Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-12
Hoods Jarsaparilit
MEN VINO WORK IN Porsov SHOPS,


Philadelphia Evening Post.
A factory for the manufacture OF some
OF the ,deauliest poisons known ia
located not far from the heart of New
York City, and sufficient poison ia
being made there now to annihilate the
whole population OF the greater oity.
IL IS guarded carefully from all in
truders, and no one passes beyond its
portals without special permit and
even employees have to be skilled in
their work and the nature Of the risk
they take befoie Hdmittance is granted
them. 10 this factory Is manufactured
pure anhydrous acid, drug that is
never placed on the market In its purs
state, and even in the ohemist's lnbora.
tory 1t is handled with all the care of
poisonous reptile. II the fumes of this
aoid should escape the chemist would
never live to tell the tale. The man
who discovered il was killed by in
mailing its fumes, and many another has
met similar death. From three to
hye per cent of this acid diluted with
w parts OF water forms prussia acid.
Even this poison is so deadly that in
halipg its fumes would mean instant
death, and it is never handled except
ID the factory or few large responsible
laboratories.
Probably next In Importance to this
acid is the cyanide OF potassium, which
ia manufactured in the same factory.
only in another part OF the building,
where a freproof and air tight wall
shuts 1T oil from the first. The fumes
OF this are not poisonous, and one can
work in the room where it is manu-
iactured without fear, except that he
must not touch 1T. The slightest
quantity OF the poison in Its pure state
would Kill IL swallowed. The fumes of
cyanide of potassium have a rather
pleasant odor, and it is said at the FAC.
tory that 1T has witching effect ON
the workmen. For all the world the
nnished poison looks like crystallized
sugar, and as you gaze on 1t and smell
the fascinating odor there is strong
temptation to taste it, This fascina.
tion IL probably much like that which
draws a man over q steep precipice. AT
any rate. the attraction to taste Of the
poison is 80 well recognized that a
workman Is never allowed in the room
alone. In the mixing room, where the
men toll before huge cauldron of
molten cyanide, the scene is like that
OF some old witch's cave. especially il
one knows the nature of the terrible
poison that the men arebrewing.
Nitric aud IN another poison equally
fearful in its results when onpe
liberated. This poison eats away and
through almost anything. and it can be
kept in glass oarboys only. Break one
Of these, and the factory ia doomed,
The acid spreads around and begins TO
aat into everything 1t touches, and
incidentally sets everything inflam
mable on fire. No man can col
lect the acid, and 1t is almost i'm
possible to pour anything over 1T 10
counterfeit its effect. AS il burns ard
5pf eads around its fumes bedBme deadly
IN their effect, and firemen attempting
% put out the flames would suffer
therefrom. The fumes do not kill at
'nce, but IL breatLed steadily for a
lime they enfeeble and prison the
lystem SO that within "a hours death
ZONES.
A carboy OF nitric acid was acci.
isntally broken several years ago in
MS factory, and thee acid began to
lave its way without opposition. Ii
oon started the interior of the factory
10 lire, and it was eating its way into
he adjoining rooms, where prussic acid
vas stored. Several of the workmen
'olunteered to put the flames out and
Q check the acid in its deadly work.
chey worked for several hours before
hey succeeded. ard then they scanned
VI right and returned home. Bot the
ext day they were all dead, the fumes
4 the acid having been inhaled and
nouyh OF the poison absorbed to make
sath absolute.
The fumes of corrosive sublimate are
9 deadly as almost any poison, and in
aotories where it is made the greatest
are must be taken to prevent tn dir
scaping. Where it is necessary for the
ien to go into the room where this
umes are likely to escape, they are
iasked with glass headdress, which
nables them to sec but not breathe
he atmosphere. Pure air is puh,ped
them through tube, and they are
luch like the diver who explores the
"a bottom. There are many other
oisons made for commercial use that
70 only little less powerful than
1889, but nearly all of them are diluted
hen sold on the market. The danger
using them is thus minimized. SO
lat one can handle them with ease il
binary care is bestowed upon their
rOIer haDdlino