Ivi THE GYPSY MOTH. 



ways. The absorption of the poison is likely to be greater when 

 the subject is perspiring freely, and the danger is greatest when 

 one is handling a foi'in of arsenic which is more or less readily 

 soluble. Therefore the danger in handling arsenate of soda, 

 London purple or white arsenic is probably greater than that in 

 handling Paris green or arsenate of lead ; yet serious effects may 

 in time be produced by either of these latter poisons, and they 

 should be always used with the greatest care. The danger of 

 poisoning by respiration is pi'obably greatest when the insecticide 

 is used in the form of a powder and thrown broadcast in air, 

 although, if the poison is mixed in water and a fine spray is 

 allowed to drift over the person, a small amount may be inhaled. 

 In either case the effects of the poison inhaled will be felt first in 

 the mouth, nasal passages and throat. 



The danger of poisoning by spraying is increased in the case 

 of some individuals by their peculiar susceptibility to the effects 

 of the poison. The difference in susceptibility to these poisons 

 shown by different individuals under the same conditions is re- 

 markable. It is possible that some persons may gradually become 

 accustomed to the use of arsenic, and eliminate from the system, 

 without experiencing ill effects, an amount of poison which would 

 prove very injurious to others more susceptible to its influence. 

 Some people who have once suffered from the symptoms of chronic 

 arsenical poisoning exhibit a marked susceptibility to the effects of 

 arsenic for years afterward. 



During the spraying in 1891 two cases were known where 

 women, in whose faces a spray of Paris green was accidentally 

 blown by the wind, were immediately affected with a burning 

 sensation of the skin, followed soon after by eruptions. An 

 elderly woman who was also exposed to the spray suffered from 

 arsenical poisoning to such an extent that she required the services 

 of a physician for a considerable period. Her symptoms appeared 

 to arise from this exposure. 



It is not generally known that serious effects sometimes follow 

 poisoning from arsenical spraying. Though there is ordinarily 

 little danger from the spraying of a few trees, even this may be 

 dangerous to one peculiarly susceptible to the action of the poison. 

 In such a case complete prostration, inflammation, serious ulceration 

 of the face and mouth and other parts of the body, suppuration, 

 copious salivation and delirium have followed within a few days. 

 A ease of arsenical poisoning resulting fatally to an elderly 

 farmer has recently been reported. In this case death is said to 



