The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-09-13
CLAY EATERS OF CAROLINA
A Physician's Study OF q Peculiar Wa
A Surprising Discovery.

A Surprising Discovery.
A short time ago DIR, Frank q, GetcheI,
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 miserable race of beings.
with only just enough energy to eke out
a wretched existence These creatures
are nearly 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. DR.. Getchell made an incidental
study of this peculiar habit or vice among
the inhabitants.
1t is a 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 a heavy, clayey nature. but there are
strata of clay that is heavier than tho
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
avid:ty rs topper swallows a glass of
whisky.
Among the poor people Of this sec
ton, said DIR Getchell. 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
6 cabin occupied by one of these poor
families. and saw little chap tied by the
ankle to the L., 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 size wanted him TO eat some
food before he went out to the clay. and
he refused 70 DO SO The woman con
fassed that SIZE axe the clay herself. but
explained that the chiid'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 We're all very thin. but their
flesh seemed 10 be pulled ont. This was
particularly noticeable about the eyes
which had sort of reddish hue
.'All of the clay eaters were excessively
lazy and iadolent. and all Of these condi
tious combined led me to the conclusion
that there must be some sedative or stim
uIating qualities. or both, in the clay, and
was or not. consequently brought a lot
Of the clay home with NE. and Professor
Herman 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 Il sedative aid also as stimulant.
Tho mountaineers Of s;tyria, Austria. are
habituai 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 Il perfectly reasonable ore. rs arsenic
acts Is d seGative to tie Leasts action
i Ia been Slow! that arsenic or ARISEN
icui g,!' :e; tire Il sure cure for inter!uit
Scat felrr Tho INHABITANTS of a section
Of Cornwall, England. at one time suf
fs:c,: with this type Of fever, but when
ii:e copper works were established there
tle fever G:s:.' 0r;.re,i THIS was &C
counted fer l'y t:.e 4I,2n!r:.I f';::ts Gre
SOD il the t?Y:ltE:cnt Of copper rs t.,
whether arsenic eating s!Io:t2!l- iif" az,
n,.t prepared 10 say but !iteud inVeSti
eating the matter thoroughly Tile Clay
Worker