Mummy Eyes Jor Jewelry. 2o§ 



into two equal parts, in order to obtain greater luster and give a 

 natural brightness to the eyes of their dead. 



The three workmen who were engaged in polishing these eyes 

 were all affected soon after working on them. The sawing and 

 polishing were done at different times, and in each case the same 

 result followed, so that the workmen are confident that their illness 

 was caused by the inhalation of dust during the sawing. The 

 youngest, a boy of i6, was taken sick after working only a few 

 hours. His illness consisted of headache, billiousness, and vomit- 

 ing, and lasted for one day. Another workman, a strong, hearty 

 Frenchman, about 45 years of age, and weighing nearly 200 

 pounds, reported that he was taken sick with nausea, sick head- 

 ache, and vomiting, and noticed a disagreeable, metalic taste in 

 his mouth during his entire illness, which lasted four days. The 

 other, a German lapidary, about 40 years of age, was affected 

 shortly after working at the eyes with an eruption of small pimples 

 over his entire body, and when any of the affected parts were 

 rubbed a swelling immediately arose. This rash was perceptible 

 for over a month. From the fact that these three cases occurred 

 in one workshop, and soon after work was commenced on the 

 eyes, the men very naturally reasoned that the eyes were the 

 cause of their sickness, and expressed a desire not to resume work 

 on them. 



In response to inquiry, Prof. Baird writes that he never heard 

 that poisonous qualities were inherent in the eyes. If they are 

 really poisonous, it surely cannot be from any preparation used to 

 preserve them, lor no preservative was necessarv, as would have 

 been the case if they were human eyes. It has been observed, 

 however, that in this case certain alkaloids may be generated by 

 the decomposition of the organic constituents of the eyes. This 

 matter will soon be determined, pathologically by myself The 

 United States survey chemists are also examining the lenses, to 

 see what alkaloids, if any, are present. 



As ornaments these eyes are truly beautiful when the exudation 

 on the cut surface has been removed, and they are finely polished. 

 They vary in color from a light yellowish amber tint to a dark 

 yellow, yellowish brown, or rich amber brown, similar to that 

 from Catania, Sicily. In some cases the colors are found in alter- 

 nated bands, as in the Mexican fire opals from Querertaro. Al- 

 though the reflections lack the play of colors found in the opal, 

 the tints are warmer and more pleasing. The luster on the un- 

 cut rounded sides is pearly. With a proper gold mounting, these 

 eyes would give a very beautiful effect in jewelry, although mois- 

 ture would be likely to injure the polish. — Jewelers' Circular. 



The Coronado Peach Co. has contracted with Col. Von Schmidt 

 for the dredging of Glorietta Bay, and Spanish bight, portions of 

 San Diego Bay, at a cost of $100,000. 



