The Baltimore County union., 1874-12-05

Use of Mineral POiSOns 6y
Farmers.


We have carefully abstained from recon-
mending the use of Paris green and other dea d.
ly poisons for the destruction of insects, on ac-
count of the great danger attending their use.
We are glad to see that the subject was DEEM
ed of sufficient Importance, in the late Scien-
tifc Convention in Philadelphia, to be made
the subject of a special paper and of discus
sion, of which we find report in the Tribune.
The paper is by John L. lie Conte, M. D., and
is as follows:
ut is the practice of the Academy, under
the charter granted by Congress, to investi-
gate scientific subjects referred to it by any
department. of the government. 1t is also the
duty OF the members of the Academy to give
to their fellow citizens such salutary warn
ings as seem to be necessary to protect them
against injurious practices introduced under
the garb of science. With this idea l call at
tension to the extensive use of Paris or Schwein-
furth green for destroying insects injurious to
agriculture. Paris green is mixture of arse
mite and acetate of copper, and in the result of
certain empirical experiments has been re-
commended as destructive to the Colorado PC
dy against injurious insects which appear in
masses. Now arsenic and copper are poisons
which act with equal energy upon plants and
animals. The material, though diffused upon
the leaves of the plants to be protected, which
are incapable of absorbing it, is speedily car
ried into the soil, and if used annually it is
merely a'matter of time how many years will
oil hofo h.
vent the growth of all vegetation. The chem
lcal possibilities which may result in the poi
soning of the vegetation raised from the soil I
Will leave to be developed by my colleagues
soiemnly protest against the loose manner in
which, on the recommendation of persons Who
have observed only the effects of these poi
sons upon the insect pests to which their at.
tention has been directed, most dangerous
material has been placed in the hands of a
large mass of uneducated men. The manufac-
ture OF this poison has increased to fearful
extent. friend residing in one of the great
agricultural centres of the West, writes that
the druggists of his town order it by the ton.
The ravages of the Colorado potato beetle,
which has been the chief cause of the use of
Paris green in agriculture, commenced in the
West many years ago, and its extension at a
regular rate was predicted by etomologists.-
The prediction has been verified almost year.
Now it was within the power of the govern
ment, through properly organized Scientific
Bureau for the Protection of Agriculture, to
have the subject Investigated by commission
and recommend proper measures to be adopt
ed. The use of metallic poisons would not be
one of them, but human labor, properly COM
pensated and intelligently employed, might
have been one of the agents employed to avert
national calamity such as has come upon u.s."
An interesting discussion followed the read
ing of this paper. All the members who took
part in it approved DIR. LIE Conte's views as to
the danger of using Paris green. Prof Silli-
man had heard Of several instances of loss of
human life from carelessness in its use for
killing cock-roaches. Prof Alexander said
that there were well.established cases where
its employment as coloring matter for wall
paper had resulted in poisoning persons, who
were affected after only half an hour spent in
the rooms hung with such paper. DR.. Mitch
ell referred to number Of cases of poisoning
by this substance. 1t might be that the soil in
which it was strewn impaired poisoning in
fuence to plants before refusing to yield its
product, and that the plants so affected acted
injuriously upon the human system. DIR. LIE
Conte sharply criticised the Agricultural Bu-
reau at Washington for failing to investigate
this subject. The use Of strychnine in corn
fields to kill crows, was referred to by another
member, who thought that this most inde-
structible of poisons might affect the vegeta-
tation. Prof. Silliman cited a case in Massa-
chusetts where the fumes from a copper works
injured the surrounding forests and grass lands
The discussion / slly took wider range,
and embraced the rise of analyne dyes for COL
oring jellies and confectionery. 1t closed with
the adoption of the following resolution, on
motion of Prof. Alexander:
ReSolved, That committee be appointed to
investigate and report upon the subject of the
use of poisons applied to vegetables or other
wise for the destruction of deleterious insects
and other animals, and also the ncautious use
of paisons in the ornamentation of articles of
food and for destructive purposes generally,
such, for instance, as the coloring of paper.