Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-30
ARSENICAL POISONING.
Che Deadly Drug Is Extensively Used In
the Manufactures.

Chc Deadly Drug Is Extensively Used In
the Manufactures.
The peculiar character of arsenic and
its wonderful power of combination
with other substances to produce great
variety of brilliant and enduring colors
have brought it into d very extensive
use, which has steadily and rapidly In,
creased until it now enters into the
manufacture of very large variety Of
domestic articles, many of which
are worn as clothing or otherwise
brought into close contact with those
who use them, and there is hardly
household In the country but has moro
or less of this poison in some form.
There are various articles Of domestic
use into which arsenic Is Incorporated,
says the Boston Herald. We sleep in
bedrooms the walls Of which are hung
with paper filed with arsenic. Our
most beautiful draperies are equally
loaded with this poison. We sit upon
sofas which every time they are COM
pressed throw into the atmosphere this
same poison. We wear clothing
containing enough arsenic, If taken
into the stomach, to produce a
speedy death. Our little children are
wrapped in beautiful shawls containing
this same death-dealing drug. Their
playthings are rendered more beautiful
and attractive by this very poison. Tho
papers In which their bon-bons and
candies are enveloped are colored
with arsenical preparations. Even the
utensils In which our food is cooked are
sometimes lined with this poison.
Now, if any considerable proportion
of arsenic Is taken into the stomach at
once, its effects are SO uniformly severe
that suspicion Of poisoning is imme-
diately aroused and search Is made for
the cause Of 1t. But when 1t Is taken
very slowly the symptoms are somaslzed
by many surrounding circumstances
and conditions that even the most ex-
perienced physicians do not discover
the cause. The soreness Of the throat,
the difficulty Of breathing, the nauses
and vomiting, the pallor and weakness,
often are attributed to entirely different
causes, and it may be months or even
years before the true cause Is discov-
ered.
To-day one Of the most honored eiti-
gems Of Boston is lying on his deathbed
after two or moro years Of prostrations
and suffering, and II - only within the
last few months that It was discovered
that he was saturated with arsenic,
which his system has been gradually
absorbing from long continued exposure
to it. The nicer chemical tests Of late
years are discovering the Same oondi-
ton in many chronic invalids, while
every physician has had cases which,
resisting all treatment, he has been
obliged to send away from home into
different surroundings before they could
be relieved.
Ought we not, then, to have laws
which will protect US from this insidious
danger, which Is concealed under forms
most attractive aad alluring2 That ar
senic is very important substance In the
arts, and may In many cases be SO COM
bined as to be partially inert, Is very
true; yet, as 1t is often left In . free
condition and capable Of producing
poisonous effects upon the human sys.
tenn, why should 1t not always. when sc
offered for sale, be labeled as poisonp