The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17


paper Towering space of ~ square feet(
was analysed and four-tenths Of grain OF
arsenic was found Another tree was
thoroughly sprayed, and subsequently the
grass ana clover beneath 1t was carefully cut
and fed to horse without the slightest sign
Of injury.
The whole matter was well summed up ny
Professor Riley in his recent lecture before
Lowell Institute, in Boston, in the following
words:
The latest sensational report OF TINS KIND
was the rumor, emanating from Lohuon,
within the last week. that American apples
were being rejected for fear that tDeir use was
unsafe. ii we consider for a moment now
minute is the quantity OF arsenic mat
can, under the most fa'oraole circum-
stances. remain in the calyX oil an
onrio ,ve shall see at once how
absurd this fear 10; for. even III tue poison
that ORIGINALLY killed the worm remained IN
tacs ono would have 10 eat many barrels Of
apples at d meal 10 get suinclehI quantity
10 noison n human being. moreover inuch
Of line poisou is washed OIL by ram, ana some
OF il is thrown of by halural grO"lh Vi the
annie "a that there Is, as a rule, nothing lett
~ t,So, ,oisnn IN the garnered fruit. Add to
,tt, az c,,,h,,r fact that few people eat
,,,,,las ,a,,, xvit,aaut casting away the calyN
OH stem ends. the only parts where any
-, I'D undcn the most favorable cir
ir,,,,etoncoc remain. and that these parts
are always cut away n cooking, and we see
how utterly er0undlees are any fears OF IN
iurv and how useless any pionloitNe
measures against AmeriA an apples Oh tnis
score.
USE OF The COPPER co. 'roONDo'
Ever since the copper compom ds caue .u. 20
general use as fungicides the q0A 'V" % ~
their effects, hygenically consIdef. - ,h ne' ev.
ceiyfd more or less attention. WltA '"S
ceotiOn OF the New y Ork city board or ealVn,
no positive stand on this question has .,,n
taken 30 far as we are aware. Many VAA "0
and misleading statements, however, h2',
from time to time appeared in the hortcT1-
tural and agricultural papers. Every one
familiar with the situation understands why
these rumOrs, for such they can only be con-
sldered, are sent out.
We take the ground that fruit sprayed with
copper compounds in accordance win the d.
rectiOns Of the department, is harmless. No
better proof Of this is TO be found than that
shown by the experience Of this country. FOR
i've years the copper compounds nave been
used by hundreds and thousands OF irult
growers in every part of the United states;
IN all that time not single authenticated
case OF poisoning, 50 far as we are aware, mas
been brought TO light. 1t is true few IN
diyiduals have claimed that they were made
cases careful Investigations have revealed
that claims OF this kind were absolutely with
ont foundation. However, we do not con-
slider these general statements sufficient to
warrant US in taking the stand as regards
the barmlessness OF the copper compound
when properly used. More direct testimony
Is readily obtained, and some OF thus we now
propOse TO consider. The questions may be
properly discussed uuder two heads. namely:
ID The present condition OF our knowledge
as regards the toXlcolOgy OF copper.
~ Are the salts found in sufficient guam
tity upon the fruit al the time Of harvest TO
prove injurious to health?
No doubt the majority OF people. including
Dhvsicians would answer tue nrst statement
at once by saying that copper Is poison.
" men we come so look carefully IN the matter,
however. tits found that the very best authori-
ties difler on the subjec.. For more than
hundred wears the question as 10 the poisonous
nature of copper has been discussed, ana yet,
after reading all the testimony, 1t is exceed
inplv difficult from the evidence adduced 10
form definite opinion.
DOUBTFUL QUESTION.
In 1885 the question was discussed before
the Belgium ROYAL Academy OF Medicine Tor
seven months, the object being TO obtal:. some
authoritative data as TO the effect OF copper
contained in f. ench canned vegetables on the
public health. While 1t was nnaily decided
that the copper compounds in food were
harmful, no direct stand as TO the poisonous
nature Of the substance was taken.
We presume no one will deny that copper
in large or even moderate doses is unwhole-
some. Locking at the question from lnls
standpoint let US consider the second pert OF
our subipct-i. G., are the salts found In SUM-
cient quantity i'm connection with properly
spraved fruit at the time of harvest TO cause
injury TO health? Atthis point it may be well
10 add that all our remarks apply to the
bordeaux mixture, which contains about
twenty times as much copper as the
ammOniacal solution, the only additional
funeicide worthy Of consideration on account
of its extended use.
THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE.
At this point we are confronted WITH a
somewhat complex chemical question which
makes it difficult TO obtain results strictly
comparable. The Bordeaux mixture, as else
where shown, is made by the addition of lime
to a solution of copper sulphate. According
to recent Investigations, the reaction Is an eX-
ceedingiy complicated one, the details OF
which are unnecessary here. lthas generally
been accepted that the mixture as sprayed
uuop the vines consists for the most part vi
conner hydrate, which upon drying becomes
an insoluble compound. We have, therefore,
first of all. the question TO consider wheiner
the bydrate is likely 10 prove injurious 10
health as the sulphate in solution. No direct
Investigations upon this point have, so far as
we know, been made. 1t has been shown,
however. that doses of copper four TO nve
times greater can be administered in an in
soluble than soluble state. Finally, when
SPRAYED fruit is analysed the hydrate is
changed in the process 10 oxide or metalHc
copper. which is even more insoluble IMAM
the hydrate The question now briefly stated
resolves itself into this. May we. without as
suming too much, use the facts bearing on
the haFmiulness or harmlessness OF copper
sulphate when considering copper hydrate
and copper oxide? We believe that tins may
be don i'm other words, that If an adull can
safely absorb O.j gram Of copper sulphate a
dav without injury, he may with much less
fear of i'll effects absorb the same quantity oil
conner hydrate and copper oxide In iact, as
regards the i'll effects OF the latter, nyglenl-
callv considered. there is a great deal OF evil
dence which will be considered later.
Accepting, then, 0.5 gram as the maximum
amount of copper in any OF the forms us
cussed that may with safety be daily aosoro-
ed, let us see how these figures compare WIN
the quantity OF this metal found IN connection
with properly sprayed fruits as Wen as sunni
other iOeds and drinks. AnalSse 10 oe'eIi nil l'
the amount OF copper on SPRAYED grapes nave
be made in Germany, france, America
and other countries. The result ol All THESE
show tn cranes sprayed intelllgentiy rarely
con ain more that 5 milligrams (O.VOo gram
OF copper per kiogr IN, the average oelns
from 2H 10 mllligrams per klOSrah. IN