The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-01

BY bread and meal and as greater part Of those
staples were manufactured at the mill of a Mr..
Marsh nc PhilpsDurg, 90 investigation was At once
made in that uirecnop, and the following fao,s were
ehclteS, great to the surprise Of every one, the
IL appears that Mr.. Marsh had gained an enViablo
tSSt he farmer for many mss sround T vsTs n the
habit OF brinl1ng their wheat and TO his mill TO
be made into flour and meal. Aslue from this no
exported largely, so that his mIll, which has four
run of stone, was kept constantly going, by night
well as by day. One set of these stones was set
apart for his 'eustOm" work This was an Old set,
constantly needing repairs and large cavities fire.
quontlY nenlles ed themselves, which, instead Of
that purpose, were filed with common cad Some
of these holes were as large q hens egg, one. we
are informed being as largo as the palm OF man's
hand. It, when led, the lead projecte above the
surlace OF tie stone a was hammered do yn level.
They were then adjusted the grain was in,
until a very high tate of speed was attained Oh
course the att iuon caused by tins We ociy detached
particles OF lead from the stone, and mingled them
almost imperceptibly with the dour Zach moment
Increased the amount, 20 that to every voInd of
flour there was IOuPi lead impaired TO make small
buckshot. With the enormous business of Mr.
Marsh. The r, ader can imagine how mucn lead was
being distributed throughout tho surrounding coun-
try, 20 be agsorbed INTO the systems of those who
partook OF the flour
The lead IN tn form was comparatively harmless
but when fermented and subjected TO the baking
process It immediately transformed INTO carbO-
nate OF ead-the deadlest Of all lead pOisons Bread
of this kind was but little better than broad spread
with white lead a substitute for butter.
Were II not Tor the TACT that the lead taken IN
such large quantities as TO produce counter OF
action, hundreds would have died before tho cause
could b. discovered.
As soon as 1t became apparent that the disease
spTaDg from the bread of winch the sufferers had
partaken, DIR Darance, and Mr. hing q very skIIl.
full chemist of Middleton, aJ once determined to
analy re the flour. Samples were procured, ahd to
their astonnment they found thas the iead could be
discerned with the naked eve. Next, a microscope
revealed IT beyond doubt, and as 4 still further
proof 1t was subjected to some six standard tests,
each showing the presence OF lead large uuan-
ttes After these t. SITS all the -four which nad come
from Marsh's mil was quickly returned TO him and
the mill ceased running: but the mischief was already
done, the seed had been sOwn and the fruit was
coming forth at an alarming rate; the ,oung and
old were stricken down, those Who were afflicted
with any chrome osease being the greatest sufferers
OF course panic was the result and the doctors
we're kept busy day and night. do not care 70
pain readers with recital Of the terrible ago.
nies endured by these unfortunate people but the
scenes throughout radius of from twenty to thirty
| miles OF the country truly heartrending Only
! those who have suffered form any IDEA of the
! horrors, the inward fires whcn were consuming the
patients, or the agOnlZng Gran ps that contracted
! every muscle of their weakened frames.
| Fortunately. the bakers of the place had pur-
chased their flour from the Western states, or the
disease would nave spread to a much greater xtent.
Many OF the Procers, "a well as private famiIes,
larry from the mil, and, OF course, all who used
| them were afflicted, .
! o-day have visited most of the leading physi-
| clans here, and append tabular statement of the
number OF treated by each from the middle OF
| March to the pre- 'ent time:- .-
L . LOW
d. Everett .......... 81 DR.. Wright about. Az
| DR.. Johnson. ........, ,3S -
| Dr. Bradner (seyerel. 81 Total. 2lg
This onlv includes the region IN the mmed ate
| vicinity o. Middleton and does not embrace Goshen
ana lts envnons but am informed that there have
| been over 100 cases in that neghDorbood. One OF
the cad cases here is that of Colonel Wickham Jus
ice Of the Peace, and his wife He will probably
| never recover fully from the effects, and Mrs. Wick
ham, WHO has for long time been in delicate health
Is wasting away to the grave under the influence Of
tins trIghtful Iolson. wel-known EN- owe of the
HF1 y a nm hos nInH frnnN rfQ 0H
child of DR. johnson has aso died, This case was
very peculiar one. II appears that the Guild had
been fed upon the milk OF q new mich COW which
usually gave, "a quarts Of milk dallY About two
moiSs ago tHe child was affected strangely, but al
the time nothing was thought of its symptoms.
About this time the milk began to fail, aud NJ
cause could be assigned DR.. johnson partoOl
L eey of cruel made from the milk of this COW anC
meal prepared at Marsh's mill. After taking 1t he
vomiied copiouy out did not charge 1t to the cruel
The child being fond OF the Cruel it given to her
and after eating it she was seized with conYu ons
at intervals and despite al the medical skill en-
ployed, died. The meal was lead poisoned and SC
was the milk for the COW was ted upon feed grounC
at Harsh's mill. The COW, having JAILED of milk
was Sold and has been lost trace OF.
coulo ill pages of your paper with facts which
have obtained to-day relation to this peculiar cast
OF wholesale poisoning l am informed tuat a large
quantity OF the poisoned flour has been sent to New
| York city to be made INTO starch. Ii il has beer
made INTO that article we are safe but if Speculation
have placed 1t in the market tor sale shall soon
see the effects AT any rate il is the dutv of IN,
Board of Health to take some steps to ascertain i
that -four is in the market now. There are sever
cases OF poisoning by this flour in New York city
| to-day.
Early in the morning I leave for the mill to SO,
the miller and obtain additional facts IN relation Il
this sad affair; Scores OF men who few weeks age
were IN the full enjoyment OF health and strength
ruined for hie and totter to and fro, their faces
having the appearance of OrY parchment their eyei
| sunken and enclrcled by dark ring their lips blue
their muscles contracted, and their limbs distorted
Or them TO move is intense pam; relapse 10 lows re
lapse till in time they succumb to the effects of TIM
1 IN Y Il~gIl