432 
OBITUARY. 
FACTS CONCERNING ARSENIC EATING. 
In some parts of Lower Austria, in Styria, and especially 
in the hilly country towards Hungary, there prevails among 
the common people an extraordinary custom of eating arsenic. 
During the smelting of lead, copper, and other ores, white 
arsenic flies off in fumes, and condenses in the solid form in 
the long chimneys which are usually attached to the smelting- 
furnaces. From these chimneys, in the mining regions, the 
arsenic is obtained, and is sold to the people by itinerant 
pedlars and herbalists. It is known by the name of hidri, 
and the practice of using it is of considerable antiquity. By 
many it is swallowed daily throughout a long life, and the 
custom is even handed down hereditarily from father to son. 
Arsenic is thus consumed chiefly for two purposes — first, to 
give plumpness to the figure, cleanness and softness to the 
skin, and beauty and freshness to the complexion ; second, 
to improve the breathing and give longness of wind, so that 
steep and continuous heights maybe climbed without difficulty 
and exhaustion of breath. Both these results are described 
as following almost invariably from the prolonged use of ar- 
senic either by man or by animals. For the former purpose 
young peasants, both male and female, have recourse to it, 
with the view of adding to their charms in the eyes of each 
other ; and it is remarkable to see how wonderfully well they 
attain their object, for these young persons who adopt the 
practice are generally remarkable for clear and blooming com- 
plexions, for full rounded figures, and for a healthy appearance. 
For the second purpose — that of rendering the breathing 
easier when going up hill — a small fragment of arsenic is put 
into the mouth, and allowed to dissolve, wffiich it does very 
slowly. The effect is described as astonishing. Heights are 
easily and rapidly ascended, which could not otherwise be 
surmounted without great difficulty of breathing . — Professor 
Johnson? s Chemistry of Common Life . 
OBITUARY. 
Died, May 30th, aged 25, David Horsburgh, V.S., Dal- 
keith. 
