The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-06-27
AN ARSENIC NINE.
Method of Obtaining the Deadly
Drug,
Its Production Is Not Unhealthy
to the Miners.

Many points of interest are brought
out in description in technical
journal of the way in which arsenic is
obtained from one of the most famous
mines in England, the Devon Great
Consuls. The mine was originally
worked for copper alone, and would
have been abandoned but for the dis
covery that the waste thrown ont as
worthless when copper was sought
proved rich in arsenic. Although cop
per is still raised, it is in small quanti-
ties, and the mine has been resolved
into nm arsenic works. The arsenical
pyrites consist of 25 to 30 per cent.
iron, 12l to ii per cent. of arsenic,
and the rest of earthly matter. After
being crushed this is sorted by girls
of from l3 to 16 years of age. 1t is
then washed and 'jigged", or sifted,
and passed on to the first calciner,
where it is burned with low class coal,
and produces ''arsenic SCOT" so mixed
with smoke SCOT from the coal as to be
gray color.
The arsenic and SCOT, deposited in
combin ,tion in the chimney or con-
denser, are scraped out and taken to
the second calciner for publication.
The calciners consist of revolving iron
drums, through which fire of anthra-
cite coal is carried on rotating iron
furnaces kept red hot. As the arsenic
SCOT is subjected to the influence of
this heat the arsenic in sublimed and
condensed. This operation has to be
carefully watched, and if the workmen
burn the arsenic badly they have to
pay for it. Three men in four weeks
will make 100 tons of arsenic. The
chimney in which the arsenic is con-
densed is mile long. 1t is carried to an
incline up hill, with iron doors in
the side. As the hot blast passes up
wards it deposits crust of arsenic
crystals on the brick work all around
to depth of from two to three inches,
and minute dust of crystals fall to the
fioor. The smoke has then to pass in
to an upright chimney 125 feet high,
but Just before doing so it has to
traverse shower of water, which
catches what remains of the arsenic,
nothing but sulphurous acid being al
Owed to escape.
The arsenic is liable to produce
sores if permitted TO lodge in wrin-
kles and folds of the flesh, or about
the mouth and nostrils. As rule.
however, this only happens where
there is carelessness as TO personal
cleanliness, and the arsenic workers
simply have to wash themselves thor.
oughly every day on returning from
work. Otherwise the work is consid-
cred healthy. 1t prevents all eczema,
and the fumes of sulphuric acid, as
well as the arsenical dust, are fatal TO
germs of disease. Most workmen re-
main at the works for number of
years without suffering, but OCCASION
ally the symptoms of arsenical poison
ing, loss of appetite, nausea, frontal
headache and anaemia declare them
selves. 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 neces-
sary for any purpose to enter the up
right shaft. The effect on the eyes is
most painful, and a further curious
evidence of the virulence of the per-
vading atmosphere becomes manifest.
The men wear linen garments, lined
with flannel, and the sulphuric acid
fumes completely destroy the linen in
a few moments, leaving the flannel in
tact, so that the men go 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
would ensue. e.-Montreal Star,
IL.