequent
" manifested themselves which, instead of
being filed up with the cement generally
used for that purpose, were filled with com
mon lead. Some of these holes were as
large as hens egg, one, we are informed,
being as large as the palm of a mans hand.
If, when filled, the lead projected above the
surface of the stone, it was hammered down
level. They were then adjusted, the grain
was run in, and the motion began and was
gradually increased, until a very high rate
of speed was attained. OF course the at
triton caused by this velocity detached par
tiCles of lead from the stone and mingled
them almost imperceptibly with the -four
Every moment increased the amount, so
that to every pound. of -four there was en-
Ough lead impaired to make small buck
shot. With the enormous business of Mr.
Marsh, the reader can imagine how much
lead was being distributed throughout the
surrounding country, to be absorbed into
the systems Of those who partook of the
-four.
The lead in this form was comparatively
harmless, but when fermented and subjected
to the baking process it was Immediately
transformed into carbonate of lead-the
deadliest of all lead poisons Bread of this
kind was but little better than bread spread
with white lead as a substitute for butter
Were it not for the fact that the lead was
taken in such large quantities as to produce
a counter state of action, hundreds would
have died before the cause could be dis
covered.
Samples of the flour were then analyzed
by skillful chemists, who found that lead
could not only he discovered in large guam
titles, but in many cases could be seen by
the naked eye. As soon as these facts be-
came known, general panic was the re-
suit, the mill ceased running, those who had
obtained -four of Mr.. Marsh returned it to
him, but the seeds of poison had already
been sown at an alarming rate through q
radius of from twenty to thirty miles.
In the town and immediate vicinity of
Middleton 213 cases of this malady have
happened, besides 100 more at Goshen, a
few miles off Tho most heart-rending de-
tails are given of the suffering of the peo-
pie at these places, A great many children
have died. Scores of men, who few weeks
ago were in the full enjoyment of health
and strength, are ruined for life, and tOtter
to and fro, their faces having the appear
ance of dry parchment; their eyes sunken
and encirced by dark ring; their lips blue,
their muscles contracted and their limbs
distorted; for them to move is intense pain;
relapse follows relapse, till in time they
succumb 70 the effects Of this fearful NAL
ady.