710 Transactions of the American Institute. 



constitutes a complete antidote. The pills are made of animal char- 

 coal, powdered and mixed with a little gum. In match factories these 

 pills are found to relieve operators who have been poisoned by phos- 

 phorus, and to be a much better remedy than that proposed by M. 

 Personne, the essence of terebenthine having been found to produce 

 violent headaches by continued use. 



Mr. T. D. Stetson — It may be interesting in this connection to call 

 attention to the effect of charcoal upon human and animal physiology. 

 A good deal depends upon its being fresh. If taken into the stomach 

 in a fresh condition, it tends to correct acidity, and to vitalize and 

 invigorate, although scientists may be puzzled to explain exactly why. 

 The most plausible theory is that it promotes slow combustion, making 

 the partially-decayed matter burn up and leave nothing but fresh. If 

 a piece of meat is packed in fresh charcoal, and occasionally repacked, 

 it will be all gone at last, but it will remain fresh. Charcoal will 

 even restore meat partially decayed. Meat that has been overlooked 

 until it is quite offensive, by washing and packing in charcoal is 

 restored. Used in the mouth, some authors say it tends to prevent 

 decay of the teeth. A considerably large piece held in the mouth, 

 once in a few days, or even weeks, will keep the breath sweet, and 

 tend to preserve the teeth^ 



Dr. .H D. Sheppard — I read long ago, an account of a man who 

 was in the habit of taking a great deal of charcoal ; and after his 

 death, it was found packed in his intestines in lumps. I have pre- 

 ferred, when charcoal was needed, to take flour and char it ; flour 

 being more easily digested. I have sometimes found it useful to mix 

 it with one-fourth part of uncharred flour, in order to give some 

 nourishment also. It requires to be fresh, because it absorbs so much 

 from the atmosphere. 



Dr. L. Feuchtwanger — Carbon acts merely as an absorbent. It acts 

 mechanically. 



The President — It is well known that carbon absorbs many times 

 its own volume of gases. Whether it will absorb them when it is 

 wet in the mouth is rather doubtful. The use of charcoal, in a case 

 of flatulency, will sometimes give entire relief. I hardly think it 

 remains in the stomach undigested. A lady in Jersey City continued 

 for years, to use as much as twelve cubic inches daily, of charcoal made 

 from pine wood. 



Dr. Sheppard — The system has no power to assimilate it. It does 

 not remain in the stomach, but it is liable to catch in the folds of the 

 intestines. 



