New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-09


1t is now hardly two months since the people
residing along that portion of the Waikiki valley
which lies in the western part of Orange county,
were attacked by disease which for some time
baffed the skill of the physicians they being at
lossato divine the cause The malady, it is true,
exhibited the most positive symptoms Of lead
poisoning, yet all the sufferers stoutly denied
using anything that could in their estimation have
been contaminated with lead, even in its mineral
condition. In some cases whole families were
stricken down, while in other cases only one or
two members of family were attacked. some
times the disease assumed violent form, and the
patients were relieved. To-day hundreds are
suffering from its Effects many of whom Will never
be able to do anything, and will in time waste
away and die, the victims of the terrible disease
The symptoms most prominent in these cases
have been obstinate constipation, severe pain in
the abdomen, nausea and persistent vomiting
collie, difficulty in voding urine, and in many in
stances the excavations being mingled with blood
pain and heat in the region of the kidneys cramps
and partial paralysis of the upper extremeties and
an anxious, gloomy expression of the countenance
The above are the symptoms which have been
present in greater or less degree of prominence
and severity in every case.
Professional men at once saw that these symp-
toms pointed to and were characteristic of lead
poison; but it was also observed that some or all
of them were encountered in other and far differ
ent forms of disease as in cotic1 enteriis (inam-
nation of the intestines,) h8maturia, (bloody
urne,) dysu1-Id, difficulty of voding urine,) and
other conditions of the system in which spasm,
nervous disorder and paralysis manifest them
selves. The only diagnostc symptom which,
regarded by itself, was conclusive as to the lead
poison, was the blue line at the margin of the
teeth, which has been present in almost every
case. The doctors were sorely perplexed, but
in about two weeks after the first violent cases
came under their notice they had, by careful
study traced the lead in the system, SO that there
was no longer any doubt on that point. 1t now
remained to ascertain the source from whence it
came.
After considerable research it was found that
the lead was conveyed into the stomachs of the
sufferers by bread and meal, and as a greater
part of those staples were manufactured at the
mill Of Mr.. Marsh at Phillipsburg, an investiga-
ton was at once made in that direction, and the
following facts were elected greatly to the sur
prise of every one, the miller himself included:
1t appears that Mr.. Marsh had gained an enyi
able notOrety 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 -four and meal. Aside
from this he exported largely, 80 that his mill,
which has four run of stone, was kept constantly
| going-by night as well as by day. One set of
these stones was set apart for his custom work
This was an old set, constantly needing
repairs, and large cavities frequently mani
| tested themselves which, instead of being
! filled up with the cement generally used
for that purpose, were filled with com
mon lead. Some of these holes were as large as a
hens egg, one, we are informed being as large as
| the palm Of mans hand. If, when filed the
| lead projected above the surface of the stone, it
was hammered down level. They were then adj
usted, 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 velocity detached particles of lead
from the stone and mingled them almost imper-
| ceptbly with the -four Each moment increased
the amount, so that to every pound of -four there
was enough 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 in the system of those who partook
of the aour
The lead in this form was comparatively harm.
less, but when fermented and subjected to the
baking process, it was Immediately transformed
into carbonate of lead the deadliest of all leaG
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 takeI
in such large quantities as to produce connte
state of action, hundreds would have died befor'
the cause could be discovered.
As soon as it became apparent that the diseas
spraDg from the bread of which the sufferers hat
partaken, Dr. Darras and Mr.. King, a very skillfu
chemist of Middleton, at once determined TO ana
lyze the -four. Samples were procured, and t
their establishment they found that the lea
could be discerned with the naked eye. Next
microscope revealed it beyond doubt; an
as a still further proof, it was subjected t
some six standard tests, each one shown
the presence of lead in large quantities. Ate
these tests, all the -four which had com
him. and the mill ceased running, but the mischie
was already done the seed had been sown and tn
fruit was coming forward at an alarming rate; tn
young and old were stricken down, those wn
were afflicted with any chronic disease being tn
greatest sufferers. OfcOurse panic was the resu
and the doctors were kept busy day and night.
A do not care to pail your readers with recital
u the terrible agOnes endured by these unfortuna'
e people but the scenes throughout radius OF fro
q twenty to thirty miles of the country were trul
heartrending. Only those who have suffered ca
. form any idea of the horror of the inward trt
~ which were consuming the patients, or the agoni
y ing cramps that contracted every muscle OF the
y weakened frames.
g. Fortunately the bakers of the place had pu
=. chased their -four from the Western States, or u
a disease would have spread to much greater e
of tent. Many of the grOcers, as well as priYa
:; families were in the habit of receiving their 81
III plies regularly from the mill, and ALL of coGr
~, ~ who used them were afflicted.
~ To-day have visited most of the leading PHI
- clans here, and append a tabular statement OF t
II number of cases treated by each, from the mldt
he of March to the present time;
p6 DR.. Dorrance ,40Br Bradner syere,'
he Dr. Johnson IS Dr. Wright about
id This only includes the region in the immedii
as vicinity, Middleton, and does not embrace Gosh
n and its environs; but / am informed that the
ed have been over 100 cases in that neighborhot
en- One of the sad cases hereis that of Col Wiokha
he justice of the peace, and his wife. He v
A probably never recover fully from
ed effects, and Mrs. Wickham, who has for
IT, long time been in delicate health IS vast
ist away to the grave under the influence
no this frightfnl poison. A well known employ
mt of the Erie Railroad Company has died from
uf effects. A child of DR.. Johnson has also d
cir This case was very peculiar one. 1t appe
md that the child had been fed upon the milk 0
new milk cow, which usually gave eight qua
oh of milk daily, About two months ago the el
rat was affected strangely, but at the time moth
ew was thought of its symptoms About this time
ZEN milk began to fail and no cause could be assign
nm DR.. johnson partook freely of cruel made from
70 milk of this COW and meal prepared at Mars
ed mill After taking it he yomited copiously,
The did not charge it to the Cruel The child be
ee fond of the Cruel, it was given to her, and a
tile eating it, she was seized with commissions, at
,;cb tervais and despite all the medical skill employ
,ew she died The meal was lead poisoned and so
-" the milk, for the COW was fed upon feed grount
ii Marshs mill The COW, having failed in milk,
oeyv sold and has been lost trace of. ..
dis. could fill two pages Of your paper. with fl
SaiI- which have obtained here to day in relatio
the this peculiar case of wholesale poisoning. l
rcd informed that large quantity of the poiso
nts -four has been sent to New York city to be m
rad in starch lift has been made into that article
,cci are safe but if spectators have placed it in
take market for sale we shall soon see the effects.
,be any rate it is the duty of the board of healt
For take some steps to ascertain II that Hour Is IN