Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-02
ARSENIC IN BEER.
Discovery In England Shows Tn4s{ n
o~Aol In ve~y SERIOUS and o.
SQUIRE Source Of DxSSaac.


scurO Source OF D&SS0@c.
A remarkable revelation OF the MOST
eerious injuries occurring Sn beer
drinkers has como 70 light In The uesCh-
bo<hood OF AADohsster, England, In
the past two yoerS- Al far back as
1884 attention was called to the numer-
ouS eases OF alcohOlic paralys sis In this
Vicinity. few years after q noted
expert described similar GASES which
seemed to be very numerous IN that
section From that time on these Pc
cuHac cases have increased, until last
year an examination was made and II
was found that In the nstghborhood
OF Manchester AID tho raall Districts
about elcoholao paralysis was almoak
an epidemic Three hundred cases
vero noticed At Manchester, aaH near
~ ave per cent. OF ou ths oases seen
In ths hcspitala' IN tAis region, and en-
tsndiog 70 Liverpool, and even TO Lon
don. showed this kind OF palsy. A care
ful inquiry revealed tAe fact that near
II al these victims were beer-drinls-
ers- An analysis OF the beer showed
the Presence Of ArSeniO Ia sufficient
Qnanttty 10 account for this peculiar
pslsy. Experts visited breweries and
obtained specimens OF beer, finding
, arsenic in nearly every instance.
More careful examination shoved
, that Suiphuric acid entered into the
mAnnfscture OF glucose used IN the
be>r. This acid was made from iron
: PTrttes, and contained quantities OF
srsenio. twas used on aceount OF tie
cheapoesS, and IN largo quantities by
many Of 'tAs leading brewers. The
symptoms following corrseponded 20
arsenic poisoning. and many of the
co-ses died. Others suffered from pal
Rtes and diseases Of the nervous sys-
tenn which practically incapscitated
them for ell work In the future. n
was found that large number Of
brewers used In their beer this cheap
glucose containing arsenic, and while
the quantity wac very email the &c.
cumalated effcct1n persons who drank
large quantities OF beer was apparent
In very serious and obscure diseases
or the nerves OF motion Over 500 cases
have been noted, and THE probable
doea not include more than q ANAL
part OK the actual number. Purlia-
nent appointed @ royal commission
On arSentcal poisoning IN beer, and evil
oence - now being taken OF course,
the brewers were ignorant OK the IN
Jury which followed from their beer.
and were anxious TO assist all efforts
. 70 Ind out the cause and TO remove Il.
= OtheS sections Of England have be-
come alarmed. and a very general in
curry II being made a. TO the cause
! Of this new disease wherever Il Is no.
tioed. It 10 found that alcohol Is re-
sPonsible for a great many OF these
palsies.
The forms OF paralysis, from both
alcohol and beer, called neuriS@s. ara
the same, and are infiammations of
tbs nerves OF the extremities. A great
deal or interest hes been created in
england, and tt IL confidently asserted
that the disease is due largely to beer
poisoned with srsenic, alcohol and
mineral waters where carbonio acid ia
used TO make them efferve SONG. This
disease Is well known IN this country.
but Is not very common Whether the
brewers use glucose prepared from
sulphurio acid containing arsenic Is
not known, but neurites, or palsies OF
She extremities, among beer and alco-
mol drinkers, can be found in many
sections.
The common term describing these
cases Is rheumatism" 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 IT.
tention, and the other symptoms are
supposed to follow. In reality the
breaking down OF tho brain IL the re-
suit of the obscure Inflammation Of
the nerves rather than otherwise. The
stlnness OF the lower eKtremities and
oifnoulty OF walking noticed among
: ineor1ates 10 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 shah be able to trao.
many diseases to this source that are
now unrecogniEed. Beer used in large
quantities and continuously Is a very
serious destructive agent, not in its
intimate effects but in its cumulat tive
action. Beer drinking IN England has
received very severe blow with this
revelation. and II 10 to be hoped that
itS influence may extend to this ooun-
try and break mp much of the fascina-
ton which this drink has in the mind
OF many persons who DO OF use strong
HpirttA.-T. d. CrotheFs, In Union ST.
nal.
DO who oAanot rule hia own apDe-
tits 10 united to run his nO1Shbor's
SfRAirA --Ra u'a Horn
NONDRINKERS BEST FIGHTERS
What tAe BOer War Has shev~n ns
70 EHect OF SDiritasus Drink