Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-04
Lead Poisoning.
over 500 People in Orange Co., N.Y. Poisoned
BY LE.3D MIXED WITH FLOUR.

! About TWO months ago. the peopia of Md
dieton, IN that part Of aikiA Valley in tn,
eastern rt OF Orange Co., n. Y, we're at
tackled with a virulent disease which oatiied To,
,klil Of the physicians, and appeared to exhibit
the most positive symptoms OF lead poisoning
yet the sufferers denied that they had eaton
any thing contaminated WITH lead. In many
cases the patients died, and great mum Del
have their constitutions ruined for life, and vii
waste away victims OF this malady.
Ihe physicians were very much puzzled &
determine IA cause OF the disease, the only
symptom whlcn was regarded IS conclusive ths
lead was the prIuclp4I Cause, was the blue line
al the margin of tae teeth which Was present
IN almost every case. After patient study and
InveslIge lIOu they became convince that The
malady was caused 10y lead IN the system, anc
tEey Immediately directed their efforts to as
ceI tain nov Il was conveyed there.
After considerable research il was found that
The lead was conveyed into the stomachs OF
the sufferers BY bread and meal, aud as ,
greater part of those staples we're manufactur ed
- the Mi. OF MIR. Marsh, at Phlupsburg, an
investigation vas al once maue in nat direction
and tue following fac,s were ELECTED, greatly &c
Lhe surprise OF every one, the miller himself In
cluded
Ii appears thas MIR. Mlrsn had gained al
envIable notorlety for the superior quality oil
ais hC4r, and that the farmers Tor many miles
around were IN the habIt of bringing their
wheat and 10 MS mill to be made into
-four and meal. Aside from this he exported
largely, so that his mill. which four run OF
stone, vas kept constantly goiDg-by night as
well as 10y day. One set OF these stones was
set apart fr custom work. TINS was an
OLD se', constantly needing repairs, and large
cavities frequently manifested themselves, which
Instead OF being lied up with the cement gen
eTaily used tor that purpose, were filled with
common lead.
some of these holes were large as a hen s
egg, ons. We are informed, being large as
the palm of d mans hand Ii, when filled, the
ead projected above the surface OF the stone,
il was hammered down level. They were then
adjusted. the gram run q, ana the motion be-
gan and was gradually increased, until very
nigh rate OF speed attained. OF course
the attrition caused by this velocity detached
particles OF lead from the stone anu mingled
almost imperceptloly with the -four. Every
moment increased the amount, so that to every
pound of flour there was enough lead impaired
10 make u small DuckshoG.
With the enormous business of Mr.. Marsh,
the Reader can mag inc how much lead was be-
ing distributed throughout ths surrounding
country, to be absorbed into the systems of
those VINO partook OF the flour.
The Lead IL tits form was comparatively
harmless, out when iermented and subjected TO
the baking process i, Immediately trans
formed into carbonate OF lead-the deaGh hest
OF all lead pOisons. Bread of tins kiud was
but little better than bread spread with white
lead as substitute for butter.
Were it not for the fact that the lead was
taken il such large Quantities as TO produce
counter state of action, hundreds would
nave Gisd before tn cause could have been dis
covered.
Samples OF the -four were then analysed by
skilful chemists, who found that lead could
no. only be discovered in large quantities,
but in many cases could be seen by the naked
eye.
as soon as these facts beo oame known, a
general panic wes the result. the mill ceased
running those who had Obtained -four of Mr..
Marsh returning 1t TO him, but the seeds OF
poison had already been sown at an alarming
rate through a radius of from twenty to thirty
miles.
In the town and Immediate vicinity OF Mid
dleton 2l3 Cases of this malady have happened,
besides 100 more at Goshen, few miles Oh,
The m0st heart-rending details are given OF the
suffering OF the people az these places. A
"a eat many children have died. Scores OF men
who a lew weeks ago were in the full ENJOY
ment of health anG strength, are ruined for life,
and totter to and fro, their faces having the
appearance OF dry parchment their eyes
sunken and encircled 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 TO the effects of this fearful NAL
ady.