The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07

The clay itself is practically tasteless
There are two kinds of this used but the
taste of the, consumers apparently runs
largely to the yellow variety mentioned
above. The second grade is a sort of soap-
stone that is found on the bare ridges and
points where the rains of centuries have
washed gutterwayS into the hard dirt and
these smooth. greasy chips are scattered
about like arrow-heads on an Indian bat
tle-field.
OF the two, the latter substance is con-
sidered the less fatal in effect, but they
both finally bring the same result. and. as
IN all else within the group OF mortal
vices, the worst stands the first in favor
The yellow clay is found i'm different con-
ditions often cropping out along the road
side where cuts have been made, but more
oftcn found in the banks or bed of deep
ly-cut mountain stream. Whether the CLAW
has any particular poisonous or demoraliz-
ing properties cannot be stated beyond
opinion CLEANED from observation of its
eIects, as. so far as information at hand
declares, there is no record of its ever
having been anaiyZed,
Throughout dozen counties along the
Upper Licking and Kentucky rivers and
closer to the Tennessee line, these claws
are 6oth TO be found in abundance. Fortu-
nately, the consumers are not so literally
distributed, although the habit is more or
Tess encountered over the entire territory
IN several counties that might be named
there are families of more than the usual
wealth and influence that have members
addicted to the habit
The effects of the use of either clay show
n IT. me growth q the child. for the appe-
youth, before. in fact, the fun signifi-
canoe of the act can be appropriately real
izod. Development in every respect is
stuntcd, unless il be in the way of de-
pravity, and the light-hearted gayety and
vivactty of youth give way to the sullen
moroseness, of disanpointed and dissi-
patcd middle age. kAefE
Life becomes a burden and the ordi-
nary tasks of living torture A reckless
disregard OF responsibility develops and
only the depreciation of energy as well
prevents the most dangerous Of natures
from developing. If the child succeeds in
reaching panhool it Is with ruined life
IN fee. Bctter thousaRd times that it die
in infancy Its life and being is a mock
cry. Only the mortal shell exists; all else
is Slapped away.
it is only with the most heroic treatment
that the cure can be effected even i'm child
hood II has not been very long since in
one of the mountain counties man and
his wife were arrested and taken to the
county seat for inhunanly whipping their
offspring, a little girl Of six years. There
il was explained that the child had ac-
qured the habit of eating dirt. and that if
she was not corrected in youth there was
no hope in later years The judge released
the couple and advised "A splicing of persua-
sion with their reprimands.
In another county now penetrated by a
railroad and rapidly developing its rich
natural resources, the habit was common
a decade ago and is yet extensively fol-
lowed. To hear il remarked that SO and
SOS boy WOulOn I i've long. ne was eat
ing dirt was nothing unsual nor i'm fact
was the fulnlment of the prophesy. And
here, as In many other places nothing I'M
usual was thought OF the conditions that
had been familiar through a lifetime.
Less than a year ago a family moved
to this city from distance I'm the coun-
try and OF the widow and her six chill
dren All but two according to her state
ment We're dirt-eaters She had learned
h when a child, and her children had
imbibcd the idea through seeing their
parents practice 1t. This woman, who
was nearly 20 years OF age, stated that
often she would have TO leave the wash
tub TO satisfy her abnormal craving for
a pinch OF tasteless clay. Although she
was addicted 20 the use OF tobacco. she
claimed there was no comparison TO be
placed upon the desire for the two: She
could Withstand her passion for tobacco,
but never her desire for pinch of earth
There have been instances where a
course Of treatment at the hands OF a
physician has proved effectual, but they
have been far more infrequent than
otherwise In several of these cases the
patients died shortly after the cure
was pronounced complete In only one
instance at present recalled was the
victim really completely removed from
all desire for the mud. The man In this
case was q wealthy citizen Of one of the
counties in Southeastern Kentucky. and
he too. IS now dead
The conditions arc peculiar, but little
known, and UNNECESSARILY less under
stood even where most general; while
at the present there Is no relief, az least
In sight Il. g. Collier.