The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-28

that she commonly used up one basin in
season for this purpose. How much In
jury the partaker receives we do not know,
but SO much has been said Of the effects Of
metallic poisoning, even in small though
long continued doses, that we should like
TO be assured OF safety. Professor YOU
mans thinks it o small matter, but I find
that many medical authorities disagree
with him. One Of the latter says: 1t
ought to be known to housekecpers that
acid, fatty, saline, and even albuminous
substances may occasion collie, vomiting,
etc, after having remained some time In
tin vessels
"We sec that the inner surface of the
tin can is disColOred after having been
used for fruit, and VIC find that the tlnvors
Of the more delicate fruits are injured
when they have been kepttn tin cans, out
whether the acid acts after the expulsion
ofthe free oxygen, or only during the can
ming process, we do not know.
"Zinc is more readily oXldized than
tin, and yet the caps OF some OF our glass
cans arc made ofthat substance. .
MANY, fnot all, the tin cans arc freely
soldered with lead, and 1t seems inevitable
that the usual galvanic action must result
when they are filled with IN acid
~ have no desire 10 raise Il false alarm;
indeed, should be much gratified to learn
that such use of tin cans is perfectly
safe, since many depend on them for their
canned fruit. ......
If the amount Of tin that may enter
the system, us u result Of its domestic use,
IS not likely to prove injurious, the queS.
tons arc narrowed down to the purity Of
the article used, aud tho actual results Of
using the various cans prepared for our
market.
N had an opportunity recently to make
some inquiries of Prof Edwards, Of the
'Womanfs Medical College OF the New
York Intirmary,' and he said that the tin
cans, us prepared, are very unsafe; TINT
the acids dissolve tho lead solder, and
sometimes eat through the entire plate,
making the cans leak "a new fact to me-,
and also that serious cases Of poisoning
had occurred from using their contents. If
facts like these could be called out from
scientific men they would arrest public
attention, and they might suggest TO
manufacturers Of glass cans the desirable.
ity Of protecting tho inner surfaces OF
their metallic caps in some way. Those
with metallic caps work 30 much more
easily then others, that they will long be
more or less in demand. professor Ed
wards, however, said that the metal used
in them is lead) / line mine with stiff
white paper, q small protection, Of course"
We believe the subject. thus broached
by our correspondent is one OF impor-
lance. If manufacturers arc presuming
uponpopular ignorance, and palming of
upon the public zinc and lead for tin in
vessels intended to contain food, the fact
ought to be known. Acetic acid acts
slowly upon lead, but its action is hasten.
ed by exposure of metal to air. Acid
fluids act with more violence upon zinc.
According to Miller, commercial tin
may, and usually does, contain Except the
Banca tin, which Is not used for tin
plates) small quantities Of copper, arsenic,
iron and lead. Of these authorizations oil
but the iron are poisonous. The copper,
rs we'll as the lead, is acted upon by vege.
table acids In the gradual destruction of
vessels made Of tin plates by culinary use,
it would seem that more or less Of the
poisonous salts Of the metals named must
enter the food prepared in them. Whether
this amount is sufficient to effect health
Is a question that ought to be decided.