The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13
THE CAROLINA CLAY-EATERS.
A Physicians Analysis Shows that the Cl
Contains Arsenic.

A Physicians Analysis Shows that the Clay
Contains Arsenic.
Philadelphia Times.
1t has been q matter of speculation for years
as to why the poor white trash of central
North Carolina ate the clay that is found in that
phia physician to solve the mystery. A short
time ago DR.. Frank H. Getchell of 1882 Spruce
street, went on cunning expedition to North
Carolina His quest for game led him into the
wild country back of Salisbury, which is inhab
tied, for the most part by a miserable race OF
beings with only just enough energy to exc out
a wretched existence. These creatures are
nearly all veritable living skeletons. and, with
few exceptions. are addicted to the habit of clay
eating.
While shooting wild turkey and other game
in this wild region, Dr. Getchell made an Incl
dental study of this peculiar habit of vice among
the inhabitants. It is mountainous country,
and in the spring little rivulets start out from
the caps of snow the mountain, and as the
days grow warmer, the little rivulets become tor
rents, and great wash-outs are made along the
mountain side.
The soil is of heavy, clayey nature, but there
are strata Of clay that is heavier than the rest,
and when the water rushes down this clay is
formed into little pellets and rolls and accumu-
lates in heaps in the valley. These little pellets
and rolls are what the clay eaters devour with
as much avidity as a topper swallows glass OF
whisky.
DR.. Getchell, yesterday, 'the habit of eating
clay is almost universal. Even little toddlers
are confirmed in the habit, and the appetite
seems to increase with time While investigat-
ing the matter / entered a cabin occupied by
one OF these poor families, and saw little chap
tied by the ankle to the leg of a table, on which
was placed big dish of bread and meet and po-
tatoes within easy reach. The child was kicking
and crying, and asked his mother why she had
tied him up. She replied that she wanted him to
"a m hQfO ha ont fnt ho o1o and
he refused to do So The woman confessed that
she ate the clay herself, but explained that the
child's health demanded that it eat some sub
stantial food before eating any earth. Almost
everyone l met in this section was addicted to
this habit. They were all very thin. but their
flesh seemed to be pulled out. This was particu-
ia-ly noticeable about the eyes. which had a sort
of reddish hue.
"All of the clay eaters were excessively lazy
and INDECENT, and all of these conditions COM
bined led me to the conclusion that there must be
some sedative stimulating qualities, or both,
in the clay, and determined to find out whether
there was or not. consequently brought lot
Of the clay home with me and Prof. Tier
nan and myself made an analysis of the stuff
and discovered that, instead of clay eaters the
inhabitants Of central North Carolina should
more properly be called arsenic eaters. All
OF this clay contains arsenic, but exactly
in what proportion we have not yet discovered.
Arsenic-eating is common in many parts of the
world, and is practiced to greater or less ex-
tent throughout the world. 1t acts as sedative
and also as stimulant The mountaineers of
Syria, Austria, are habitual arsenic eaters.
They give their reason for eating it that they
are better able to climb the mountains after eat
ing the poison. and their explanation is a per-
fectly reasonable one, as arsenic acts as Sc
dative to the hearts action. The habit is also
prevalent in the Tyrol and in the Alps
1T is also said that the peasant girls of Switz-
erland and parts of Germany and in Scandinavia
eat arsenic to give luster to their eyes and color
to their cheeks but this is matter / have not
investigated. 1t has been shown that arsenic or
arsencal fumes are a sure cure for intermittent
fever. The inhabitants of section of Cornwall,
England, at one time all suffered with this type
of fever; but when the copper works were estab-
lished there the fever disappeared. This was
accounted for by the arsenical fumes created in
the treatment Of copper. AS to whether arsenic
eating shortens life 1 am not vet prepared to
say, but intend investigating the matter thor
oughly."