lii THE GYPSY MOTH. 



APPENDIX F. 



THE DANGERS OF ARSENICAL POISONING RESULTING FROM 

 SPRAYING WITH INSECTICIDES. 



Much has been written in regard to the supposed danger of fatal 

 poisoning to the consumers of fruit which has been gathered from 

 vines or trees which have been sprayed with arsenical mixtures. 

 The fallacy of these ideas has been repeatedly shown, and it is 

 now well understood that there is practically no danger of fatal 

 poisoning from eating sprayed fruit. There are, however, other 

 dangers, arising from the widespread and careless use of arsenical 

 insecticides, which have been almost entirely ignored. Entomolo- 

 gists and pomologists officially connected with the experiment sta- 

 tions of the country, the agricultural press and writers of works 

 on pomology and horticulture all join in recommending some of 

 the most deadly poisons as insecticides ; but they add scarcely a 

 word of caution in regard to their use. "While the danger of acute 

 or fatal poisoning, which may arise from eating or drinking food 

 or liquids in which Paris green or some other form of the arsenites 

 has been accidentally mixed, is occasionally pointed out, the evils 

 arising from contact with the poison are seldom even noticed. 

 Arsenical preparations are applied broadcast to many cultivated 

 crops, and few if any precautions are taken against their effects 

 on the human system. Paris green is commonly sold without any 

 restrictions whatever, though fatal cases of accidental poisoning 

 from its use have been frequently chronicled.* 



* " Next to arsenious oxide, arsenite of copper gives rise to the largest number of 

 cases of acute arsenical poisoning. This compound forms the whole or a part of 

 the pigments known as Scheele's green or Paris green, Schweinfurt or emerald green 

 (aceto-arsenite of copper) . When pure, these pigments contain from fifty-five to 

 sixty per cent, of arsenious acid, to which their poisonous properties are mainly due. 

 During the past few years arsenite of copper has been sold extensively, under the 

 name of Paris green, for the purpose of killing potato bugs. Owing probably to 

 the ease with which it can be obtained, it has given rise to a considerable number of 

 cases of suicidal poisoning. Many cases of accidental poisoning have resulted from 

 the use of these compounds as pigments." (Buck's " Reference Handbook of 

 Medical Science," Vol. I, page 344.) 



