The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-11-21
ARSENIC IN BEER.
Discovery in England Shows That NJ
cOhOI Is Very Serious and OBJ
scure Source of Disease.

scure Source of Disease.
A remarkable revelation of the most
serious injuries occurring in beer
drinkers has come to light in the neigh
borhood of Manchester, England, in
the past two years. AS far back as
1884 attention was called to the numer-
Gus cases of alcoholic paralysis in this
vicinity. A few years after a noted
expert described similar cases which
seemed to be very numerous in that
section. From that time on these pc
culiar cases have increased, until last
year an examination was, made and it
was found that in the neighborhood
of Manchester and the mill districts
about, alcoholic paralysis was almost
an epidemic. Three hundred cases
were noticed at Manchester, and near
ly five per cent. of all the cases seen
in the hospitals in this region, and ex-
tending to Liverpool, and even to Lon
don, showed this kind of palsy. A care
full inquiry revealed the fact that near
ly all these victims were beer-drink-
ers. An analysis of the beer showed
the presence of arsenic in sufficient
quantity to account for this peculiar
palsy. Experts visited breweries and
obtained specimens of beer, finding
arsenic in nearly every ms tance.
More careful examination showed
that .sulphuric acid entered into the
manufacture of glucose used in the
beer. This acid was made from iron
pyrites, and contained quantities of
arsenic. 1t was used on account of its
cheapness, and in large quantities by
many of the leading brewers. The
symptoms following corresponded to
arsenic poisoning, and many of the
cases died. Others suffered from pal
sizes and diseases of the nervous sys-
tenn which practically incapacitated
them for all work in the future. It
was found that large number of
brewers used in their beer this cheap
glucose containing arsenic, and while
the quantity was very small the ac-
cumulated effect in persons who drank
large quantities of beer was apparent
in very serious and obscure diseases
of the nerves of motion. Over 500 cases
have been noted, and this probably
does not include more than a small
part of the actual number. Parlia-
ment appointed a royal commission
on arSenical poisoning in beer. and evil
dence is now being taken. OF course,
the brewers were ignorant of the in
jury which followed from their beer,
and were anxious to assist all efforts
to find out the cause and to remove it.
Other sections of England have be-
come alarmed, and a very general in
quiry is being made as to the cause
of this new disease wherever it is no.
ticed. 1t is found that alcohol is re-
sponsible for a great many of these
palsies.
The forms of paralysis, from both
alcohol and beer, called neurites, are
the same, and are infiammations of
the nerves of the extremities. A great
deal of interest has been created in
England, and it is confidently asserted
that the disease is due largely to beer
poisoned with arsenic, alcohol and
mineral waters where carbonic acid is
used to make them effervescing. This
disease is well known in this country,
but is not very common. Whether the
brewers use glucose prepared from
sulphuric acid containing arsenic is
not known, but neurites, or palsies Of
the extremities, among beer and alco-
hol drinkers, can be found in many
sections.
The common term describing these
cases is "rhtlmatism Persons who
have used beer and spirits to excess
call these nerve defects ''rheumatic."
1t is probable that long before these
nerve diseases appear the disorders
of the brain occur which attract at
tention, and the other symptoms are
supposed to follow. In reality the
breaking down of the brain is the re-
suit of the obscure inflammation Of
the nerves rather than otherwise. The
stiffness of the lower extremfties and
difficulty of walking noticed among
inebriates is no doubt a very common
symptom of this distinct affection,
which may not go on to extreme
stages.
The conclusion from this very start
ling discovery is evident, that alcohol
in any form is a very serious and OBJ
scure source of disease, and that in
the future we shall be able to trace
many diseases to this source that are
now unrecognized. Beer used in large
quantities and continuously is a very
serious destructive agent, not in its
intimate effects but in its cumulative
action. Beer drinking in England has
received very severe blow with this
revelation, and it is to be hoped that
its influence may extend to this coun-
try and break up much of the fascina-
ton which this drink has in the mind
of many persons who do not use strong
spirits.-T. d. Crothers, in Union Sig
nal.