The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-09-11
WOMEN WHO EAT ARSENIC.
A Habit Common in Many Large Cities.
English Women Use Fly Paper, but
a al AIT irlo

EnRIlSh women use Ely Paper, put
Americans Take the Genuine Article.
The sensational trial, conviction, sen
tence aud Communication of sentence of
Mrs Maybrick, charged with poisoning
her husband, and her defense, through
which she claimed that the presence Of
acSenical fly paper in her boudoir was
for toilet purposes have turned publ:
attention to the use of this poison by
women of fashion. Mrs. Maybrick en-
deavored to explain away the presence
of the poison by alleging its use for the
improvement of her complexion: She
explained how she sklllfully prepared if
for toilet purposes, and, in view of the
strictncss of EnS Slish law regarding the
sale of poison when not absolutely a
necessity, her explanation would.proba-
bly, have been accepted by the court and
her diversions from the path of wifely
duty been less notorious.
1t is appalling to note how the d. mand
for arsenic has increased Of late years.
Before the enterpriSing American wo-
men of the middle class discovered the
complexion-improving qualities of The
deadly drug, its Use was confined to
wealthy women of fashion. Soon all
women began to learn of the desirable
pale pink tint impaired to the skin
when arsenic was judiciouSly taken,
and druggists began to find in arsenic
Il profitable source of revenue.
Druggists do not deny nor do rapu-
table physicians that arsenic carefully
administered may improve the complex
ion or even benefit the system under
certain conditions. But they dcplorc
the prodigal use which the poisonous
drug has reached. English law is so
strict regarding the sale of such drugs
that conscientious apothecarieS refuse
to supply customers except upon the
prescription of physician. In America
the laws are more lax, and the most
trivial excuse given by the lady customer
will pave the way for the purchase of
arsenic which an unscrupulouS customer
may apply to an unlawful purpose.
4 well-known druggist makes the
statement that tiy-payer is largely used
in England by women for the same pur
pose to which Mrs. Mayblick devoted it.
Soaking the paper in wafer will extract
the arsenic from the sheet and transfer
the poison to the liquid. 1t is then ap-
piled to the skin or drank in minute
doses with the result which is SO appar-
ent IN Mrs. Maybricks appearance.
Like the opium habit, arsenic eating
grows upon the victim, and its work is
slow but sure. Arsenic is used for
amounting purposes, too, by large num-
bers of working girls who toll in the
mills and factories. They have not vet
learned the art of eating the drug, and
employ it in a crude fashion by disSOlv
ing the substance in water and applying
it in lotion-like form to the face and
hands. Its beautiful effects are not SO
quickly apparent as are those of arsenic
eating, but sooner or later the foolish
victims Of the poisonous drug contract
an appetite for It, and their death is but
a matter of months.
1t is not possible to estimate the num-
Ger of deaths among women for which
the Use of arsenic is responsible, owipgs1
W tueif - si;s75SS|-11 Du'
a goodly props I'D blood
poisoning cases ed 10 an is-
noraut use of afsenic. There is no de-
nying the e-fact that its use is daily IN,
ereasing. American women, favored
by the looseness of laws governing
druggists, are enabled to buy arsenic IN
its pure state, and do not take kindly to
hy-paper. Doubtless they sympathlze
with Mrs. Maybrick. whose confession
has laid before the world the dire emer-
gency to which women arsenic slaves in
England have been reduced. With
characteristic American independence,
they buy arsenic powder or in Jumps,
and seek the secluSion Of their homes to
make use of it.-Philadelpltia Record.