“the virtues of the noble metals are, moreover, of such a nature that they inspire respect even in those who do not seek these qualities in higher spheres, but ask after the common and every-day usefulness of a thing.”——von kobell.
some consider those metals most precious which, like gold and silver, have earned that reputation by acting in the capacity of representatives of wealth, as the current coins of civilized nations. to some men these have been esteemed more precious than health, or even than life itself; others, calculating on the grounds of utility, have considered iron and copper, so universally applicable to the wants of civilized life, such mighty agents in the cause of civilization, as the most precious of metals; and these may be right in their calculations, for although we might manage to get on without the former, we can hardly imagine for ourselves the condition occasioned by the loss of the latter. there are yet a few to whom it would seem, however strange the fact may appear, that two metals are the most precious which the rest of the world have no idea of considering as of but a very low rate of value, and without which they can readily conceive of the315 world moving on without any very great sense of their loss. these two are arsenic and mercury. the very names are almost sufficient to send a shudder of horror through us as we write or repeat them; and to elect them into the highest place in our affections is the last act we should, in a state of sanity, deem ourselves likely to perform. the one suggests images of aqua tophana and the middle ages, and our teeth loosen in our gums with unpleasant reminiscences of black draught and blue pill as associated with the other. for one we can think of no better employment than the extirpation of rats, or the preservation of mummies; and for the other no more exalted an occupation than to coat the backs of our mirrors, or inform us of the conditions of the atmosphere. that any one could indulge in them as luxuries, or, by their habitual use, elevate them to a companionship with tobacco and opium, with haschish and coca, would appear to be a gross libel upon the “seven sisters of sleep,” and a satire upon the cherished companions of millions of the human race.
medical men, foremost amongst whom is dr. christison, consider that these minerals cannot be indulged in without exercising a deleterious effect upon the system. the cumulative action of mineral poisons is a great point of difference between them and those of vegetable origin, for although the same eminent physician is of opinion that tobacco may be indulged in without injury, he does not believe such a possibility to exist with regard to mercury and arsenic.32
the use of corrosive sublimate, the bichloride of mercury, is certainly restricted within very316 confined limits, and even within those limits, the information we have is very meagre. at constantinople, the opium-eater, who finds his daily dose insufficient in time to produce those results which at first accrued from its use, resorts to the expedient of mixing therewith a small quantity of corrosive sublimate, to increase the potency of the drug. by itself, it is never indulged in as a passion in the same manner as vegetable narcotics, nor can the same pleas be urged in favour of its use, or in extenuation of its abuse. an opium-eater at broussa is stated to have been accustomed to swallow daily with his opium, forty grains of corrosive sublimate without any apparently injurious effects. in south america its use is affirmed to be very extensive.
arsenious acid, or white arsenic, is a more popular irritant than mercury. the arsenic-eaters of styria are now historical individuals, and the custom there and in the neighbouring districts appears to be a common one among the labouring population. itinerant pedlars vend it for this purpose, and it becomes a necessary of life to those who commence the practice. it is taken every morning as regularly as the turk consumes his opium.
one of the benefits said to accrue from its use is, that it gives a plumpness to the figure, softness to the skin, freshness to the complexion, and brilliancy to the eye. for this purpose, young men and maidens resort to it, to increase their charms, and render themselves acceptable and fascinating to each other. a friend, recently returned from canada and the united states, informs us, positively, that it is largely consumed by the young ladies, in those regions of the civilized world, for the same purposes above described, to which it is resorted by the austrian damsels. he declares that the custom is so common that no317 surprise is excited on discovering any one addicted to its use, and that amongst the fairer sex it is the rule rather than the exception.
the principal authority for its use in the european districts, is the celebrated traveller von tschuddi, who has published an account of several cases which have come to his knowledge. in one instance, a pale, thin damsel, anxious to attach herself to her lover, by presenting a more prepossessing exterior, took the “precious metal,” in the form of its oxide, several times a week, and soon became stout, rosy, and captivating; but in her over-anxiety to heighten her charms, and rival the fabled beauties of old, and having experienced the benefit of small doses of the poison, ventured upon a larger quantity, and died from its effects, the victim of her vanity. the habit is generally commenced with small doses, starting with about half a grain or less, each day, and gradually increasing it to two or three grains. the case of a hale old peasant is mentioned, whose morning whet of arsenic reached the incredible quantity of four grains.
