Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-06-29
is RHUBARB PoIsoNousI

This question has been much mooted one
time and another. One of the prominent
constituents OF the plant, giving in its pecul-
lar pungent flavor, is oxalio acid, most dead
ly poison. This question is, whether the
small quantities in which it would be taken,
in the pie-plent. can produce any injurious
results. The U. S. Dispensatory thus speaks
of it:
"Qxalic acid taken into the blood in any
combination is highly dangerous. Even dis
solved in twenty times its weight in water,
it operates as deadly poison, causing death
by acting on the brain, spinal marrow and
hear. 1t has strong affinity for lime, and
when they come in contact they combine,
forming a particle of oxalic OF lime, which
cannot be decomposed in the human system,
and nothing but an abscess can throw it out.
Lime in dissolved state, is always in the
blood. and if oxalic acid enters there. they
are sure to combine, forming small gravel
stone, whice cannot pass through the capillary
circulation. II particle of oxalic of lime is
stopped in the capiilaries anywhere, it does
mischief. and if it stops in the lungs. lin
gering consumption is the result"
The n. Y. Farmers Club has discussed the
subject considerably, and Solon Robinson,
the Tribune reporter, has brought down up
on his head the wrath of the " rhubsrb wine
swindlers for talking some plain English
about their operations. AT a late meeting Of
the Club, Mr.. P. T. @ iinn expressed his full
agreement in all that Mr.. Robinson had done
in the matter of the wine, - but could not
believe that the stalks, when used for culin-
AIRY purposes, contain enough oxalic acid to
make it dangerous to eat piece Of pie" He
had eaten it for years without Injury.
Perhaps aud perhaps not" replies Mr..
Robinson. - You may Withstand the dam
ger Of taking small doses of this ind OF acid
with your robust constitution, With my del
icate one, and dyspeptic habit, i cannot eat
rhubarb withour serious inconvenience
Some years ago I used to eat it freely. l
now believe it caused my teeth to decay most
rapidly. Some persons can take rum. tobacco
arsenic, opium, and not suffer seriously from
these polsons, which would kill me, and so
would free use of rhubarb. certainly shall
not use it rs wine"
! On the other hand, the writer OF this has
found that with his own dedicate constitu-
/ lion and dyspeptic habit" a little rhubarb,
now and then, has most marked and ben8h-
cial effects. But a iihs more produces evil.
T Its injurious effects upon the teeth, and its
strongly corrosive and softening powers up
on the animal Tissues cannot be doubted.
The less people use Of it, particularly those.
Of feeble health or delicate constitutions, the
/ better it will undoubtedly be for them.
While everything around ua has progress
ed. he AIT Of killing our fellow creatures
seems alone to have remained immoyabe dur
| ing the last century. la the time Of Marshal
SAKE each man that was killed in battle rep
resented quantity Of bullets equal to his
own weight. Notwithstanding the invention
Of riAed guns the proportion remains about
the same. Al Solierno, for example. the
Ausuians fred 8 100000 musket shot, while
the number Of killed among the French was
but 1000. and OF the wounded 10, 900. Thus
man was hit every 700 shots, and one kill.
ed 42oo- Paris Popr,
/ Nothing is SO con,emp.ible as that adecia-
ton of wisdom which some display. by uni
verssl ircredulitv.