The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-06-24
THE TRIBUNE.
Arsenic-Eaters in Austria and Eunga-

Arsenic-Eaters in Austria and Eunga-
~.
Correspondence of the York E,eniag Post.
FRANKFORT oN-THE- MAIN, GERMANY
May 26, 1869.
A short time ago public curiosity was
excited by the information that large
cask containing over hundred pounds
of arsenic had been stolen from a govern
ment chemical mandatory in Hungary,
and, naturally enough, a large increase in
the number of suicides and deaths by ac-
cldental poisoning was thought by MANY
would be shown in the statistics of the
present year. A reward for the discov-
cry of the thieves was offered by the
authorities, but of no avail, and the
probability is, if we may believe the state
ment Of Vienna me,.ical gentleman,
Or. Levy, that all the poisonous material
has long consumed.
This gentleman relates, in the Neue
Fres Presse. OF Vienna, stories about
whole colonies of arsenic eaters living in
Francis Joseph's dominions; besides
which, the feeding of horses with arsenic
Is very common practice, both In Aus
tria and Hungary, and, between the two
agencies, the caSk Of arsenic has doubtless
long since been consumed, without pro-
ducing any very alarming results.
An arsenicfed horse, as is we'll known
to the horse dealers, has an appearance
of great vitality and strength it has a
good appetite: its skin is smooth and
hne; froth flows from its mouth in album
dance, while its eyes are glowing and
iery. The arsenic is given to it either IN
the shape of powder strewn among. tie
hay, or it is tied in small linen bag to
the bit. The buyer of such horse is
liable to be greatly deceived in his bar
gain, and if the poison be not given to
the animal as before, the most careful
grooming and nutritious keeping cannot
prevent it from becoming emacIated the
muscles become slack, the eyes dull, the
joints shaky, and in short time real
skeleton has taken the place of the previ-
ously beautiful horse. By regular feed
ing with the arsenic however, the animal
becomes accustomed to large quantities of
it.
Turning to human arsenic-eaters, DIR.
Levy says that in Syria and Bohemia,
and parts Of the Riessenge, there are
families in which from time immemorial
he habit of arsenic eating has been
transmitted from father to son. The
,eople are always very silent about their
lanla, and only by mere accident can
ne become acquainted with their per
erted appetite. Like the horses, the
:senic eaters are strong and healthy look
lg, having finely blended delicate skin.
hlch is free from every kind of pimples
nd insects and remarkably exempt from
suptlve diseases. These people learn the
abit II their earliest youth, when about
quarter of grain OF white arsenic
)Xide OF arscnIcl measured by the eye
taken daily, the dose is gradually IN
reased with the age, and an Old arsenic
alter will only feel comfortable when he
as taken at least two or three grains
ally. They assert that the poison keeps
hem sprightly and healthy that it pro-
ects them against all chronic diseases
hat they have, especially after taking it,
very agreeable feeling about the chest;
'reathe freely, and have good appetite.
physicians who are called in to treat such
.rsenic-eating patients, without first being
informed of the habit, are liable to have |
unpleasant results. Incredible doses Of
nedlcants, as antlmony, mercury, and |
iuch like, may be administered without
producing the desired effect, while mar
,otic rememcdies produce symptoms to-
ally different from those observed with
lon-arsenIc-eating patent
The effect OF taking away the arsenic
rom an habltual arsenic-eater is similar
. that produced by the sudden depriva
ion of opium, tobacco or spirits, only
he effect is far more intense. The person
has deprived OF his stimulant becomes
melancholy, i'll tempered symptoms of
intestinal catarrh appear, often increas-
ng in such way that one can well be-
,eve he Is observing case ct slight ar
enic poisoning The only rene ly here is
rscnic. and if this be not given, the un-
ortunate man goes rapidly to the grave.
Sometimes the habit is acquired under
the cautious treatment of a physician.
The favorable influence of the poison
upon skin diseases leads to its prescrip-
ton in SMALL quantities, which are imper
ceptibly increased by the patient himself
until he becomes confirmed arse tic eater.
Such person cannot be cured at once,
but must be weaned from the disease as
he commenced t-gradually. The strange
habit is very widely spread among the
peasants Of Austria and Hungary, and
even in some parts of the German States.