Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-09-22
CANNED GOODS.
What - Chemist Has to Say About Solder
Ing and Lead Poisoning.


Ing and Lead Poisoning.
l have made a speciality of the adul-
terations and deterioration of articles
of food. The usage of canned goods has
multiplied over ono hundred per cent.
in the past ten years and is increasing
daily through the introduction 'of new
foods and now conscrves. This in
crease indicates that this sort OF goods
is becoming necessity for the Nation
and especially for the poorer classes.
For these reasons extraordinary caro-
should be taken, not only with regard
to the reduction of the food to be pre-
served, but also as to the process of
canning same. The great and rapidly
increasing competition in this line Of
business has brought into rcquisition
large amount of cheap and incxperi-
cnccd labor, and the soldering of many
cans manufactured for the preservation
and shipment of food must necessarily
be done without the proper precaution.
A skilled timer can solder with rosin
alone, but then he can not solder one
third as many cans as when chemicals
arc brought into rcquistion. In tho
use of the latter, chloride of zinc or tin
not unfrcqucntly mixes with the article
of canned food While chloride of tin
in small quantities, by some analysts,
is considered i'm less degree injurious
to the human system, chloride of zinc
even i'm small quantities is poisonous.
1t has even been claimed that Bright's
disease is partially due i'm the United
States to the amount of chloride metals
introduced into the human system by
the habitual use of canned articles Of
food. i am, however, of the opinion
that only the best should be permitted
to enter into the human household, and
il it is reduced to question of one
cent per can, and VIC are satisfied that
soldering with rosin will secure immu-
nifty from all poisonous substances, by
all means let us pay the difference and
make the soldering with rosin obliga-
tory under the law. AS another safe
guard, the manufacturer should be
compelled TO have stamped upon
each can of preserved goods tho
year of canning and the firm
name of the manufacturer. By
this the buyer would be furnished q
perfect guarantee Of the freshness OF
the article purchased. If, however,
the goods are properly canned, tho
most harmless solder having been
used, and the air driven out of the can
before sealing, little, if any, danger
turks in canned goods. 1t must never
thcless be borne in mind that these
kinds of goods, no matter how well
put up, deteriOratc when the lid has
been opened for any length of time.
They should be used Immediately. IL
frequently occurs that the soldering
contains lead, then of course what il
known as lead poisoning is probable.
This character of poisoning is vro-
duccd by minute doses introduced into
the human system for length of time.
Sometimes the symptoms are so OBJ
scurc and difficult to trace that il re-
quircs good diagnostic to discover
them. Constipation, cramps, palsy,
affection of the brain, are the most
common symptoms. Furthermore, .
person can take minute quantities OF
lead for long time without experi-
cncing any of the symptoms men.
toned, and finally succumb instanta-
! ncously from the accumulation in the
| system of lead poison. For instance,
in the case of painters, printers, who.
in the generality of cases, conduct
their business for years with impunity
and finally succumb to the full toxic
properties of lead. This character Of
poison has also been produced by to-
bacco wrapped in tin foil containing
lead. as well as from boiling food in
glazed vessels where the enamel con-
tanned lead
knew of case where three gentle
mon of this city, who were In tho
habit of frequcnting acertain saloon
every day, were suddenly taken sick,
and it was positively shown that tho
water from the cistcrn was conveyed
to the bar through lead pipe. These
parties, who had been drinking the
water furnished through this pipe for
! months, were taken sick simultanc.
/ ously.-N o. imcs-Dcmocrdt