The morning call., 1894-06-30
WORKING IN POISON.
What Precaution Men Who Work In
the Arsenic Mines Take.


the Arsenic Mines Take.
Many points of interest are brought out
in a description in technical journal of
the way in which arsenic is obtained fIom
one of the most famous mines in England.
the Devon, Great Consols. The mine
was originally worked for copper alone
and would have been abandoned but
for the discovery that the waste thrown
out as worthless when copper was
sought proved rich in arsenic. Although
copper is still raised, it is in small ouanti-
ties, and the mine has been resolved into
an arsenic works. The arsenical pyrites
consists of % to so per cent of
iron, 1212 to IA per cent of arsenic, and
the rest of earthly matter After
being crushed this is sorted by girls
of from Is to Is years of age. 1t is then
washed and "jigged," or sifted, and passed
on 10 the first calclner, where it is burned
with low-class coal, and produces "arsenic
soot"-that is. arsenic so mixed with smoke
from the coal as TO be gray color. The
arsenic and SCOT, deposited in combination
IN the chimney. or condenser, are scraped
out anu taken to the second caicner for
purification. TIE calciners consist of
revolving iron drums. through wH4sh
fire of anthracite coal is carried on re-
tating iron furnaces kept red hot
AS ALc dl lStulCdl SUOb Is Cl6U 10 ING
influence of this heat the arsenic
is sublimed and conden sed. This Op-
Grafton has TO be carefully watched,
and if the workmen burn the arsenic
badly they have to pay for it. Three
men in four weeks VIII make 100
tons of arsenic The chimney in which the
arsenic Is condensed is mile long. 1t is
carried to an incline up a hill. with iron
doOrs in the side. AS the hot blast
passes upward it deposits a crust of
arsenic crystals on the brickwork all
round to a depth of from two TO three
inches and minute dust of crystals
fall TO the floor. The smoke has then TO
pass into an upright chimney, 125 feet
high, bnt just before doing so it has to
traverse shower OF water, which catches
what remains Of the arsenic, nothing but
sulphurous acid being allowed to escape.
The arsenic is liable TO produce sores if
permitted 10 lodge in wrinkles and folds
of the flesh or about the mouth and nos
trils. AS rule, however, this only hap
pens when there is caTeessness as to clean
liness, and the arsenic workers simply have
to wash themselves thoroughly every dav
on returning from work. Otherwise the
work is considered healthy. 1t prevents
all eczema and the fumes of sulphuric
acid. as well as the arsenical dust, are fatal
to germs of the disease. Most wOrkmen
remain at the works for a number of years
without suffering. but occasionally
the symptoms of arsenical poisoning,
loss Of appetite, nausea, frontal head
ache and anaemia declare themselves.
When this takes place the work
has to be given up entirely. The
greatest danger to which the workmen are
exposed is met when it is necessary
for any purpose TO enter the upright
shaft. The effect on the eyes is
most painful, and a further curious
evidence of the viIulence OF the per-
ofmOeOhQrp hnaOnnac
The men wear linen garments lined
with flannel, and the sulphuric acid fumes
completely destroy the linen in few
moments, leaving the flannel intact, so
that the men 90 into the shaft in linen and
come out clad in wool. Fortunately it is
seldom necessary to enter the shaft, or
great loss of sight wouls ensue.-Montreal
Star.