HEALTH COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 45

HEALTH COLUMN

Chronic Arsenical Poisoning.

A good example of chronic arsenical poisoning on a large scalo occurred in County Asylum, Berrywood, and a short account of it may be both interesting and instructive. In the endeavour to make the wards of an asylum bright and cheerful, and to do thisat as little expense as possible, it is not improbable that the nature of the colouring materials used may be ovei looked, and that some of the gastric and intestinal disorders which disturb the peace of miud of medical superintendents may be cases of arsenical poisoniug. For a long period the nurses here were iv poor health. First one and tuen another was laid down until, within a few months, nearly every nurse on the staff had been, or was, under medical treatment. Headache, neuralgias, gastric derangements, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhoea, irritation of eyelids, anaamia — these were the chief symptoms complained of. Drugs did not appear of much avail, but a holiday had a marked effect for good. At last one nurse had the eye symptoms in a more pronounced form, and suspicion wa3 aroused. In each nurse's room was a green baize curtain, used as a covering for dresses, &c. A portion was taken and examined. It was found to be impregnated with arsenic to au astouishing extent. These curtains were removed ; the rooms freely vertilated; medical treatment was stopped ; the symptoms disappeared, and, though some months have elapsed, have not returned. The baize was similar to that used for covering door?, fee , and was obtained from two manufacturers. — W. HARDING, M.8., in the Lancer.

About Microbes. — A certain American physiciau has discovered yet another " cure " — this time a dncidecly unpleasant one — the frost care. Our old "friends " the microbes cannot, it appear?, stand extreme cold, and so the 1 xtest dodge now is to freeze out your microbes. It mat! era but little, of course, whether you yourself are frozen to death with the crobes ; the graat thing is to get the be3t of these "critters " at any cost, and the doctor who subjects you to the frost cure and after examii ' g your frozen and lifeless body declares I c microbes therein to have sent in their c -cks will be a public benefactor to every! ily but yourself. Microbes like whisky, tr acco, and warm fires, but they cannot stand the cold and froaf, for they have no greatcoats and cannot skate. Listen : " American physicians regard the frost euro as the last expedient in cases of far-gone consumption. The patient is transported to a tent camp in the Upper Adirondack?, where no fires are permitted, though blankets are allowed ad libitum. In October the temperature often sinks to 15deg below zero. Few breods of tubercule"— it seems there are some, then 1—"1 — " have been able to resist that prescription more than a month." Now, eh reader, if you want to know how to cure your mother-in-law, you have it.

Apples a Cuue for Inebriates. — Dr Tuplett, a Germau medico, maintains that apples, if eaten in largo quantities, possess properties which entirely do away with the cravings that all cod Qrmed drunkards have for drink. The doctor says that in many bad cases which have come under his notice he has been ablo to effect a cure by ordering apples to be taken at every meal, the patient gradually losing all his desire for alcohol.