The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-06-15
FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY.


Two Hundred and Thirteen PoraOns
Poisoned i'm Middleton, Now York
The Poison Caused by the Miller
Mending n Set of stones with Lead.
From the Now York Tribune, June IL
Itis now nearly two mouths since the
people residing along that portion of the
Waikiki Valley which lies in the western
part of Orange County, were attacked by
a disease which for some time balod the
skill of the physicians, they being at q loss
to divine the cause. The malAdy, it is
true, exhibited the most positive symptoms
of lead poisoning, yet all the sufferers
stoutly denied having used anything that
could in their estimation, have been con.
taminated with lead, even in its mineral
condition. In some cases whole families
were stricken down, while in others only
one or two members of family were at.
tackled. Sometimes tho disease assumed
violent FORM and caused death; and again
it was of milder type, and the patients
were relieved. To-day hundreds are suffer.
ing from its effects, many of whom will
never be able to do anything, aud will in
time waste away and die, tho victims of
this terrible disease
The symptoms most prominent in these
cases bave bcen obstinate constipation, Sc
we're pain i'll the abdomen, nausea and
persistent vomiting, collie difficulty in void.
ing urine, and in many instances the evac.
uations being mingled with blood pain aid
heat in tho region of the kidneys, cramps
aud partial paralysis of the upper extrem-
tiles and an anxious, gloomy expression OF
countenance. The above are the symptoms
which have been present in a greater or
less degree of prominence and severity in
every case,
Professional men at once saw that these
symptoms pointed to aud were character.
istic of lead poison; but it was also Oh
served that some or all of them were en-
countered in other aud far different forms Of
disease, as in colicd eRterHiS inflammation
of the intestines), hCematurd (blUoly urine)
dySurid difficulty in voidng urine), aud
other conditions of the system in which
spasm, nervous disorder and paralyss
manifest themselves. The only diaenostic
symptom which, regarded by itself, was
conclusive as to the lead poison, was the
blue line at the margin of the teetf, which
has been presented in almost every case
The doctors were solely perpleXed, but in
about two weeks after the first violent
cases camo under their notice they had, by
careful study, traced the lead in the sys.
TEN so that there was no longer any doubt
on that point. 1t now remained to ascer-
tain the source from whence it came.
After considerable research it was fonnd
that the lead was conveyed into tho stom.
achs of the sufferers by bread and meal
aud as greater port of those staples were
manufactured at the mill of Mr.. Marsh
at Phillipsburg, an investigation was at
once made in that direction, and the follow
ing facts were elcited greatly to the
surprise of every one, the III Her himself in
cludod:
1t appears that Mr.. Marsh had gained an
enviable notoriety for the superior quality
of his -four, and that the farmers for many
miles around were in Ito habit of bringing
their wheat and corn to his mill to be made
into -four and meal Aside from this he
exported largely, SO that his mill, which
has four run of stone, was kept constantly
going-by night as well AZ by day. One
set of these stones was set apart for his
"custom work. This was an old set, cou.
stantly needing repairs, aud large cavities
frequently manifested themselves, which,
instead of being filled up with the cement
generally used for that purpose, were filed
with common lead. Some of these holes
were as large as ahen's egg, one. we are
informed, being as large as the palm OF q
mans hand IT, when filled, the lead pro-
jected above the surface of the stone, Il
was hammered down level. Those were
then adjusted the grain was run in and the
motion began and was gradually increased
until very high rate of speed was attained
OF course the attrition caused by this We
locity detached particles of lead from the
stone and mingled them almost impercepti-
bly, with the flour. Each moment increased
the amount, so that to every pound Of flour
there was enough lead impaired TO make a
small buckshot. With the enormous busi,
ness of Mr.. Marsh, the reader can imagine
how much lead was being distributed
throughout tho surrounding couptry, TO
those who partook of the -four. y a.,.
The lead in this form was comparatively
harmless, but when fermented and sub
jected to the baking process it was imme-
diately transformed in carbonate of lead
the deadliest OF all lead poisons. Bread
of this kind was but little better than bread
spread with white load as a substitute for
butter. o..aesrsft .t.r. .l.-Jsi
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
discovered. s.fIr .-I lIrfu b.,
AS soon as it became apparent that the
disease sprang from the bread Of which
the sufferers had partaken, DR.. Darrance
and Mr.. King, a very skllllul chemist Of
Middleton, at once determined to analyze
the -four. Samples were procured, and ia
their astOnshment they found that the
lead could be disccrned With the naked
eye. Next, microscope revealed It be-
yond doubt, and as a still further proof
it was subjected to some six standard tests,
each one showing the presence OF lead in
large quantities. After these tests, all the
flour which had come from Marsh's mill
was Immediately returned to him, ard 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. young aud Old were stricken
down, those who were afflicted with any
chronic disease being the greatest sufferers,
OF course q panic was the result, and the
doctors were kept busy day and night, !
do not care to pain your readers with re-
cital of the terrible agonies endured by
these unfortunate people, bnt the scenes
throughout radius Of from twenty to
thirty miles of the country were truly
heart,reuding. Only those who have sut
fered can form any idea Of the horrors, the
inward fires which wero consuming the
patients, or the agoniziug cramps that con-
uacted every muscle of their weakenej
frames.
Fortunately the bakers Of the place had
purchased their anur from the Western
States, or the disease would have spreal
D., a .,,,oh s,ra,far Nanv ~ the