The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-07-05
POISON BY THE TON.
ENOUGH ARSENIC IMPORTED TO De
POPULATE AMERICA.
4 Small Amount Used for Medicinal
Purposes-Arsenic Acid the Best
Preserver of Fabrics and Co1ors--
What Horsa-DeaIers Do.
New York Herald

There are imported annually in this
city from Cornwall, England, and from
the mines of Austria Hungary, and Boz
humia, about 900 kegs of arsenic, which
average 400 pounds of weight each
Physicians say that a dose of two and
half grains Of arseni0us acid Is pretty GER
tain to prove fatal A little simple tigur
ing will therefore show that If the lmpor-
tations of single year were divided up
into elual portions corresponding in
number with the number of inhabitants
III the United States, and each man,
woman, and child took one of those por-
tons on a 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 juries renders an inquiry
desirable as to the purposes to which the
enormous shipments of this deadly min
eral are applied
A 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 insignifi-
can't, and that the bulk of the importation
is used for manufacturing, preserving,
decorating and beautifying purposes.
Some of the chemists while expressing a
desire not TO be quoted, freely admitted
that health and life were being endan
gered by too free introduction of the
poison into articles of everyday USE
A chemist who is engaged in the serv-
ices of one of our leading importing
houses, ard who is an acknowledged au
thority among his brethren, said: 1t is
no secret that the careless and unskillful
handling Of arsenic and arsenical prepare
lions result, in serious illness and in heavy
loss of life every year.
=" Is it 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 preserver not only of
fabrics, but of colors, 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 q
fascination for some young ladies'
Does the presence of arsenic in an
apartment necessarily imply that it must
be an unhealthy place of abode?"
Not of necessity; still, myself would
net care to sleep in such a room. Odors
may be given out that are sure to sicken
the stomach if the work is unskillfully
done. In my opinion this accounts for a
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 carpet that was found to
have its colors fastened with arsenic
do not believe any physician would main
tain that 1t was proper to place such a
carpet for use in any room.
Are the dangers of using arsenic prep
arations fully recognized by the manu-
facturers who use them"
"They certainly should be; there is no
excuse for 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"
1.-The preparation of atsenious 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 so to 81 years. They are COM
PEELED to 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.
ITO what extent is the dug used as a
medicine?"
"a very small fraction Of the importa.
ton is used for that purpose. 1t is used
as a tonic occasionally, and actresses use
it to pretty considerable extent to i'm
part a bright hue to the complexion and
luster to 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 they also use it
6 or what purpose2"
Take an old railroad horse that has
become emaciated in the service, or a
oroken-down racer. and dose him with
arsenic under the advice of a veterinary
surgeon for few weeks. His appetite
will come to him, his old hair will drop
off. and new coat will come out anC
the animal will become as frolicsome as a
2-year-old. In the horse market he is
bound to bring a good price and the
countryman who buys him will be proud
of his bargain-at least for day or so.
When the effect of the drug dies out the
horse falls away and he never regains his
strength.
as arsenious acid used nlegitimately
by manufacturers?
"On this question I think there can bt
no doubt There may be recklessness I'm
der the guise Of law in using the acid t.
fasten colors on paper, carpets. tapestries
or articles of wearing apparel, and tech
nically speaking there may be nothing
illegitimate in all this. 1t is pretty gener
ally understood. however, that some con
fectioners use arsenical preparations 10
coloring their goods, and this is certainly
most serious offense. Cases of this kline
crop up from time to time. many O.
which result fatally, but know of NJ
instance in which the offender received
the punishment he merited. Arsenic il
also used with dangerous results in paint
ing toys and in coloring trimmings, TO
ball dresses. All these things should bt
stopped by the board of health. Tn,
public have enough to engage their atten
ton in dealing with the scores of legitf
mate fields of industry in which the poison
becomes valuable agent if handled witt
scientific skill T"