PRACTICE OF ARSENIC-EATING IN STYRIA. 213 



arsenious acid is much used under the name of ' Hidrach,' 

 or ' Hiitteurauch.' I know that arsenic-eating is most 

 common in those districts, because the arsenic can there 

 most easily be obtained." 



Dr. Forcher writes from Gratz : " As long as the cus- 

 toms-frontier to Hungary existed, Hidrach was brought 

 over as a much prized article by smugglers and others into 

 the more remote valleys. The labourers in glass works 

 obtained the arsenic from their master's stores ; the arse- 

 nic works in Salzburg serve as a source of this substance 

 for the neighbouring Alpine districts ; in Orblau the red 

 sulphide of arsenic, realgar, is obtained from roasting ar- 

 senical copper ores ; and the arsenic works in the Reiche- 

 nau-thal connected with the Cobalt works at Schlogelmiihl 

 is another source whence arsenic could be obtained in 

 quantity .^^ 



Dr. Schafer of Gratz attributes the large number of 

 cases of poisoning which occur in Styria — for during the 

 period of two years which he has acted as government 

 Toxicologist in that district no less than thirteen cases 

 of arsenical poisoning have come under his notice, — to 

 the wide distribution which this poison enjoys in that 

 country. 



Dr. Holler of Hartberg mentions the following purposes 

 for which arsenic is employed in Styria. (i.) It is eaten 

 by men. (2.) It is used in the preparation of Styrian 

 cheese. (3.) It is used by pregnant women to procure 

 abortion. (4.) It is given to horses, cattle, and pigs. 

 (5.) It is used as a poison for rats and mice. (6.) It is 

 used for soaking wheat. (7.) The charcoal and lime- 

 burners, as well as tile makers and potters, throw arsenious 

 acid upon their fires. 



Mr. Heisch in the paper published in the Pharmaceutical 

 Journal gives the following interesting extract from a re- 

 port by Professor Schallgruber of Gratz in the Medicinischer 



