Wichita eagle., 1888-06-20
CLAY CATERS Or CianOLIrS-.
A Physicians Study Of Peculiar Vice
A Surprising Discovery.

A short time ago Dr. Frank a. Getchell,
Philadelphia. went on cunning expedi-
ton to North Carolina His quest of
game led him into the wild country back
Of Salisbury which is inhabited, for the
most part, by a miserable race of beings
with only just enough energy to exc out
a wretched existence These creatures
are nearly all yeritable 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, DR.. Getcheu made an incidental
study of this peculiar habit or vice among
the inhabitants
1t is a mountainous country and Ia 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 SEQ
ton, 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
a 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
be refused to do So The woman con-
fessed that she ate the ebay herself, but
explained that the child's health demanded
that it eat some substantial food before
eating any earth Almost every one
met IN this section was addicted TO this
habit. They were all very thin, but their
flesh seemed 70 be pulled out This was
particularly noticeable about the eyes.
which had g. sort of reddish hue
''All of the cisv eaters were excessively
lazy and INDECENT. and all q these oondi-
tons combined led ne TO the conclusion
that there must be some sedative or slim
uiating qualities, or both. in the clay, and
determined 70 find out whether there
was or not. consequently brought a lot
of the clay home with me. and Professor
Tfernan and myself made an analysis Of
the stuff. and discovered that instead Of
clay eaters the inhabitants OF central
North Carolina should more properly bs
called arsenic eaters All OF this clay
contains arsenic, but exactly N what pro
portion we have not yet discovered
Arsenic eating is common IN many psrts
of the world. and is prseticed to g greater
or less extent throughout the world Il
acts as sedstive snd also IS q stin uiant-
The ulountsineers of Syria, Austria, are
habitual arsenic eaters They give as
their reason for eating # that they are
better able 10 climb tine mountains after
eating the poison. and their explanation
is perfectly reasonable one. As arseniS
acts as sedative TO tbs hearts action
Il has been shown that arsenic or arseE-
ieal fumes ere a sure euro for tntermit-
tent fever. The inhabitants Of q section
Of Cornwall, England. ct one time szf-
fered with this type of fever. butswhea
the copper works were established there
the fever disappeared This was &C
counted for by the arsenieal fumes Gre
sted in the treatment of copper As to
whether arsenic eating shorsens life an
not prepared to say. but intend invest
eating the matter thoroughly The Clay
Worker.