Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-07-20

an alloy OF lead aud tin, which is much
cheaper. And considerable quantity Of
solder, which is mixture of lead and tin
Is often to be found on the inside of the cans
NOW lead does form poisonous compounds
with the vegetables acids and the acids con.
tanned in fat, and many serious and fatal
cases of sickness have been the result OF
eating articles of food put up in such cans.
nave no doubt there are often milder
cases OF poisoning, which destroy much OF
the comfort of lite, giving rise to dyspep.
sla, obstinate constipation, neuralgia, loss of
nesh, general debility, rheumatic pains, &c,
put not recognized as coming from this cause
such cases may give so little evidence of
their origin as to escape the notice of the
most observing physician.
IL is very rare to find cases of acute lead
poisoning from this source, for il takes a
considerable quantity of lead taken at one
dose To give rise to poisonous symptoms, ex-
cept in very susceptible persons. But it is
from the slow accumulation of lead in the
system that the most serious results follow.
The most common form of lead poisoning
is the collie, often called "painters collie" as
those engaged in that trade are most liable
to II. The form which occurs next in fire..
quency probably is violent pains in Joints
and muscles, also paralysis, especially of the
extensor muscles Of the hand and fingers,
causing what is called wrist drop" but the
paralysis may become general. Sometimes,
but not so frequently, violent brain affections
with commissions. The sufferings from lead
poisoning are often agonizng.
My attention has been especially directed
to this subject by attending young lady
who is paralyzed and who has suffered un-
told agony from eating canned corn through
the winter, put up by the following recipe:
10 one and a-halt pints OF water add two
teaspoonsiul of tartaric acid, dissolved well,
then add a-half gallon of corn, boil well and
seal in tin cans, When open put in a good
hall teaspoonful of soda, then season to taste.
Use tin cans only and don't put In any cans
that have been used for fruit"
If the tin cans had been without lead
there would have been no danger, for, as
before stated tin forms no poisonous com
pounds with articles usually put up in such
cans.
slight symptoms of poisoning, which would
have escaped notice but from the severe case
calling attention To them.
tested the corn contained in cans of the
same lot of which they had partaken and
found lead in considerable quantities, and
the effect of the acid upon the inside of the
cans, two of which exhibited to the Board,
was very perceptible. The lids of the cans,
which seemed to he purer tin, showed no
effect of the acid and remained bright
II when articles are taken from can the
inside is found corroded the contents should
be thrown away and under no circum.
stances used
We frequently find illusions 10 cases of
poisoning from this source in the medical
journals, and occasionally articles in the
newspapers, but the public are not, as yet,
awakened to the danger
Query.-Should not some means be taken
to prevent the use Of loaded tin in the manu-
iacture of tin cans?
In future report may draw attention
to other sources Of lead poisons and give
the published observations OF physicians and T,
scientists on the same subject
VIM. +. MAaRUDER.