Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-22
The Norm CaroI,na CIey -ra,.r..

1t has been a matter Of speculation for
years as to why the "poor white trash" Of
central North Carolina ate the clay that is
found in that part Of the country. II remain
ed for a Philadelphia physician, says the
Times of that city, to solve the mystery. A
short time ago Dr. Frank II. Getchell went
on cunning expedition TO North Carolina.
His quest for game led him into the Wild
country back Of Salisbury, which is in
habited for the most part by q miserable race
of beings with only Just energy enough 10
exc out wretched existence. These crea-
tures are nearly all veritable living skeletons,
and with few exceptions, are addicted 10 the
habit of clay eating.
While shooting wild turkey and other game
in this wild region, DIR. Getohell made an in
cdentel study Of this peculiar habit or vice
among the inhabitants. 1t is a mountainous
country, aud in the spring little rivulets start
out from the caps Of snow on the mountains,
and as the days grow warmer, the little rivu.
let's become torrents and great washouts are
made along the mountain side. The soil is
Of heavy, clayey nature, but there are stra-
la OF clay that is heavier than the rest, and
when the water rushss down, this clay iG
formed into little pellets and rolls and 40.
cumulates in heaps in the valley. These lit
tie pellets and rolls are what the clay eaters
devUur with as much svidity as a topper svAl-
lows glass or Whl5key.
Among the poor people Of this section"
said DIR. Getchell recently, 1.-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 investi-
eating the matter entered a cabin occupied
by one Of these poor families, and saw lit
tie chap tied by the ankle to the leg Of table,
on which was placed big dish Of bread and
meat and potatoes within easy reach The
child was kicking and crying and asked his
mother why she had tied him up. She re-
piled that she wanted him to eat some food
before be went out to the clay and he re-
fused to do SO. The woman confessed that
she ate clay herself, but explained that the
child's health demanded that it eat some sub
sta tial food before eating any earth. Al
most everyone | met in this section was Ad-
dicted to this habit. They we're ell very
thin, but their flesh seemed to be puffed out.
This was particularly noticeable about the
eyes, which had sort OF reddish hue.
"All of the clay eaters we're excessively
lazy and indolent, and all these conditions
combined led me to the conclusion that there
must be some sedative or stimulating quail
ties or both, iu the clay, and l determined TO
find out whether there was or not. conse-
quently brought lot OF the clay home with
me, and Prof. Tiernan and myself made an
an dysis of the stuff, aud discovered that, in
stead of clay eaters, the inhabitants of GEN.
trail North Carolina should more properly be
called arsenic eaters All Of the clay con-
tains arsenic but exactly in what proportion
we have not yet discovered Arsenic eating
is common in many parts of the world, and
ispracticed to greater or less extent through
out the world. 1t acts as a sedstive and also
as a stimulant. The mountaineers OF Styria,
Austria, are habitual arsenic eaters. They
give as a reason for eating it that they are
better able to climb the mountains after eat
ing the poison, and their explanation is per-
fectly reasonable one, as arsenic acts as Q Sc
dative to the hearts action. The habit is al
so prevalent in the Tyrol and in the Alps. 1t
is also said that the peasant girls Of SWitzer-
land and parts of Germany. and in Scandi-
navia eat arsenic to give lustre to their eyes
and color to the cheeks"