The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-01-05
A DANGEROUS TRADE.
Risks That Those Engaged in Max
ing Poisons Run.
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune

It is not generally known that Cincin-
natl has within her confines half dozen
factories that manufacture every day
enough deadly poisons to annihilats the
entire population Of the city.
These factories are carefully guarded
from all intruders and even the employees
have to be skilled in their work and be
well aware Of the risk they take before ad
mittance is granted.
Some of the poisons are so deadly that
inhaling the fumes that arise from their
manufacture would mean certain death.
This is especially the case with anhydrous
acid, drug that is never placed ON the
market in its pure state, and even in the
chemist s laboratory it is handled. with all
the care that would be given to poison
GUS reptile. If the fumes of this acid
should escape, the chemist would never
live to tell the tale. The man who dis
covered it was killed by inhaling its fumes,
and other men have met similar deaths.
Probably the most dangerous OF the
drugs manufactured here is the cyanide of
potassium. Its fumes are said not to be
poisonous, and one can work in the room
where it is manufactured without fear, ex
cept that he must moi touch it. The
slightest quantity Of the poison in its pure
state would kill instantly if swallowed.
The fumes arising from it have rather a
pleasant odor, and it is said that it pro-
duces witching effect upon the workmen.
The finished poison looks like crystallized
sugar and as you gaze on it and smell the
fascinating odor there is strong tempta-
ton to taste it. The fascination is proba
bly, much like that which draws man
over steep precipice. At any rate, the
attraction to taste of the poison is SO well
recognized that workman is never allowed
to remain alone in the room where it is
being manufactured.
Nitric and sulphuric acids are poisons
equally fearful in their results when once
liberated These poisons eat away and
through almost anything, and they can
only be kept in carboys. When one of
these carboys is broken, the factory is
doomed. The acid spreads round and be-
gins to eat into everything it touches and
incidentally sets everything indammable on
fire. To collect the acid or 10 counteract
its effects is an impossibility. As it burns
and spreads around its fumes become dead
" in their effect, and fremen attempting
to put out the flames would suffer. The
fumes do not kill at once, but if breathed
for "a hours they poison the system, and
death ofttimes results.
The fumes of corrosive sublimate are as
deadly as almost any poison, and in factor
les where the drug is made the greatest
care is used to prevent them escaping.
There are many other poisons made for
commercial use that are only a little less
powerful, but nearly all of them are diluted
when placed on the market. Some of
these are yellow prussiate Of potash, nj
trate Of silver, acetate of lead and copper,
ferrocyanide of potash, white and red lead
and many other poisons. By their being
diluted the danger of using and handling
is minimized
There is one factory in Cincinnati that
does thriving business securing nitrate of
silver from cast off photographers stocks
and still another that makes the drug in
crude way The proprietor of the latter
establishment is a native of Switzerland,
and the garnet of his house is his workshop.
Some time ago he was overcome by the
fumes from his crucibles and came near
dying. He had met with young Ger
man learning the trade, and the apprentice
suddenly quit his job when he discovered
that his skin was turning BLUSH hue.
The accidents that have resulted from
handling this class of poisons are many.
Several years ago carboy of nitric acid
was accidentally broken in factory in
Eastern avenue, and the acid began to have
its way without opposition. Itsoon started
the interior of the factory on fire, and it
was eating its way into an adjoining room,
where large quantities of other poisons were
stored. Several workmen volunteered to
put out the flames and to check the acid
in its deadly work. Several hours were
occupied before they succeeded, and when
matters seemed all right they returned
home. The next day all were sick, and
one Of the men died, the fumes Of the
acid having been inhaled and enough Of
the poison absorbed to cause death.