Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-07-05
CLAY EATERS OF CAROLINA.
A Physicians Study of a Peculiar Vice.
Surprising Discovery.


A short time ago Dr. Frank Fl Getchell,
Philadelphia went on cunning expedi-
tion to North Carolina. His quest Of
game led him into the wild country back
of Salisbury. which is inhabited, for the
most part. by miserable race of beings,
with only just enough energy to exc out
wretched existence These creatures
are nearly all veritable living skeletons,
and. with few exceptions. are addicted to
the habit of clay eating While shooting
region. Dr. Getcheu made an incidental
study of this peculiar habit or vice among
the inhabitants
1t is 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 rivulets be-
come torrents. and great washouts are
made along the mountain side. The 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 accumulates in heaps in the val
ley These little pellets and rolls are
what the clay eaters devour with as much
avidity as a topper swallows a glass of
whisky.
Among the poor people of this Sec
tion." said DR.. Getchell. 1.-The habit of
eating clay is almost universal Even
little toddlers are confirmed in the habit.
and the appetite increases with time
While investigating the matter, entered
cabin occupied by one of these poor
families. and saw little chap tied by the
ankle to the leg Of 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
replied that she wanted him to eat some
food before he went out to the clay. and
he refused to do So The woman con-
fessed that she ate the clay herself, but
explained that the child's health demanded
that it eat some substantial food before
eating any earth Almost every one l
met in this section was addicted to this
habit. They were all very thin. but their
flesh seemed to be puffed out This was
particularly noticeable about the eyes.
which had sort of reddish hue
''All of the clay eaters were excessively
lazy and indoent. and all of these condi-
tions combined led me to the conclusion
that there must be some sedative or slim
ulating qualities, or both. in the clay, and
| determined to find out whether there
was or not. consequently brought lot
of the clay home with me. and Professor
Tiernan and myself made an analysis of
the stuff. and discovered that instead Of
clay eaters the inhabitants of central
North Carolina should more properly be
called arsenic eaters All of this clay
contains arsenic. but exactly in what pro
portion we have not yet discovered.
Arsenic eating is common in many parts
of the world. and is practiced to greater
or less extent throughout the world It
acts as sedative and also as stimulant
The mountaineers Of Styria, Austria. are
habitual arsenic eaters. They give as
their reason for eating it that they are
better able to climb the mountains after
eating the poison. and their explanation
is perfectly reasonable one. as arsenic
acts as sedative to the hearts action.
1t has been shown that arsenic or arsen-
ical fumes are sure cure for intermit-
tent fever. The inhabitants of section
of Cornwall. England. at one time suf-
fered with this type of fever. but when
the copper works were established there
the fever disappeared. This was ac
counted for by the arsenical fumes Gre
ated in the treatment of copper AS to
whether arsenic eating shortens life am
not prepared to say, but intend investi-
eating the matter thoroughly The Clay
Worker.