Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-06-02
Carolina Clay Eaters.

Getchell, of 432 Spruce Street Phil
delphia, went on a cunning expedi-
ton to North Carolina. His quest
for game led him into the wild coun-
try back of Salisbury, which is in
habited, for the most part, by q mis-
cradle race of beings with only just
enough energy to exc out wretched
existence. These creatures are near
ly all veritable living skeletons, and
with few exceptions are addicted to
the habit of clay eating.
While shooting wild turkeys and
other game in this wild region, DIR.
Getchell made an accidental study of
this peculiar habit or vice among the
inhabitants. 1t is a mountainous
country, and in the spring little rivu-
lets 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 a heavy, clayey ma
ture, 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
section,' said DR.. Getchell, "the hab-
it of eating clay is almost universal.
Even little toddlers are confirmed in
the habit and the appetite seems to
increase with time.' While investi-
eating the matter, / entered a cabin
occupied by one of these poor fami-
lies, and saw a little chap tied by the
ankle to the leg of table, on which
was placed a 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 refus-
ed to do so. The woman confessed
that she ate the clay herself, but eX-
planned that the child's health de-
manded that it cat some substantial
food before eating any earth. AL
most every one l 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
lively lazy and indolent, and all of
these conditions combined led me to
the conclusion that there must be
some sedative or stimulating quail
ties, or both, in the clay, and l deter
mined to find out whether there was
or not. 1 consequently broughta lot
of the clay home with me, and Pro
fessor Herman and myself made an
analysis of the stuff, and discovered
that instead of clay eaters the inhab-
itants of central North Carolina
should more properly be called arsen.
ic eaters. All Of this clay contains
arsenic, but exactly in what proper.
ton we have not yet discovered
Arsenic eating is common in many
parts of the world, and is practiced tC
greater or less extent throughout
the world. Itacts as sedative, and
also as a stimulant. The noun
taineers Of Syria, Austria, are hab
itual arsenic eaters. They give al
their reason for eating it that they
are better able climb to thu
mountains after the poison eating
and their explanation is a perfectly
reasonable one, as arsenicact
as a sedative to the hearts &C
ton. The habit is also prevalent il
the Tyrol and in the Alps.
"It is also said that the peasan
girls ofSwitzerland and parts of Ger
many and in Scandinavia eat arsenic
to give luster to their eyes and colo
to their cheeks; but this is a matte
/ have not investigated. 1t has beer
shown that arsenic or arsenical fume
are a sure cure for Intermittent
fever. The inhabitants of a section
of Cornwall, England, at one tim
suffered with this type of fever, bu
when the copper works were estab
lished there the fever disappeared
This was accounted for by the arsen
ic fumes created in the treatment O
copper. AS to whether arsenic eating
shortens life l am not yet prepared
to say, but / intend investigating tn