Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-08-20

In 1875. at the forty-eighth annual
meeting Of the German Society Of Nat
uralsts and Physicians. which was held
at Gratz, DIR. Knapp, practicing in Sty-
Tia introduced two male arsenic eat
ers 10 the assembly. One Of these men
consumed in their presence about six
grains Of white arsenic that is, enough
10 poison three men-without suffering
the slightest inconvenience; and il was
stated that he had been accustomed to
this state Of things for years He was
by calling an ex-herd. and. after the
custom Of his countrymen, had admin
istered TO the cattle under his charge a
daily dose of arsenic for the purpose of
rendering their hair glossy, aud of
otherwise improving their appearance.
He had been so far successful that he
was led to argue that what was good
for the oxen was good for himself; and
that he was TO certain extent justified
in his conclusions was proved by the
fact OF his being in the enjoyment of
robust health. Or. Knapp's other sub
ject partoOk Of rather more than four
grains of the yellow arsenic that is. Of
orpiment-and he. too. had done the
same with impunity for years. This
man stated that, having 10 enter a
house in which fifteen persons had died
OF typhus fever, he prepared himself for
the attempt by taking a dose Of less
than half grain of orpiment This
caused some disagreeable results; but
the unpleasautness having worn on. he
repeated the dose, entered the house
without contracting the disease, and
was so pleased with the success of his
experiment that he had continued to
take arsenic ever afterward. He. too.
was in the enjoyment Of robust health.
We believe that il was Mr.. Heisch,
teacher Of chemistry at the Middle
sex Hospital. who first brought the
subject OF arsenic-eating prom nently
before the notice of the profession in
this country. This was some time about
the year 1922, but since then the fact
has again and again been demonstrated
by the researches OF medical men and OF
travellers, so--that now there are few
persons who would venture 10 express
any doubt on the question. Indeed.
1t has long been acknowledged by the
best authorities that arsenic-eating is
extensively practiced in the southwest
corner of Austria-that is, IL Upper and
Middle Styria, especially in the dis
tricts of Han tberg, Laprecht Loeben
and Obezeirung, also in Carinth a,
Salzburg, the Tyrol, Lower Austria and
the Erzgebirge. Il is, to certain ex-
tent, acknowledged that these people
attain green old age; and it is even
suggested that in some sort they owe
their longevity TO the baleful practice,
though there is room for the gravesi
doubts on this score. When arsenic
eating was first brought before the no.
tice OF the world, ii was treated as q
gross imposture would be; and the
stories about II were classed with those
Of Welsh fasting-girls and universal
remedies indeed. the profession con
fdently asserted that these Syrian
peasants partcok of nothing more I'M
Wholesome than piece of chalk, for II
was deemed utterly impossible that a
man could, unscathed consume enough
poison TO effect a dozen persons, and
certainly enough TO kill three.
Fact however, is stranger than fic-
ton, and fact so strange As this could
not lie unhoticed in the region Of myths.
ln 1851, Tschudi brought the matter
again prominently forward; and since
that time Il has been so clearly demon
strated, with all the requirements of
scientific research. that II would be alb.
surd 10 deny 1t TO be sober reality.
But all the world takes poison in some
form or other every day ether, alcohol.
opium, hasheesh, nicotine, essences and
so on, and that without calling forth
any particular expression OF wonder.
IL is so common habit, that with some
people this taking of poisons has be-
come condition of existence Med.
ical men, too. derive some of their best
remedies from poisons, and are as a rule
well justified BY results. But while one
man may ,akc his dslly dose Of come
narcotic. and another OF his med c.nal
poison, a third man, unfortunately. is
only able to still the cravings OF his ap-
petite by swallowing q substance
which has probably cost more Ives
than any other drug, whatever It may
be-namely arsenic.
The arsenic-eater shay, II is trYe, be
fortitying him.e against the machina-
tons OF secret poison r. and he may
be indeed, after many years use Of II,
he very likely is administering a dose
OF something abso utely necessary TO
his existence, thus giving some sort Of
color TO the claim OF the Syrian that
Il lengthens life AT the best, however,
It Is playing with danger. A
tempting Of Providence most reprehen-
sibie, and it is habit so degrading
that II makes us feel sorry for
human nature. II is, however, well
known among medical men that arsenic
taken internally is useful in many dis
eases, more especially such as affect the
skin, and under the form known as
fOwler's Solution II Is ofen enough
prescribed in small doses. The
veterinary surgeon administers It 10
horses and cattle. while in some in
stances, In asomewhatrough-and-ready
way. Il is given by stablemen and
herdsmen in many par@ Of Europe,
especially in Austria. 10 the animals
under their care. Nor can the stable
men Of this country be said % be entire
ly innocent OF this charge; for IL Is a
well established fact that this drug inn
proves the appearance Of the skin and
hair, making Il sleek and glossy. be-
sides rendering the animal plump and
strengthening its breathing organs.
What wonder, then. that such men
fndlng, as we have already said, these
results, Degln 10 argue that what Is
good L,r an OK or horse Is. In smaller
quantities, good for man. They netual-
al do so argues and 10 the daily use Of
arsenic they attribute several good re-
suits, such as clearness of complexion
and Increased powers of digestion as
shown hy soldily OF flesh; they say Il
Strengthens their respiratory organs
aud enables them. laden with heavy
burdcns 10 climb mountains without
itciRuei and some even declare II in-
Hfeases their courage which may bo
TINE 4 tle aforesaid good results follow
~ usei iof courage . oilen only an