Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-23
Agricultural.

a Fine Thing 60 Sell at a Good Profit.
The knavish mesnness Of class Of manu-
facturers and vendors Of proprietary medi-
oines, so-called aud OF other similar prepar-
atoms to gull the public, is something al
most incredible. Not content with duping
and swindling tho poor fools that buy their
stuff at 500 to 1000 per cent, or more, above
It's cost, they are perfectly willing to poison
them also il that will add to their profits.
One Of these scoundrels has lately been ex-
posed by the New York agricultural expert
ment station. He is the proprietor Of an in
secticide called Slug Shot, which has been
extensively advertised and the sales Of which
have been quite large. It was claimed to be
perfectly harmless TO all animals except in
sects. and consequently could be used with
impunity on all fruits and vegetables. An
examination of this inseoticide at the New
York station, two years ago, showed 1t to
contain dangerous quantities of arsenic. 1t
was thought then TO be composed Of gas
lime and London purple, but the manufac-
turer made affidavit that at no time had
either gas lime or London purple been used
in its composition. The maker still adver-
tised il as mot harmful to either man, beast
or fowl, but probably the most effective,
economical article in use for the destruction
of the various insects that prey upon cult
waited vegetation" The printed directions
upon each package state that it CONTAINS
poison thoroughly difTused through natural
and chemical fertilizers, and is perfectly safe
in its use, no matter how bountifully applied"
This claim, still persisted in, was believed to
be liable to result in serious accidents If not
corrected, and led to further examinations,
showing that different compositions we're
sold under the same name, the active ingre-
dent in all of them being Paris green, or
some arsenical poison. DIR. E. Lewis Sturte-
want the director of the station, reports that
few tests showed that the main portion Of
the substance was gypsum, and determine
tions of water, sulphuric acid and lime were
made, which fully confirmed this. DIR. Sturt-
evsnt further says:
"A microscopical examination showed a
reddish coloring matter, and numerous green
particles insoluble in water suggested Paris
green as the probable source of the poison.
To confirm this opinion test for copper was
made which showed its presence in consider
able quantity. In order to obtain a clue to
the quantity of Paris green which the copper
represented, the color impaired to a solution
of ammonia by a given weight of Slug Shot
was compared to that produced in the same
strength of ammonia by Paris green. This
comparison showed that one part of Paris
green was equivalent to about 100 parts oil
Slug Shot. A determination of arsenious &C
id in this same sample (No. y which was re
ceiyed two years ago, gave o. "a per cent.
ION Feb 4, 1856, when the investigation
had reached this point, two more samples Of
Slug Shot mos and 81 were received from
the manufacturer. Externally the PACKAGE
were the same, except that No. was put VI
to be sold by Joseph Breck Il Sons, Boston
Mass. The general appearance of the sub
stance in both of these packages was quit
similar to No. l, although the color wal
slightly darker and the odor somewhat differ
ent more careful examination, however
showed that they were different in compost
ton. No. l was quite free from organ
matter, while both Nos. 2 and 3 contained
considerable quantity of fine organic pow
der which it would be difficult to fully identi
fy but when it is digested in water for som
time and gently warmed, the odor is YER
suggestive of tobacco. This was the sam
in both No. ? and No, 3. The organic mai
ter which these samples contained so mod
fed the color produced by ammonia that n
definite idea of the amount of Paris gree
used could be obtained by direct compariso
az with No. l the color was, however, niue
deeper, showing that they contained nor
than that
determination of the arsenious acid /
No. 3 gave OF per cent. and in No. 3, 0. I
per cent Paris green as obtained in tn
market is not of very constant composition
but the above figures indicate No. l contain
ed about one per cent, No. 2 two per cent
and No. one and one-half per cent. Thes
quantities are larger than necessary for q
Efficient insecticide. Experiments at the ST.
ton have shown that one part of Paris gree
to 100 to $50 parts of land plaster is amp
for the destruction of the potato beetle.
The quantity of arsenic found in thes
samples is certainly sufficient to demand esp,
cisl care in it's use at all times and to warral
the recommendation of its discontinuanC
upon cabbage and all other vegetables al
fruit where it is possible for portion of Il
poison to be retained until it reaches the Il
BILE. When it is considered that one grain
arsenious acid is dangerous dose, and thu
tablespoonful Of any Of the above san
Piles would contain more than this quantit
the necessity for caution in its use will
evident to all"