Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-09-25
ARSENIC AND ITS USES.
INCREASED CONS JnfPTfoN OF THE
FoIsoN IN AMI RIGA.
Enough OF the Drug Imported YearIy
10 'cpOpuia'e the COuntry-What
IL IL Jsed For.


10 'epOpuia'e the COuntry-What
IL IL Jsed For.
The New York HFtM says. There are
imported annually into this city from
Cornwall, in England, and from the
mines of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia
about one thousand kegs of arsenic,
which average four hundred pounds
weight each. Physicians say that dose
Of two and a half grains of arsenious
acid is pretty certain.t to prove fatal. A
little simple figuring will therefore show
that If the importations of single year
were divided up into equal portions cor
responding in number with the number
Of inhabitants in the United States, and
each man, woman and child took one of
these portions on a given day, human
life would on that day cease to exist in
the territory now covered by the Stars
and Stripes. In recent years the impor-
tation has rapidly increased, and the fact
chat numerous cases of arsenical poison
ing appear from time to time on the DO.
lice records and before coroner's iuries
renders an inquiry desirable as to the
purposes to which the enormous ship
ments OF this deadly minelal are applied.
A reporter of the Herald visited sew
eral of the great drug importing houses,
md consulted chemists in reference to
this matter. All admitted that the
quantity of arsenic used for medical pur-
poses was insignificant, and that the
baIk of the importation is used for manu-
featuring, preserving, decorating and
beautifying purposes. Some of the
chemists, whie expressing a desire not
to be quoted, freely admitted that health
and life were being endangered by too
Free introduction of the poison into arti-
lies of every day use.
A chemist who is engaged in the serv-
ice of one of our leading importing
houses, and who is an acknowledged lu-
;hority among his brethren, said 'Tt is
40 secret that the careless and unskillful
handling of arsenic and arsenical prepa-
fatlons results in serious il ness and in
heavy loss of life every year."
'ls it not fact that arsenic in one
form or other is making inroads into
fashionable households year after year2"
"This cannot be disputed. Arsenic
acid is the very best preserver not only
of fabrics but of colors, and it is but
natural that decorators should take some
risks in using it. In many of our fash
ionable mansions the bright colors on the
walls are made fast by arsenic. The same
may be said of the carpets and tapes
tries, and of the gaudy, tinted robes,
which have fascination for some young
ladies'"
"Does the presence of arsenic in an
apartment necessarily imply that it must
be an unhealthy place of abodeW
"Not necessarily; still, myself would
not care to sleep in such room. Odors
NAV be given out that are sure to sicken
the stomach if the work is unskillfully
dune. In my opinion this accounts for q
good deal or tho debility and nervous
ailments that prevail in fashionable cir
cles here and elsewhere. Quite recently
woman lost her eyesight in this city
while cleaning a carpet that was found to
nave its colors fastened with arsenic.
| do not believe that any physician would
maintain that it was proper to place such
carpet for use in any room"
"Are the dangers of using arsenical
preparations fully recognized by the
manufacturers who use them"
"They certainly should be; there is no
excuse for ignorance in a matter of this
X nd. 1t is our business to import and
sell our goods under proper safeguards;
after that all our responsibility ends"
''Are there dangers in the preparation
Of the article for the market?"
"The preparation of arsenious acid is
a most hazardous occupation. The
workmen employed generally die before
the age of forty, and their mean term of
life runs from thirty to thirty-fve years.
They are compelled to avoid alcoholic
drinks and to live principally on legu.
minous vegetables, with plenty of butter,
taking very little meat, and that fat.
To each man two glasses of olive oil arc
administered daily"
"To what extent is the drug used as a
nedicine?"
GA very small fraction of the importa.
lion is used for that purpose. 1t is used
As a tonic occasionally, and actresses use
It to a pretty considerable extent to i'm.
part bright hue to the complexion and
ulster to the eyes. When once used for
that purpose it must be taken right along
or the young lady will find that not only
Ner dazzling vision but her bodily en-
,rgies will melt away with incredible
speed. Horse dealers know thing or
swo about arsenic and they also use it. "
''For what purpose"
"Take an old railroad horse that has
become emaciated in the service, or
broken down racer, and dose him with
arsenic under the advice of veterinary
,lrgeon for few weeks His appetite
will come to him his old hair will drop
oT and new coat will come out, and
:he animal become as frolcsome as
-year-old. In the horse market he is
pound to bring Il good price, and the
,ountryman who buys him will be proud
of his bargain-at least for day or so.
When the effect of the drug dies out the
aorse falls away, and he never regains
MS strength" "
'Ts arsenic acid used illegitimately by
nauutacturersW
"On this question | think there can be
10 doubt. There may be recklessness
lnder the guise of law in using the acid
70 fasten colors on paper, carpets tapes
ries or articles of wearing apparel, and
technically speaking, there may be moth.
i legitimate IL all this 1t is pretty gen.
srally understood however, that some
:onfectioners use arsenieal preparations
n coloring their goods, and this is cer-
ainly most serious otfense Cases of
ibis kind crop up from time to time,
many of which result fatally, but know
If no instance in which the offender re-
.eived the punishment he merited Ar
Ienic is also used with dangerous results
n painting toys and in coloring trim
nings for ball dresses, All these things
'hould be stopped by the board of health.
The nuhic have enongh to enoage their