The Portland daily press., 1879-04-16
Dangers of Lead Poisoning from the Use
of Timed Ware.

Dangers of Lead Poisoning from the Use
of Timed Ware.
According to recent investigations made,
both in England and this country, it seems
that we would do well hereafter to examine
very carefully the tin employed in coating
utensils that are used for cooking or preserv-
ing food of any kind. Since tin has fallen in
price it is not very uncommon to meet with
samples which contain lead to considerable
amount, evidently added to the more expen-
sive metal with view of adulterating it and
necessary SO sell it. The results of this, of
course, may prove serious. DR.. r. G. Ked-
zie, President of the State Board of Health of
Michigan, In recent report on this subject
says: 81 have examined large number of
specimens Of tin plate, of vessels made of
timed iron, of tin spoons, and iron spoons
coated with tin, both teaspoons and table
spoons, and find in almost every instance
that that tin is alleged with lead; in almost
every case the lead was present in some
quantity, and often in very large quantity.
Nor is the lead confined to the poorer quail
ties OF tin, but some of the highest priced and
first quality of tin plate contains a large
quantity OF lead. 1t is an astonishing fact
that large pro portion of the timed wares
in the market are unfit to use because of the
large quantity of lead with which the tin is
alleged"
The dangers that are likely to ensue from
the use Of articles timed with such an alloy,
are these: The alloy of tin and lead will
tarnisb, or more properly speaking, oxadize
much more readily than pure tin; and the
oxide of lead thus formed is very soluble in
acetic acid or vinegar forming sugar of
lead'') and also in Tactic acid or the acid of
sour milk! it will form, too, salts with malic
and cltric acids which exist in our common
fruits, such as apples, cherries, Strawberries,
currants, etc. Indeed, as Or. Kedzie very
truly observes, any of our acid fruiss when
cooked in vessels containing any lead, or
even when left in such vessels for some time,
are very liable to take up some of the poison
Gus metal, and to become thereby unfit for
food, inasmuch as all salts of lead are poison
Gus; and the danger is all the greater be-
cause lead compounds are cumulative poi
sons. A person may not be poisoned by one
or two small doses, but even if very minute
dose is taken for a long time, the person may
DC Droken In health or even lose his life.
fortunately the test for lead is very SIM
PIE anu easy one, aud almost everybody has
IL ~ us power to make the application of it
and determine satisfactorily whether his tin.
ware contains any OF the poisonous metal in
any sensible quantity. For this purnose
DR.. Kedzle recommends that a drop OF strong
nitric acid be placed on the timed surface bv
means of glass rod or splinter of wood. and
that the acid be rubbed over space as large
as dime, warmed gently until dry, and that
two drops of a solution of potassium iodide
be then dropped on the spot. II the tin con-
tans lead, bright yellow iodide of lead will
form on the spot. The test is one that can
be very rapidly. applied, and the results are
decisive,
White Worms.-The white worms which
infest, occasionally, all soils where plants are
kept in pots, may be removed as follows
Sprinkle lime-water over the soil, or sprinkle
alittle Stacked lime on the earth, and in the
saucer of the pot. Lime-water may be easily
made by Stacking a large piece of lime in a
pail of cold water, letting this settle, and
then botting the clear water for use. Give
each pot tablespoonful twice week.