Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-29
WOMEN WHO EAT ARSENIC.
The Misery in store for Those Who
Succumb to the Habit.
From the NstD l'ork Star.


Succumb to the Habit.
Frons the Nsw York Star.
"Just take a good look at this woman
coming toward lis and tell me what you
think Of her," was the low-toned remark
OF well-known Thirty-sixth street ply
siciaD, who was sitting on the bench with
the writer in Union Square yesterday
afternoon.
The woman to whom he referred was
elegantly dressed in a polksdot silk walk
ing costume, and her plump, well-deVel-
oped figure was displayed with true
fashion able precision.
80 you didn't see anything queer aoout
! her. eh - asked the physician.
"Well, III tell you what ! saw. First,
that woman's eyelids, particularly the
lower ones, were very puffy and full, pre-
sehtlng the same appearance mat ensues
when one indulges in a good Mt OF crying.
Chat complexion which YOU admired was
really and truly OF an alabaser wilderness,
| but the delicate pink was produced by
paint and the dead white ny arsenic"
"Arsenicl How do you know she takes
arsenic?"
because two years ago she came to me,
thln, almost gaunt woman, and asked
me for prescription for her complexion,
winch was in terrible condition. You
see she had been using face powders and
paints In her stage "make up" and they
had nnaliy brought on skin disease.
Wen, an arsenlcal solution is the constit-
uent part of any prescription for the COM
nlexion. ] gave her such prescription,
but warned her that she must use it in
small doses, and that after three months
she must gradually increase the intervals
between doses until thew finally ceased at
the end OF the four months, She pr0mis ID
10 obey me. but she didn't. Just as soon
as she found that the arsenic as improv-
ing her complexion know what followed
as If were there to see it. She CON-
menced to Increase the doses, in accord
ance with the popular fallscv that II
little is good more must be better. The
arsenic OF course added to her good looks
with wonderful celebrity. Her cheeks
hlled up, and it was not long before her
friends commenced to comment upon her
improved appearance. She at Oncevre-
doubled the doses, and gradually became
the possessor Of plump, graceful figure.
Her delight was probably great when her
dressmaker suggested that She need mt
use cotton batting any LOGGER to improve
! hershape. But she could not get that
pink tlnge to her white cheeks without
the paint." so
swell, il arsenic produces all these
pleasant results, why shouldn't she use
itP" *entured the Stars young man.
BECAUSE. y replied the physician with
savage emphasis, ''the good results are
only temporary, and she will soon be-
come physical wreck. | felt myself
partially responsible for her recklessfess
when met her on Fourteenth street the
other day. So what should do, ike the
old fool that am, but try aud mend mat
| tiers. asked If might call on hers and
she. agreed, so i went to her boarding
house the following night. After we had
talked IN the parlOr for few minutes,
leaned forward and told her Quietly that
she would kill herself if she persisted in
using that arsenic preparation which |
gave her in 1884. Now, do you think she
| looked confused and promised to heed the
warning? Not bit of it! She bounced
up, and flOunced down on me like a hur-
| ricane.
"Sir-r-r,' she said. with that angry
look OF virtuOus indignation which stage
| herOines always affect. You are in-n-so-
| lent. Leave mah.' She looked like she
was going to call a policeman. and the
boarders, whose attention had been at
tracted by her loud tones, were clearly
convinced that was a wicked old roue
who had made himself too familiar.
| lett that parlor in hurry, and with me
regainlng normally healthy condition"
chow will the arsenic affect her ?o
| "Before she gets back to town from 'the
| road next spring she will commence TO
notice, while combing her hair, that 1t is
dropping out very freely. l have written
to her, warning her that this aud Other
symptoms Will soon develop. She don't
believe rue now, hut just as soon as the
| hair falling commences she will know
am speaking the truth. She will'stop her
i arsenic doses In panic, and in two weeks
| she will be the worst looking object tha
ever wore female clothing. The euttins
off Of the arsenic supply Will precietatt
| the very trouble she willahope to avert
Her cheeks will sink in, her finger nailE
i will commence to crack and split, and be
4 fore week her complexion will be gone
i Ont Of sheer desperation she will reSnrnt
her arsenic and will be tenn poFsrily hene
fitted. But willwager my professional
reputation that the season OF 1SS6ss7 wi
be her last on the stage She will hav,
the worst symptoms of arsenical poison
ing before next summer is over, and Wil
I beso hideously ugly that she will Baye t.
retire from the stage, whether she wants
/ t0,Or not" 10 90 % T. 1000
4 "What are the final results Of the dis
\ easet, ErA .Fs97' 'sTjos9 .
"Palpitation OF the heart, a deadly op
| preston in breathing, itching ewes, stiff
ness of the Joints and terrible evacuation
In this condition the slightest cold will
bring on galloping consumption and
| death. Yet know that arsenic eating is
on the Increase