444 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



dually to dissolve. The effect is surprising ; and heights are thus 

 ascended with ease which otherwise could be climbed only with 

 much distress to the chest. The peasantry are much given to 

 this habit. They obtain the arsenic, under the name of hedri, from 

 the travelling hucksters and gatherers of herbs, who, on their 

 side, get it from the glass-blowers, quacks, and cow-doctors. But 

 the poison-eaters have sometimes another aim besides that of a 

 freer respiration ; to obtain, namely, a fresh, healthy appear- 

 ance, and acquire a certain degree of embonpoint. On this account, 

 therefore, village lads and lasses employ not unfrequently this 

 dangerous agent in order to become more attractive to each 

 other ; and it is really astonishing with what favourable results 

 their endeavours are attended, for it is just the youthful poison- 

 eaters who are, generally speaking, distinguished by a blooming 

 complexion, and an appearance of exuberant health. 



When the dose is suddenly and considerably increased, the 

 effect is fatal ; although the quantity taken at once and innocu- 

 ously by those long in the habit of poison-eating is quite astound- 

 ing. Generally the use of arsenic is kept a profound secret by 

 those who indulge in it ; and it is only the confessional or the 

 death-bed that raises the veil from the terrible secret. 



There are cases however where it is taken by the educated as a 



preservative against some besetting evil, as with Mr. F. St. , 



director of the arsenic-mines at , who has been accustomed 



to take daily a small quantity of arsenic in powder on his bread 

 and butter at breakfast for years. He takes it, he asserts, to pro- 

 tect him from the injurious effects arising from the fabrication of 

 arsenic. And the quantity he eats is not weighed : he is guided 

 in the dose solely by the eye, taking it on the tip of his knife as 

 we might a certain quantum of salt. He enjoys the most ex- 

 cellent health ; and his workmen are instructed by him how to 

 proceed in the employment of arsenic, in order to preserve them- 

 selves from the hurtful effects caused by its preparation. The 

 quantity daily taken by this gentleman was found, on being 

 weighed, to be nearly four grains. 



Some believe it must be taken when the moon is on the in- 

 crease, and never, except under peculiar circumstances, when it 

 is on the wane. 



As with opium-eating, as soon as the habit is discontinued, a 

 painful craving and a derangement of the organs are experienced. 



