Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-10
Using PUISONS ON PLANTS.

The scientific AID other papers are discuss
inc the su ject of the dagger attending the use
of Paris green and other poisons in destroying
insects 90 plants. The matter is one of great
imuor,auce, and is deserving OF the careful at
tentiou of all cultivatorS who are tempted to
resort to desperate remedies tor parasitic pests.
The Scientific American says: The question
Of whether the use of Paris green (arseniate OF
ceto-arseuiate of cOpper) upon potato piauls
As means OF destroying the bugs, will tend 10
poisou the soil, and thus rerdel II uutt to pro-
duce vegetation, receives dehDte answer
from Professor LIE Con,e, 10 his paper recently
read before the Academy OF Sciences. The
opioion, advanced aud concurred IN by such
high authority as Professors SilIiman and Alex
.nder and Mr.. Mitchell, affirms unequivo
cally that arsenic and copper are poisous which
act with equal cnergy upon plauts aud animals.
Il is merely a matter of time, if the poison is
used at repeated periods, before the soil is
poisoned so as to prevent the growth OF all
vegetation.
''Protessor LIE Conte enters an earnest pro-
test against the present loose yet enormous use
of this fearful poison in the hands OF uneducat-
ed men. 1t is ordered by the western drug
gists literally by the ton, and repeated deaths
have resulted among farmers through its care
less employment. The death of several persons
in single dwelling in this CITY tIom eating
pickles upou which some Paris green had been
blown by the wind occurred quite recently. 1t
is we'll settled that arsenic is dangerous even
externally, and experiments have proved that
its poisonous effects are developed by a smaller
amount inserted in wound than when taken
into the stomach.
10 the Journal of Applied Chemistry for
September, 1874, Is case from DR.. Doremus
Deaths from Paris green, says the Journal,
"are becoming quite loo numerous aud frequent:
Three persons who partook of lemonade and
chow-chow pickle a, No. II West Fitty-seventb
street, New York, ou the 18th of July, were
soon alter taken i'll, aud on the 2lst, one OF
them, named John Powers died. His sister
died the next day; aod Ellen Burke; the cook,
died on the 24th. Portions of the stomach and
iutestines of each were sent to Dr.. Doremus for
ANALYSIS, and 10 each case be detected the pre-
seuce of arsenic and copper; he was therefore
Of the opinion that death Was caused by arsen
ite of copper COMMONLY known as Paris green
In reply to u question by the coroner as to how
much Paris green would cause death, he said
that very small quantity would be sufficient.
A Juror asked him whether he thought
q grain would kill 8 man. lie said be
did, and that he would recommend the
Jury to warn the public against it's use.-
Professor Doremus also said that be would take
that opportunity to earnestly request that the
members of the press who were present would
impress upon the public the extreme danger
of using SO violent poison. AS an instance
of the danger Of: using Paris green 10 any way
about dwellings. he cited the case OF the pois-
oniug of the whole family of an eminent ply
sic,a0 10 London by Tsiugle loaf of broad, which
the baker had placed, while warm, on shelf
-. L
single grain Of this poison 1.-THE 4SOth part Of an
seen that very little of the dust received into
the system from time to time is fraught with
the most fearful dagger to health and life. -
A. Y Observer