THE GYPSY MOTH APPENDIX. 



DANGER FROM THE USE OF ARSENATE 



OF LEAD. 



A. H. KIRKLAND, M.S. 



A matter of considerable importance in extensive spraying 

 operations with arsenic compounds is the frequent complaint 

 of arsenical poisoning on the part of those who apply the 

 poison to the foliage. In our work against the gypsy moth 

 such complaints are not uncommon, and, since our em- 

 ployees apply from two to three tons of this insecticide to 

 infested trees and shrubbery in a spraying season of from 

 four to six weeks, it has sometimes appeared that these com- 

 plaints might rest on a basis of fact. Cases of supposed 

 arsenical poisoning are of more frequent occurrence toward 

 the close of the spraying season ; and to get at the actual 

 physical condition of our men at such a time, a series of in- 

 vestigations was attempted late in June, 1897. 



It is conceded by physicians and toxicologists that when 

 arsenic is taken into the system, either via the mouth, lungs 

 or skin, it is chiefly eliminated by means of the kidneys, and 

 that the presence of arsenic in the urine of a sick man is 

 fairly conclusive evidence of arsenical poisoning. An effort 

 was made, but with only partial success, to collect twenty- 

 five samples of urine from men who for some time had been 

 eno-ao-ed in spraviuo;. Two rather interesting discoveries 



& O I v G O 



were made at this time : first, the almost complete indiffer- 

 ence on the part of the men in normal health in regard to 

 the whole matter ; and second, the enumeration by those 

 who were temporarily out of health of many alarming symp- 

 toms which were ascribed to the effects of the poison. Only 

 eight samples were obtained, and these were sent to Mr. 

 F. J. Smith for analvsis, with the followino; results : 



/ i_- 



