( i6 ; 



convulfions, and other dangerous fymptoms. If 

 thefe efFedls, and the prodigious divifibility of 

 this metal be confideredj there can be no doubt of 

 its being a violent and fubtile poifon. Wc are 

 daily expofed to this poifon by the prefent ufe of 

 copper vefTels for dreffing our food. The very 

 air of the kitchen, abounding v/ith oleaginous and 

 faline particles, penetrates and difpofes tli^enn to 

 diflblution, before they are ufcd. Water, by 

 flanding fome time in a copper w^^t\, is impreg- 

 nated with verdegris, as may be demonflrated by 

 throwing into it a fmall quantity of any volatile 

 alkali, which will immediately tinge it with a 

 paler or deeper blue, in proportion to the ruft 

 contained in the water. Vinegar, apple-fauce, 

 greens, oil, greafe, butter, and almoil every other 

 kind of food, will extract the verdegris in a • 

 greater degree. It is true, people imagine, that 

 the ill efFccls of copper are prevented by its being 

 tinned : but the tin, which adheres to the copper 

 is fo extremely thin, that it is foon penetrated by 

 the verdegris, which infinuates itfelf through the 

 pores of that metal, and appears green upon the 

 furface. 



M. Amy, 



