The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-01
ARSENlC-EATjNG
The Practice More Largely INDUCED In
Than Is Generally Supposed.

The Practice More Largely INDUCED In
Than Is Generally Supposed.
The evidence given before the cor
0ner and magistrates at Liverpool in
the Maybrick case goes far to confirm
tie statements made from time to time
by eminent physicians that the prac-
tice of eating arsenic is largely in
dulged in in various parts of the world.
When Prof. tombstone, in his Chem
istry of Common Life" first called at
tentiOn to the internal use of arsenic
over thirty years ago, his statement
was received with surprise and deri-
sion. The truth of his assertion was,
however, fully demonstrated. especial
ly as regards the Austrian province of
Syria. About two years ago an Aus
trian physician published his observa-
tions on the mental and physical con-
ditiOn of several arsenic-eaters who
had been in the habit of taking vary
ing quantities of ordinary white ar
senic or red Orpiment at intervals for
a long period. The presence of the
poison in the urine showed the average
dose taken daily to be nearly half a
grain. or three times the largest dose
prescribed in medicine Physically
the persons examined were quite up to
the average. while mentally and
intellectually they were in no sen e
below their neighbors. Some were
thin. others abnormally stout, and
the habit did not appear to
have any influence on the forma-
tion of fat. None of the cases showed
symptoms of slow chronic poisoning
and the cause alleged by most of the
persons for giving way to the practice
was that the drug had strengthen.
ing influence on the digestive organs.
Another motive for it's use, especial
ly among girls. is that it.improves
the complexion. rendering the skin
smooth and clear According to DIR.
Buchuer arsenic is habitually mixed
with the dishes served upon the tables
of young ladies' Neutrality-suspicious. in
Switzerland. This remarkable stale
ment receives confirmation from the
transactions of the American pharma-
ceutical conference in New York last
year. Among the subjects discussed
at that conference was the use OF
'.arsenical complexion wafers," and
the questions which the pharmacists
sought to settle were h,w much
arsenic did these waters usually con.
tain, and what were the i'll effects. il
any, arising from their use. From
these and other facts it seems that the
practice is more general than is com
monty supposed. Young persons are
better alb e, it is said. to assimilate the
drug than middle-aged or old people
but persons who have once habituate6
themselves to arsenic-eating can moi
lay it aside. and it is averrad that il
ever they are prevented from obtain
ing their daily dose they experience
all the pains and horrors of slow ar
Ionical pOisOning.- ------' :
There is gentleman living near
Quitman. Brooks County, Ga, who
never ate mOrsel of bread and meat
in his life He subsists principally on
fruits and potatoes. He weighs near.
" Oo and was never sick longer than
an hour in his life He drinks a gal
Ion OF milk day.
On his deathbed Barnum's great
giant, Colonel Goshen, confessed the
commission OF a crime to an attending
minister. The old fellow was har5lv
cold before the minister rushed to ~.
newspapers and prayed it out for The
ae'ecsation OF the curious, withhold
ing only the details otthe crime.