ARSENIC IN AMERICAN APPLES.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7406, 5 July 1892, Page 4

ARSENIC IN AMERICAN APPLES.

Tn the weekly edition of tbe London Timos for April 8 appears the following :

"The Biitish Medical Journal c ills «v ten tion to the i statement ot the Horticultural Times that poisonous solutions are used for syrmgingfiu.it 'rees in America, and that arsenic in notable quantities is to be found in ipples coming to England from that country. It is now con tender! that what with the poison absorbed, and 'vhit with that left on the tkin, apples thus treated are very dangerous. It s sated, further, that the use of poisonous insecticides by Aiueiican fiuit-growers is 'on the increase/that they apply them to all sorts of fruit and to such an extent th.it it lias been necessary for the authorities to interfere. It is said by those who aie interpsted in the American fruit trade that the Hoiticultural Times has merely got up an arsenic sore for the benefit of home-growers. Whatever may be said, tbe use of poisons for the treatment of food is a matter which cills for the closes' a'tention and the strictest control, wheie it is not abso'utely prohibited under severe penal ies. As in the case of food adnleratnn, the public cannot be left to the •ender mercies of the interested or the r ant "