The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-06
POISON By THE TON.
ENOUGH ARSENIC IMPORTED TO De-
POPULATE AMERICA
a Small Amount Used for Medicinal
Purposes-Arsenic Acid the Best
PreserVer Of Fabrics and CoIors--
What Horse-DeaIers Do.
New York Herald

New York Herald
There are imported annually in this
city from Cornwall, England and from
the mines of Austria. Hungary. and Be-
hcmia about 900 kegs of arsenic. which
average 400 pounds of weight each
physicians say that dose of two and q
half grains of arSeniOus acid is pretty GER
tain 10 prove fatal 4 little simple igur-
ing VIII therefore show that if the impor-
tations Of a single year were divided up
into equal portions corresponding in
number with the number of Inhabitants
in the nited States. and each man,
woman, and child took one Of those pOr-
tiOns on given day. human life would
on that day cease TO exist in the territory
now covered by the stars and stripes In
recent Years the importation has rapidly
increased. and the fact that numerous
cases of arsenical poisoning appear from
time TO time on the police records and be
fore coroner : lurleS renders an inquiry
desirable As 10 the purposes 20 which the
enormous shipments Of this deadly min
eral are applied.
y reporter visited several Of the great
drug importing houses. and consulted
chemists IN reference To this matter. All
admitted that the quantity Of arsenic
used for medicinal purposes is insignif-
can't and that the bulk of the importation
Is used for manufacturing, preserving.
decorating and identifying purposes
Some of the chemists while. expressing a
desire not 10 be quoted, freely admitted
that health and life were being endan
gered by a too free introduction of the
poison into articles OF everyday use
\ chemist who is engaged in the serv-
ices of enc of our leading importing
houses, ard who Is an acknowledged su-
thoTlty among his brethren, said: 1t is
no secret that the careless and unskillful
handling of arsenic and arSenical prepare
uons result IN serious illness and IN heavy
loss of life every year. "
Is 1t not a fact that arsenic IN one
shape or another is making inroadS into
fashionable households year after year,"
This can not be disputed Arsenic
acid Is the very best pTcScrver not only of
fabrics, but of COlOTs, and it Is but natural
that decorators should take some risks in
using it, In many of our fashionable
mansions the bright colors on the walls
are made fast by arsenic; the same may
be said of the carpets and tapestries. and
Of the gaudy, tinted robes which have
fascination for some young ladies.
Docs the presence of arsenic in an
apartment necessarily imply that ii must
be an unhealthy place of abode2"
Not of necessity; still, | myself would
net care TO sleep in such room OdorS
may be given out that are sure 10 sicken
the stomach if the work is unSkillfully
done. In my opinion this accounts for
good deal of the debility and nervous all
ments that prevail in fashionable circles
here and elsewhere Quite recently a
woman lost her eye sight in this city
while cleaning a carpet that was found TO
have lis colors fastened with arsenic. l
DO not believe any physician would main
tain that il was proper TO place such a
carpet for use IN any room.
Are the dangers Of using arsenic prep.
~,
fac;urers who use them"
They certainly should be. there is no
excuse tor ignorance in a matter of this
kind 1t is our business to import and
sell our goods under proper safeguards;
after that all our responsibility ends.
Are there dangers in the preparation Of
the article for the Market
The preparation of arsenious acid is a
most hazardous occupation. The work
men employed generally die before the
age of 40. and their mean term of life
runs from 80 TO - years, They are COM
PEELED 90 avoid alcoholic drinks. and to
live principally on leguminous vegetables.
with plenty of butter. taking very little
meat and that fat To each man two
glasses of olive oil are administered daily.
To what extent is the drug used as a
med .Ciuc5 e,-v-
~ very small fraction or the lmporta,
tion is used for that purpose II s, uS'u
as tonic occasionally. and actresses us6
1t 10 "A pretty considerable extent to i'm
part bright hue to the complexion aud
lustcr 10 the eyes When once used for
that purpose it must be taken right along
or the young lady will find that not only
her dazzling vision but her bodily
energies will melt away with incredible
speed. Horse dealers know thing or
two about arsenic. and tnay also use it
For what purposo2'
Take an old railroad horse that has
become emaciatcd I'm the service or a
broken down racer and dose him with
arsenic under the advice of veterinary
surgeon for few weeks His appetite
will come 10 him his old hair will drop
oil. and a Hcw coat will come ont and
the animal will become as fr0licsome "a a
2.yoarod I'm the horse market he "a
bound 10 bring n good price aud the
cOuntryman who buys him will he proud
of his bargain at least for "A day or So
When the effect of the drug dice ont the
horse falls away and ho never rogains his
strength
" Is arscu,oue acid used illcgjtmatcy
hy manufacturers.
aHn This question think there ran ho
no doubt There may De rrcklvssurSs un.
der ihr rUisn ui law I'm using the acid %
roston rolnr- ON Iarrr. carpets tapestries.
ur articles o' wearing apparel. and tech
ni,aIlv sUuui ina there may hr nothing
illrgiliWHte bon Ill ihi7 II i7 pretty gouor
ally understood however that some con
PETITIONERS uan or-ruicol preparations iD
roIoriug their goods and this is certainly
" most serious "ilenac. Cases of This kind
crop mp from timr 10 time many Of
which result fatally. bat I know Of no
instance ion which Che offender received
the punishment be mpritcd Arsenic ia
also used with dangerous results i'm paint
ing toys and I'm cul"riup trimmings for