The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-01-04
POISON SHOP WORKERS.
EXPOSED TO MORE DANGERS THAN
EtREMEN.

erseaution. Taken BY Them-Ihe Almost
irresistible Temptation to Sample Their
w.rss-uss of Glass Hsaddressss
Dangers Minimizsd.
Atkttory for the manufacture OF some
,f the deadliest poisons known is located
not far from the heart of New YORK lily
and sufficient poihon is being made there
now to annihilate the whole population
of the greater city, says the EvenHg
Post 1t is guarded carefully from all
intruders, and no one passes beyond us
portals without special permit, ana
even employees have to be skilled III
their work and the nature OF the rise
they take before admittance is granted
them. In this factory is manufactured
pure anhydrous acid, drug that Is never
placed on the market in Its pure state'
and even in the chemists laboratory II
is handled with all the care OF poison,
Gus reptile. If the fumes OF this acio
should escape, the chemist would never
live to tell the tale. The man who dis-
covered il was killed by inhaling ITS
fumes. and many another has met a SIM
liar death. From 3 to 5 per cent OF TINS
acid diluted with 81 parts OF water ioii's
prussic acid. Even this poison Is so
deadly that inhaling its fumes would
mean instant death, and it is never hand
led except in the factory or icy large
responsible Laboratories.
| Probably next in importance to tnls
acid is the cyanide Of potassium. WHICH
| is manufactured in the same factory;
only in another part OF the buiioihg,
where a fre-proof and air-tight wall
shuts it off from the first. The fumes
of this are not poisonous, and one can
work in the room where it is manufac-
tured without fear, except thatNhe mus.
not touch it. The slightest quantity 81 o,
the poison in its pure state would XIII
If swallowed. The fumes of cyanide q
potassium have rather pleasant ooor'
and il is said at the factory that It mas
a witching effect on workmen FOR al
the world the finished poison looks lie
crvstallized sugar. and as you gaze on
!, and smell the fascinating odor, there
is a strong temptation to taste IT. MS
fascination is probably much hike that
which draws man over a steep pree'-
nice. At any rate, the attraction to taste
nj the poison is so well recognized thai
workman is RIVER allowed in the room
alone. In the mixing-room, where thf
men toll before a huge cauldron OF moi
ten cyanide, the scene is like that o
some old witch's cave. especially II on
knows the nature OF the terrible poisol
that the men are brewing.
Nitric acid is another poison eqyii,
fearful in its results when once lfbcr
. ated. This poison eats away and throug
almost anything, and it can be kept i
glass carboys alone. Break one OF thes
and the factory is doomed. he aci
spreads around aud begins to eat I'M
everything it touches, and incidental
sets everything inhammable on hre: N
man can collect the acid, and it is a
most impossible to pour anything Owe
il TO counterfeit its effect. AS it burr
and spreads around, its fumes becon
deadly in their effect, and hremen a
tempting to put out the flames wou
suffer therefrom. The fumes do not ki
at once. but il lIrcathed steadily for
. time. thev cnfeehlr AMI poison the sy
tenn. so that within twenty four hou
n death comes
"A A carboy Of nitric acid was acc:den
q aIlv broken several years ago IN I'll
Ia factory, and the acid began to have
4 way without opposition. 1t SOC
:. started the interior of the factory
AZ fire. and it was eating its way into t
r. adjoining rooms, where prussic acid w
"a stored. Several of the workmen volu
20 teered to put the flames out and to che
:. the acid in its deadly work They wor
ed for several hours before they ST.
\. ceeaed. and then they seemed all rig'
vi and returned home But the next d
:. they were all dead. the fumes OF t
"a acid having been inhaled and enough
= the poison absorbed to make death
n. solute.
a The fumes of corrosive sublimate
IN as deadly as almost any poison. and
81 factories where it is made the great
ne care must be taken to prevent their
a Gaping. Where it is necessary tor
h. men to 80 into the room where the fun
:, are likely to escape, they are mask
ss with glass head-dress, which enab
them to see but not breathe the atm
-. phcre. Pure air is pumped into IN
N. through a tube, and they are much |
=. the diver who explores the sea bottc
nd There are many other poisons made
~. commercial use that are only little
A.. powerful than these, bit nearly all
as them are diluted when sold on the m
,e- ket. The danger of using them is Il
,ch minimized, so that one can handle tn
hn with ease, if ordinary care is bestov
"a upon their proper handling.