The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-01-08
VOL. xvH.-NEw, SERIES

Wy "o PooI "uNe tfaSn OF Contra
North Carolina ate the clay that is found
IN that part Of the country. It remained
for Philadelphia physician to solye the
mystery. A short time ago DIR. Frank H
Getchcll, Of 1852 Spruce street,. went On q
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, bya miserable
race of beings with only just enough en-
ergy to exc out wretched sexistnoce
These creatures are nearly all veritable
living skeletons, and, with few exceptions,
arc addicted to the habit of clay-oating. :,
While shooting wild turkey and other
game in this Wild region, DR.. ,Getchell
made an incidental study of this peculiar
habit or vice among tho inhabitants. It
is a mountainous country, and in the spring
little rivulets start out from the caps of
snow on the mountain, and, as the days
grow warmer, the little rvulets become
torrents, and great wash-outs are made
along the mountain-side.
The soil is of heavy, claycy nature,
but there are strata of clay that is heavier
than the rest, and the water rushes down,
this clay is formed into little pellets aud
rolls and accumulates in heaps in the valley
These little pellets and rolls are what the
clay-eaters devour with as much ayidity
as toper swallows a glass of whiskey.
Among the poor people of this section,'
said DIR. GetchclI, yesterday, the habi. of
eating clay is almost universal. Even
little toddlers are confirmed in the habit,
and the appetite seems to increase with
time. While investigating the matter, I
entered 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 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 he went out to the clay, and he re- |
fused to do SO. The woman confessed |
that she ate the clay herself, but explained
that the childs health demanded That il
-aat soma aphafsnfinl Hood -baforO- eating any
earth. gcTe st. a,tsaA
Almost every one met in this section
was addicted to this habit. They were
all very thin, but their flesh seemed to be
pulled out. This was particularly notice
able about the eyes, which had q reddish
hue. -, c.S
sAll of che olay-eaters were excessively |
lazy aud indolent, and all OF these condi-
tions combined led me to the conclusion
that there must be some sedativo or stimu.
latiDg qualities, or both, in tho clay. and I |
determined to 6nd out whether there was
or not consequently brought lot of |
the clay home with me, and Prof. Tiernan
and myself mado an analysis of tho stuff,
and discovered that. instead Of clay. eaters, |
the inhabitants Of central North Carolina |
should more properly be called arsenic |
eaters. fr., 54 - ~Sd i
All Of this clay contains arsenic, but OK,
L., .sol i
ac.ly - wnat proPo'''oo, We nave not yes
d'scoyered' Arseanics-eat.os sa s Is common in
many paris q .ee world and is practleed
@ greater OF less extent: throgShous the
vorlo. ~ ao.s as . SEQ a.'v9 sud sa's' as
stimuiau'. Ine mounsaineers OF styrl2
austria, aro "aritua, ss ar'eniO-ea.er'. They
g've:as tneir reason ior eating ~ tnas they