Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-05
POISON BY THE TON.
Enough Arsenic Imported to Depopu
late America.

AnOuBn ASenlc Imported 10 DepOpu.
Aote America,
From the N. Y. Herald.
mere 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 400
POUNDS OF weight each. Physicians say that q
oose OF TWO and half grains of arsenious acid
is pretty certain to prove fatal A little simple
figuring will therefore show that If the mporta-
'iohs Oh single year were divided up into
eQuai portions corresponding in number with
Tue NUMBER OF Inhabitants in the United States,
anu each man, woman and child took one OF
'nose Portlons on q given day, human lie
WOULD on that day cease to exist in the terri
recs, now covered by the stars and stripes In
Iecent years the Importation has rapidly In
creased Ct ana the fact that the numerous cases
y, ~, t poisoning appear from time 70 tine
on the police records and before corOner's juries
renders an inquiry desirable as to the purposes
L. ~ wnich the enormous shipments OF tnls
oeaaly mineral are applied.
gre1 drug importing houses and consulted
cnemlsts In reference to this matter. All ad-
~ mat the quantity of arsenic USED ior
,ntulcal purpose is insignificant and shat the
DuIh vi the importation is used for maauiactur-
ing, preserving, decorating and beautify1ng
Ing a desire not to be be- Quoted, freely admitted
mat health and life were being endangered by
700 Tree Introduction Of the poison into articles
DEATH FROM THE DRUG.
A chemist who is engaged in the service OF
one of our leading importing houses, and who
Is an acknowledged authority among his breth-
rem, said: ut is no secret that the careless and
unskilfu! handling of arsenic and arsenlcal
preparations results in serious illness aud In
heavy loss of life every year."
rs II not a fact that arsenic in one shape or
other is making inroads into fashionable house
This cannot be disputed Arsenic acid is the
very best preserver not only of fabrics but OF
coiors, and it is but natural that decorators
should take some risks in using it, In many OF
our fashionable mansions the bright colors on
the walls are made fast by arsenic; the same
Of the gaudy, tinted robes which have fascina-
ton for some young ladies'"
docs the presence of arsenic in an apart
ment necessarily imply thatit must be an I'M
healthy place of abode?'
mot of necessity; still, myself would not
care to sleep In such room: Odors may be
given out that are sure to sicken the stomach
II the work is unskilfully done. In my opinion
this accounts for a good deal of the debility and
circles here and elsewhere. Quite recently q
woman lost her eyesisht in this city while
cleaning carpet that was found to have its
colors fastened with arsenic. do not believe
any physician would maintain that it was
proper to place such a carpet for use In any
Are the dangers of using arsenical prerara-
who use Them"
Aucy Certainly SuOutQ De, LucTt Is HO cACuSC
for ignorance in a matter of this kind. 1t is our
business to import and sell our goods under
proper safeguards; after that all our response
Are there dangers in the preparation of the
article for the market?"
"The preparation of arsenious acid is a most
hazardous occupation. The workmcn employed
generally die before the age of forty, and their
mean term of life runs from thirty to thirty-five
drinks and to live principally on leguminous
Vegetables, with plenty of butter, taking very
little meat, and that fat. To each man two
glasses OF olive oil are administered daily.
SHORT LIVED BRILLIANCY.
"To what extent is the drug used Us a medi-
cine?"
"a very small fraction Of the importation is
used for that purpose. 1t is used as a tonic oc-
casionally, and actresses use it to a pretty con-
siderable extent to impart q bright hue to the
com EXON and luStre to the eyes. When once
used for that purpose it must be taken right
along or the young lady will find that not only
her dazzling vision but her bodily energies will
melt away with incredible speed. Horse deal
ers know a thing Or two about arsenic and they
also use it,
"Take an old railroad horse that has become
emaciatcd in the service or a broken down
racer, and dose him with arsenic under the ad-
wee OF q veterinary surgeon tor few weeks.
His appetite will come to him, his old hair will
drop of and a new coat will come out, and the
Old. In the horse market he is bound to bring
good price and the cOuntryman who buys him
will be proud OF his bargain-at least for day
or SO. When the effect of the drug dies out the
horse falls away and he never regains his
strength.
as arsenic acid used illegitimately by manu-
facftlrers?"
ION this question I think there can be no
doubt. There may be recklessness under the
guse of law in using the acid to fasten colors on
paper. carpets, tapestries or articles of wearing
apparel, and, technically speaking, there may
he nothing filestimate in all this 1t is pretty
generally understood, however, that some con-
fectlOQefS arSeDic:ll OrpDarltiOnS in POlOrOO
their goods. and this is certainly most serious
offense. Cases of this kind crop up from time
know of no instance in which the offender re-
ceived the punishment he merted. Arsenic is
also used with dangerous results in painting
toys and In coloring trimmings tor ball dresses.
All these things should be stopped by the board
of health. The public have enough to engage
their attention in dealing with the scores of
legitimate fields OF industry in which the poison
becomes valuable agent il handled with sci
entific skill"