The adulteration of food : conferences by the Institute of Chemistry on Monday and Tuesday, July 14th and 15th : food adulteration and analysis.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The adulteration of food : conferences by the Institute of Chemistry on Monday and Tuesday, July 14th and 15th : food adulteration and analysis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    it is carried out intentionally in these days, is often per- petrated by means of vegetable poisons ; aconite being, perhaps, most relied upon for the purpose, because it is difficult of detection. I think Mr. Wynter Blyth touched on a most important subject, when he directed our atten- tion to poisoning which takes place by substances which affect the mind. He referred to one particular form of poisoning of this kind, poisoning by lead ; and he also re- ferred to the effect of mercuric compounds. But there is another substance used in trade, the dangerous nature of which it is important for us to remember, and that is bi- sulphide of carbon. That substance is used in making the soft india rubber bladders, which children use as toys and which you see men carrying about the streets. Bi-sulphide of carbon is employed in making the india-rubber soft, so that it can be more easily worked for the purpose required ; and those who have to work with it are sometimes affected, unless the place is kept well ventilated, by a most peculiar disease of the mind, which has been well described, I think, only by Mr. Delpech. It consists of a peculiar delirium in the first instance, followed by salivation, want of power in the limbs, and cerebral paralysis. We have not had cases of this kind in our own country, but they have occurred in France ; and it is most important therefore, wherever this substance is used, as it is in the preparation of india-rubber, that there should be the most perfect ventilation, in order that persons working in it may not be subjected for long periods to this vapour, the effects of which are so deadly. Mr. Wynter Blyth referred to another point of great practical interest when he mentioned the possible formation of poisons in the human body. He struck out, you will remember, a very marked line of comparison between the action of poisons upon men and the diseases simulating them. Now this is a subject of great monient, and I may perhaps mention that I have myself written an essay upon it, which I have always thought is one that some day will demand consider- able attention, because of the close analogies which we find between the action of some poisons and certain diseases.