The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-05-20
Poisons in Agriculture.

College, has furnished n valuable paper
to the transactions of the Board of
Health Of that state, on the Use of
Poisons in Agriculture, and more par
ticularly on the effect of Paris green.
He states that there are three forms In
which arsenic Is used, namely, white
arsenic, arsenate of soda, and Paris
green. The first has been used to de-
stroy weeds in garden walks, but DIR.
X. regards this practice as dangerous,
as there is nothing in its appearance to
distinguish it from some other substan-
ces used as articles Of food, and its use
Is liable to fatal mistakes. Arsenate
of soda Is still worse, as its appearance
and flavor are not unlike common salt,
and an unsuspicious housewife might
use It for fiavoring dishes, and destroy
a whole family, If 1t were brought into
the house. Paris green is very widely
used for destroying the Colorado potato
beetle and the cotton worm. Its bril-
liant color is likely to prevent accidents
from installing it for something else.
Dr. Kedzie estimates that more than
hundred tons were s4d in one year in
the state of Michigan. This extensive
use brings up the questions, will it
poison the plants, and render crops I'M
safe rs food? VIII it poison the soil,
and injure succeeding cropse Will 1t
become washed into drains and poison
springs and wells? What becomes of
it in the soil?
To answer the first question, cab
bage plants were watered with a satu-
rated solution of arsenic, and were
killed in week, but the leaves did not
contain trace Of the poison, except by
discoloration Of the stem near the
roots. When the solution was weaker,
so as not to iniure the plant, the slight
est trace could not be discovered any
where. The experiments were repeated
on barley and on turnips. Again, they
were tried on peas, all with the same
results. Dr. Kedzie says, -Four years
ago, | made a careful investigation to
determine whether the potato tuber
absorbed arsenic when Paris green was
applied to the plants to destroy the po-
tato beetle. | took potatoes raised in
the ordinary course, and repeatedly
busted, and Others to which all the
Paris green had been applied that could
be used without killing the plant but
in no instance could | find n trace of
arsenic in the tubers. Other chemists
have made similar investigations with
the same results
TO determine the very important
question, whether the poison applied
one year to potatoes, would affect the
quality of wheat the year after, four
square rods of wheat were measured Off
in March. and two ounces of Paris
green were applied in water, or at the
rate of five pounds per acre-much
more than is used for potatoes. The
surface of the ground was rendered
sensibly green by the application. The
wheat was not injured in growth. The
grain when ripe was submitted to three
of the most rigid tests, but the slightest
trace of arsenic could not be discovered.
DR.. X. was satisfied that it contained
none at all. The poison exeris more
influence the first year, and therefore
1t is very safe TO conclude that wheat is
not injured In any degree as human
food when growing the year after the
potatoes.
In another case, cabbages were grown
i'll the college garden after potatoes
which had been dressed with Paris
green. Six ounces of the cabbage head,
submitted to the closest examination,
failed to indicate any trace.
In answer to the question, What be-
comes of the Paris green DR.. X. re-
marks, that it is insoluble in pure
water, but slightly soluble in ammonia
water; and it may be taken up to an
extent of one part in 100, 600 of rain
water which contains traces of ammo
MIA. Water charged with earbonIC
acid will take up one part in 10000
The water in the soil containing some
carbonic acid, will therefore dissolve 9
portion of it.
Where then is The remedy? A per.
feet antidote or safeguard is at hand
Hydrated oxide of iron is the we'll
known and standard antdote for Paris
green, as it forms an insOluble salt with
arsenious acid, or only soluble in strong
| mineral acids. Fertile soils contain al,
ways far greater amount of this anti
dote than is Sequired to neutralize al
the arsenic ever applied to it, for one
per cent. of the hydrated oxide would
be no less than a hundred tons pei
acre, with depth of one foot of soil
DR.. Kedzie proved the correctness O
his reasoning on this point by actua
and repeated experiments. Hence The
| fear of this poison iniuring water is en-
tirely groundless.
Several cases are mentioned wher,
the careless use of Paris green, in ap
plying it to potatoes, resulted in pois
oning. More than one thousand reports
were received from clerks in all parts
of the state only five of which repor
poisoning to the workmen In on,
case, by careless handling, the Pari
green was allowed to come in contac
with sore on the hand. at swellet
enormously, but was subdued by vine
gar and salt" In another case the dus
was inhaled, resulting in much pain il
the head and a copiOus discharge iron
the nose for two weeks. The operate
states that he had been subject to ca
tarrh since childhood, but when tn
effects of the Paris green had left him
: he had not suffered from it since.
proved powerful medicine. In an
other case, the poison was permitted t
enter hole in the boot leg, causing
come inflammation. Another maj
{ narrowly escaped with his life from in
haling the dust, which he had absurd
endeayOrcd to exclude with veil owe
his face. He was sick two weeks
Another had his eyes badly inhame
for long time by the dust enterln
them, and some children were injure
10y playing among the busted potatoes
II seems remarkable that so few case
/ should occur In more than a thousan
reports, when it Is remembered no,