another singular benefit is supposed to arise from the use of this substance, similar to that claimed by the peruvians for their coca, namely, that of rendering the breathing easier in toiling uphill, so that steep heights may be climbed without difficulty or exhaustion. it is curious that the mountaineers of the andes and the alps, at distances so remote, should deem themselves possessed of the means of assisting nature in surmounting difficulties, by preventing exhaustion in climbing the mountain side: in one instance, by chewing a quid of leaves which grow plentifully on the mountain slopes, and in the other, by swallowing a small fragment of a mineral obtained from the mines at the mountain side.
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whilst the practice of arsenic eating is continued, no evil effects would seem to be experienced, everything connected with the body of the eater seems to be in a flourishing condition, the appearance is healthy, plump, and fresh, no symptoms of poisoning are manifested until the regular dose is discontinued, when a great feeling of discomfort arises, the digestion becomes deranged, burning sensations and spasms are present in the throat, pains in the bowels commence, and the breathing becomes oppressed. from these unpleasant sensations there is no relief but by an immediate return to the habit of arsenic eating, and hence, when once commenced, the use of this article becomes a necessity of life, and the poisonous mineral a “precious metal.”
dr. macgowan of ningpo, says, “we are told that mongolian hunters, beyond the wall, eat arsenic to enable them to endure cold when patiently lying on the snow to entrap martins. in this part of china arsenic is taken by divers, who in cold weather plunge into still water in pursuit of fish, which are then found hybernating among stones at the piers of bridges. we perceive with regret, that the modern chinese have added arsenic to their habitual stimulants. the red sulphuret in powder is mixed with tobacco, and their joint fumes are smoked in the ordinary manner. we have met with no habitual smokers of this compound of mineral and vegetable poisons; but persons who have made trial state that dizziness and sickness attend first attempts. after a few trials, arseniated tobacco may be taken without any apparent inconvenience. from reports given of it, we infer that its effects on the chinese are analogous to what is observed among the arsenic-eating peasants of austria.
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“at peking, where arseniated tobacco is most in use, it costs no more than the unmixed article; it may be known by the red colour imparted to the vegetable by the powdered proto-sulphuret. its introduction is attributed to cantonese from chauchau. if this be correct, it is probable that these southerners, unable at the north to procure the masticatory to which they are addicted, sought to appease a craving for the pungent but harmless lime and betel nut, by substituting the deleterious mineral gas. many of the miserable victims of opium, to whom that narcotic is a necessity, and not a pleasure, have eagerly employed the new stimulant to prop and exhilarate their exhausted bodies, and, perhaps, have thereby meliorated and prolonged their existence. we would fain hope that the use of arsenical stimulants will not become general; yet that pernicious custom is extending, and we know our race too well not to entertain fears on that subject. it is even stated that, for a time at least, the reigning emperor in his boyhood preferred tobacco thus mineralized. in domestic economy, the red sulphuret is employed for making away with rats and husbands.”33
one of the best things that hahnemann ever did was to write a treatise on arsenic. this he did well, and therefore deserves to be remembered; but for this he is often forgotten, and is only extolled for a less important labour—the introduction of hom?opathy. chemists deserve well of mankind for the assiduity with which they have studied this subtle poison, so that now it may be detected in the minutest quantities. one point, however, seems to be hardly clear, and on this, perhaps, the styrian peasant could enlighten us, namely, the taste of arsenic, some declaring that it has no320 distinguishable taste, others, that it is sweetish, and others saline. the only means of arriving at the truth is rather too hazardous a one to be ventured upon.
