il 393 1 



having fwallowcd a brafs flccvc button. Was feized 

 with violent fymptoms, and died in mifcry, no me- 

 dicines giving relief." 



Ji^u/e of Copper VeJJels. 



It is extremely unpleafant to refledl: on the dan- 

 gers to which we are fo often expofed by the ufe of 

 popper vefTels for preparing various foods. This 

 confideration has indeed induced fome difcreet 

 families to difcard this dangerous metal from all 

 culinary procefles. But though verdigris is one 

 of the moft violent poifons in nature, yet the greater 

 part of mankind, rather than abandon an old 

 cuftom, arc content to fwallow a portion of this 

 poifon every day! Accordingly veflels of copper, 

 brafs, or bell-metal, are ftill permitted to fupply 

 their refpedive quota of this deleterious fubftance 

 to imbue our feveral viands. Having, through 

 long ufage, obtained a quiet fettlement amongft 

 us, they now claim, as it were, a prefcriptive right 

 to afljft at all culinary operations — a claim which 

 we feem neither to have inclination or refolution to 

 difpute: for, notwithftanding every remonftrance 

 to the contrary, copper and its compounds con- 

 tinue to difgrace not only our kitchens, dairies, 

 and confedlionaries, but alfo the breweries, diftil- 

 Icrics, laboratories, and even fhops of the apothe- 

 caries. 



