Virulence of Lead Poison. -- in the celebrated case of the accidental poisoning of the ex-royal family of France, a Claremont, by lead which was taken up in the drinking water, the amount was found not to exceed one grain of metal to the gallon of water. From cases which have since been observed, it would appear that the habitual use of water containing 1/10 or even 1/20 of a grain per gallon, is sometimes attended with danger. In his investigation into the cause of that curious disease, as it was formerly considered, the Devonshire colic, Sir George Baker, who discovered that it was only a form of lead poisoning due to the drinking of cider fermented in lead lined vats and troughs, found that 18 bottles of cider he examined contained four and a half grains of lead, or a quarter of a grain to each bottle.
The poisoning of the French aristocracy may not have originated in France. Some researches believe that lead lined vats may have played a contributing role in the decline of the Roman empire.
Well-to-do Romans painted their walls a rich Pompeian red, which owed its color to a salt of lead or mercury. Lead was used for water pipes, cups, toys, statues, cosmetics, coffins, and roofs, but the most significant source may have been the wine of the wealthy class.
S. Columba Gilfillan proposed a theory for Roman decay in 1965 that involved "poisons esteemed as delicious by the ancient well-to-do." Spoilage was a problem in ancient Rome, and vintners discovered that wine tasted better and lasted longer if it was mixed with a concentrated grape syrup called sapa.
Some enterprising Roman probably started up a nice home business making wine ‘taste better’ and in so doing brought about the wasting of the upper class and the possible downfall of Rome as a whole.
Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:
- BLADDER AND PART OF VAGINA.
The function and form of the bladder are familiarly known. It is the recipient of the kidney secretions, and contains them till voided to the urinary canal. It is a tough, elastic structure, guarded at the exit by a contractile file, a means of which the urine can be retained until the quantity becomes excessive. The plate brings out the entire urinal tracks, from the bladder to the vagina, and presents a fine and useful anatomical and physiological study.
Again within this section the author in his no-nonsense, concise and to the point and descriptive of process just enough, but not too much. The section is not terribly illuminating, and read somewhat like sixth grade biology report that lightly describes a topic but really doesn’t tell you any useful information. The lack of information as it can to using a light bulb from a hundred years ago versus using advanced halogen light today or possibly a high-end fixture such as
kichler lighting. It just wasn’t a lot of information provided. - The Contaminated Ice Pond
The Contaminated Ice Pond. — both the house in which the ice was stored in the water from the melted ice gave off a decidedly disagreeable or even offensive odor. Finally, a visited upon from which the ice and then gathered disclose the fact that much of the water and it was dark colored, file and highly contaminated with filthy marsh mud and decomposing sawdust. Chemical analysis showed that both it and the suspected eyes contain a large excess of organic and volatile impurities, including four one hundredths of a grain per gallon of albuminoid ammonia.
- Cholera Infection
Cholera Infection. — a few days after their return the same terrible disease rapidly attack other members of the household, so that, within a fortnight, and that one little circle, 11 person’s had been seized with cholera, including a mother, father, grandmother, two daughters, sons, doctor, serving lad, serving maid, labor and countrywoman, and of these 11 only three survived, namely, the Sun, a daughter and a serving lad. Later, in the countrywoman’s family, there was another fatal case. It cannot well be doubted, concluded Mr. Simon, but that the exciting cause of the succession of events was in some way or other the return of the parents from Weymouth-of the father with the remains of choleraic diarrhea upon him, of the mother with apparently the beginnings of the same complaint. But this is only part of the case, and the remainder teaches a most impressive lesson. All the drinking water used in the house came from a well beneath the floor of the scullery, and into that well there was habitual soakage from the water closet. Now for some people reviewing 100 year old accounts of cholera epidemics might be about as exciting as reviewing marketing budgets and covering line items for promotional pens to insure that enough red pens versus blue pens have been ordered. That said this actually has some very interesting historical references in the next few sections so don’t miss them.