the effects of arsenic upon the human frame, were illustrated in a curious case which occurred a few years since in the northern part of france. a domestic at a country seat wished to cause the death of his mistress, and mixed arsenic in small quantities with her food, hoping that the slow operation of the poison would prevent any suspicion of murder. to his great astonishment, she gained rapidly in health, flesh, and spirits. at length he gave her a larger quantity, which occasioned serious illness, and led to the discovery and punishment of the crime.
we have as yet applied arsenic only to some of the purposes for which it is applicable. the roses of england possess enough of bloom without resorting to the bloom of the smelting furnace. although we use it to preserve with all the appearances of life the deceased zoological curiosities of our museums, we do not seek its aid to enhance the charms of those living specimens of beauty which are the glory and the pride of our hearths and homes. fortunately, we have no andes to climb, and no alps to scale, and the summits we have to gain are arrived at by dint of perseverance, and no small amount of puffing, in which latter circumstance it seems to be our nature to glory as much as the peruvian or the austrian in its absence. now and then we become suspicious of its presence in our green paper hangings, and in that menial office are almost content to dispense with its services. or anon, we are treated to a scramble of bradford drops, which, finding the temperature of the climate uncongenial, melt away to a stray ghost or two that haunt the stoppered321 bottles of our chemical museums. grumble as we may at our precious metals, we—
“rather bear those ills we have,
than fly to others that we know not of.”
animals have not escaped arsenic-eating, for the austrians, having discovered its property of plumping up, and putting into good condition the human animal, have resorted to it, as an improver of their ill-conditioned horses. gentlemen’s grooms bestow it upon the animals in their charge, and pronounce its effects as certain and as marvellous, as upon thin and sickly-looking damsels. a pinch of the white powder is sprinkled like pepper over the “feed of corn,” or tied up in a piece of rag and fastened to the “bit,” before that instrument is introduced into the animal’s mouth. the same two properties are said to be exhibited in the case of the horses, as are affirmed to take place in man. the body is plumped out, and rounded into fair proportions, the skin rendered sleek and glossy, and the breath is improved, so that long journeys, steep and rugged ascents, and heavy loads, are readily overcome by its potency. if this secret were communicated to some of our london omnibus and cabmen, it would probably be of advantage to the appearance of some of the poor animals doomed for a certain time to walk this earth, and increase their facility for moving through a space of three or four miles in less time than a pedestrian could accomplish the feat.
the teamsters in mountainous countries frequently add a dose of arsenic to the fodder, which they give their horses, before a laborious ascent. the practice of giving arsenic to horses may continue for years without accident, but as soon as the animal passes into the hands of a master who does not use arsenic, he becomes thin, loses his spirits,322 and, in spite of the most abundant nourishment, never recovers his former appearance.
the use of arsenic for horned cattle is less frequent; it is only given to oxen and calves intended for fattening. in austria, hogs and other animals are also fattened by a careful use of arsenic.
precious metals, like precious stones, are subject to misfortunes. as of the latter, a learned professor saith, “patents of nobility are distributed here in the most arbitrary manner, and outward aspect and character, weigh heaviest in the scales by which they are determined. to such an extent is this the case, that the stones which have literally and truly fallen from the skies, are not reckoned among the precious stones, although they have been in all times objects of curiosity to the most cultivated minds, and certainly are of very high descent, since they came, at least, from the moon, and are even imagined to be young worlds, little princes, which would in time have come to reign as planets. and whence this injustice? because these little strangers, which, perhaps, are pleased to travel incognito, have an inconspicuous exterior, are enveloped in a dark weather-proof cloak, because from under this cloak, only a greyish suit, without gold lace, with merely a little iron scattered about it, comes to light; because this aspect does not show from afar off that they have fallen from the skies, and because they do not say to everybody, ‘my mother lives in the mountains of the moon.’”
and although mercury, not only in name, but also in its volatile and skyward tendencies, claims kindred with the planetary system, which tendencies are likewise shown in the behaviour of the other metallic substance, of which this chapter discourses. yet their high claims are disregarded, and, like the aerolites, they are condemned by the majority of men to a plebeian rank and menial offices.
