The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1886-01-16
THE cLAY.EArRRs.
An Explana tIOn OF "a Peculiar North
Carolina Habit.
Philadelphia Times

It 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. 1t remained for Phila-
delphia physician tosolve the mystery.
4 shert time ago DR.. Frank II. Get
chell, went on a cunning expedition
to North Carolina. His quest for
game led him into the wild country
back of Salisbury, which is inhabited
fer the NEST part by a miserable race
of beings with onlyjustsnough energy
to exc out wretched existence.
These creatures are nearly all yeritable
living skeletons and, with few sxcep-
tions, arc addicated TO the habit of clay
eating. 1t is a mountainous country
and in the Spring little riVulsts start
out from the caps of snow on the
mountains and, as the days grow
warmer, the little riyulets become tor
rents and great washouts are made
along the mountain side.
Ths 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 accu-
mulates 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.
Among the poor people of this sec
tion,' said Dir. Getehell yesterday,
the habit of eating clay is almost
universal. Even little toddiers are
confirmed in the habit and the apps-
tite seems IN increase with time.
While investigating the matter l
entered cabin occupied by one OF
these poor families and saw a little
chap tied by the ankle to the lsg OF
table, on which was placed big dish
OF bread aud meat and potatoes within
easy reach. The child was kicking
AID CRYING, and asked his mother
why ste had tied him up. Shs srepiied
that size wanted him to eat some food
before lie went out 10 the clay and he
refused 10 do 80. The woman con-
tessed that she aie the clay herself, but
explained that the childs health de-
nandsd that II sat some substantial
food before eating any earth. 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
noticeable about the eyes, which had
= sort of reddish hue.
"All of the clay eaters were excess
lvely lazy and indolsnt, and all these
conditions combined led me to the
conclusion that there must be some
.dstive or stimulating qualities, or
both, in tho clay, aud | determined tn
| find out whether there was or not. /
consequently brought lot of the clay
home with me and Professor Tiernan
ald myself made an analysis of the
stuff and discovered that, instead of
| clay-eaiers. the Inhabitants ot Central
| North Carolina should more properly
be called Arsenie-eaters. Ali OF this
clay contains arsenic, but exactly IL
| what proportion we have not yet is
covered. Arsenic eating is common
in many parts OF the world and Is
practiced TO greater or less extent
| throughout the world. Ii acts ~ n
sedative and also as Il stimulant. The
mountaineers Of 5tyria, Austria, are
habitual arsenic eaters. They give as
their reason for eating il that they are
better able to climb the mountains
after eating tho poison, and their
explanation is perfectly reasonable
one, as arsenic acts as a sedativs to the
hearts action. The habit is also pre-
valent in the Tyrol and in the Alps.
at 10 also said that the peasant girls
of Switzerland and parts of Germany
and in Scandinavia cat arsenic to give
lustre to thsir eyes aud color to the
cheeks, but this is a matter | have not
investigated. Ii has been shown that
arsenic or arsenical fumes are sure
cure for intermittent fever. The
inhabitants of a section of Cornwall,
England, at one time all suffered with
this type of fever. but when the copper
works were established 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 | am not
yet prepared to say but | lntena
investigating the matter thoroughly.