13 



arsenic, were then detailed. Dr. Holler, of Hartberg, says 

 that he and other persons, named in his report, guarantee that 

 they are together acquainted with forty persons who eat 

 arsenic; and Dr. Forcher, of Gratz gives a list of eleven 

 people in his neighbourhood who indulge in the practice. 

 Professor Roscoe did not think it necessary to translate the 

 reports in extenso ; he gave extracts containing the portions 

 immediately bearing upon the two questions at issue, and 

 deposited authentic copies of the original reports with the 

 Society, for the purpose of reference. He concluded that 

 decisive evidence had, in his opinion, been brought forward, 

 not only to prove that arsenic is well known and widely 

 distributed in Styria, but that it is likewise regularly eaten, 

 for what purpose he did not at the moment investigate, in 

 quantities usually considered sufficient to produce immediate 

 death. | 



In the course of the conversation, after the Paper was read, 

 Dr. Clay mentioned instances in which large quantities of 

 arsenic had been prescribed for various diseases, with benefit. 

 It was a valuable medicine, but if taken for other purposes it 

 would produce most pernicious effects. It was a practice in 

 some parts of the country to give it to horses to improve the 

 sleekness of their coats. 



Mr. Ran SOME confirmed the observation of Dr. Clay, and 

 stated that he had long ago drawn the attention of the Society 

 to the fact that sulphuric acid manufactured from arsenical 

 pyrites contained arsenic, and that this acid being employed 

 in the manufacture of various articles used as medicine, and 

 even as food, these likewise contained the poisonous ingre- 

 dient. He had found it even in flowers of sulphur. 



