The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-25
ARSENIC AND ITS USES.
INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF THE
FOLSOM IN AMERICA.
Enough of the Drug Imported YearIy
10 dcpOpuiatc the Country what
IL IL 4 sed For.

Enough of The Drug Imported YearIy
10 jcpOpuIatc the COuntry-What
IL 10 1 sed For.
The New York HrtM 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 to prove fatal. A
little simple figuring will therefore show
that if the importations of a 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
that numerous cases of arsenical poison
ing appear from time TO time on the po-
lice records and before coroner's iuries
renders an inquiry desirable as to the
purposes to which the enormous ship
ments Of this deadly mineral are applied.
A reporter of the Herald visited sew
eral of the great drug importing houses,
and consulted chemists in reference to
this matter. All admitted that the
quantity of arsenic used for medical pur-
poses was insignificant, and that the
bulk of the importation suscd for manu-
featuring, preserving. decorating and
beautifying purposes. Some of the
chemists, while expressing desire not
to be quoted, freely admitted that health
and life were being endangered by too
free introduction Of the poison into arti-
cles 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 au-
thority among his brethren, said at is
no secret that the careless and unskillful
handling of arsenic and arsenical prepa-
ratlons results in serious illness and in
heavy loss of life every year"
lis it not a fact that arsenic in one
form or other is making inroads into
fashionable households year after year,"
"This cannot be disputed. Arsenic
acid is the very best prescrvcr 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 abode?"
"Not necessarily; still, myself would
not care to sleep in such room. Odors
may be given out that are sure to sckeu
the stomach if the work is unskilfully
done. In my opinion this accounts for a
good deal Of the debility and uervou:
ailments that prevail in fashionable cir
Giles here and elsewhere. Quite recently
a conan lost her cycsight in this city
while cleaning a carpet that was found tC
have its colors fastened with arsenic
do not believe that any physician would
maintain that it was proper to place such
a carpet for use in any room"
care the dangers of using arsenca
! preparations fully recognized by TIT
manufacturers who use them?n
They certainly should be; there is M
excuse for ignorance in matter of thi
kind. 1t is our business to import auC
sell our goods under proper safeguards
after that all our responsibility ends
"Arc there dangers in the preparation
of the article for the marketIn
"The preparation of arscnious acid i
most hazardous occupation. The
workmen employed generally die before
the age of forty, and their mean term o
life runs from thirty to thirty-live years
They are compelled to avoid alcoholic
drinks and to live principally on lcgu
minous vegetables, with plenty of butter
taking very little meat, and that fat
To each man two glasses of olive oil ar
administered daily"
"To what extent is the drug used as
medicine2"
"a very small fraction of the importa
ton is used for that purpose. 1t is useC
as tonic occasionally, and actresses us
it TO pretty considerable extent to i'm
part bright hue to the complexion an,
luster to the eyes. When once used 70
that purpose it must be taken right alon
or the young lady will find that not onl
her dazzling vision but her bodily er
orgies will melt away with incredible
/ SDCth' IlOioO hCdltIo hllOW u lllll8 q
two about arsenic and they also use it.
"For what purpose2'
"Take an old railroad horse that ha
become cmaciated in the service. or
broken down racer, and dose him wit
arsenic under the advice of a veterinar
surgeon for few weeks His appctit
will come to him, his old hair will dro
of and new coat will come out, an
the animal become as frolicsome as
two year-old In the horse market he
bound to bring a good price, and tn
countryman who buys him will be prou
of his bargain-at least for day or SC
When the effect of the drug dies out tn
horse falls away, and he never regain
his strength"
as arsenic acid used illegiLimatcly b
manufacturers"
"On this question think there can |
| Il no IL