The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22

knows but that certain of our country
men, thought to have been murdered, were
arsenic-cravers like the men and women
in the provinces mentioned? They may
not have taken the pure drug, but. as
pointed out, there are plenty of means for
obtaining it in the form of food.
''Why arsenic in the body has not been
discovered before / cannot tell, but l do
know that science is ignorant of Other
component parts OF the human body also.
WHERE ARSENIC LODGES.
II found arsenic. first. in the scutiform.
or shield glandule, also known as the
thyroid gland. which is attached to the
cartilages of the larynx; secondly. in the
thymus gland situated in front OF the
pericardium and the large vessels arising
from the base of the heart: thirdly, in the
hair: fourthly. in the skin and finger nails.
and, filthy, in the brain.
''All bodies investigated belonged to per-
sons of normal habits and health. persons
who had died of old age, accident. cold or
some other illness unproductive of. and
unattended by. poisonous symptoms.
You will observe that the portions of
the body where located the deadly drug
are never searched by the states attor-
neys' poison experts, which may be a good
thing, as otherwise still more persons might
be executed. though innocent. 1 found the
poison there and in no other parts of the
bodies anatomy. The first discovery was
in a mans thyroid gland, and thank DR..
Baumann, who located iodine in the same
organ, for the hint. Arsenic and iodine are
often nefghbors in free nature and If dis
ease attacks the thyroid gland, medicine
prescribes either of the two. With that
much for a basis of action. / began my
Investigations and found arsenic as well
as iodine in both the thyroid gland of man
and animals l am half inclined to think
that the gland mentioned is the organic
storage house for arsenic, from which other
organs are fed as needed"
Professor Gautier described at length his
method Of discovery and the form, weight.
etc.. of arsenic in the different organs. but
his deductions were too technical for repro
duction in newspaper.
HOW IT ACCUMULATES.
How do you account for the accumulation
Of arsenic in the human and animal body?"
asked your correspondent.
IL thought had already explained that"
replied the professor, man takes arsenic in
larger or smaller quantities in almost every
thing he eats and drinks. He has to.
suppose. For the present 1 can prove only
that arsenic is contained in turnips, cauli-
flower, kohl, potatoes and in certain cere-
ais growing on soil intermixed with
gravel So much for botany. All the
flesh Of mammals he eats likewise
contain arsenic, and my friend, Pro-
fessor Bertrand, has just finished his in
vestigation of sea food. covering three or
four years. He found that almost every
eatable, shell and other fish, contains ar
senic, all of which indicates that one can
hardly eat anything in this world without
swallowing a greater or less amount of the
peculiar poison, seemingly Indispensable
for our health and well being"
Have you formulated any idea as to the
functions of arsenic in the human body,
professor / asked
'T found that IL does most important
work. which. however; cannot be discussed
outside of a medical journal Aside from
that it is necessary for the growth of the
hair, Of the finger nails and other horny
portions of our skin.
The professor rummaged among his sta
tistics for a while and then said Here is
a case where man was hung on the
strength of the fact that small quantities
of arsenic was found in his wifes liver.
The records of the trial do not show that
the supposed murderer ever had any ar
senic in his possession, or knew anything
about the functions of the drug. He de-
MED the charge vehemently and in all prob
ability he was right. The liver, kidneys
and spleen are most liable to receive ar
senic deposits from the stomach, which
consumes it in the daily food
You are still continuing your investiga-
Most assuredly." replied Gautier. this
is only the beginning. / am convinced that
the human organism contains still more
elements unknown to science; We cannot
hope for an Improvement in medicine until
every one of these component elements is
thoroughly known and Defined
WE'RE CAREWE.