ARSENICAL POISONING FROM SMELTER SMOKE. 
403 
In human medicine, many cases of great susceptibility have 
been reported. The fatal dose of arsenic trioxide is placed by 
Peterson and Haines at about 3 grains of absorbed arsenic (2.8 
mgs. per kilo), and the therapeutic dose of arsenic in solution 
(Fowler’s solution) is generally from 1-50 to 1-10 of a grain. 
Peterson and Haines say (16) : 
“The writer has known cases that would have diarrhoea, slight 
colic, and conjunctivitis after taking* two drops of Fowler’s solu¬ 
tion thrice daily for three weeks. A remarkable case of this kind 
was reported by Nicholson. After taking in two days 15 minims, 
of liquor arsenicalis (B.P.) representing not more than one-sixth 
of a grain of arsenious acid, in doses of 3 minims after meals, an 
attack of diarrhoea came on, an erythema appeared, which cov¬ 
ered the whole body, and the eyes were reddened. As soon as 
the arsenic was discontinued the symptoms disappeared.” 
In the hearing before the Royal Commission on Arsenical 
Poisoning Dr. Neech said he had the details there of a case of 
arsenical poisoning with well marked paralysis due simply to the 
administration of medicinal doses of arsenic. It occurred in 
Halifax. Sir William Church answered, “We know that condi¬ 
tion very well. I have a photograph of the case here. If was 
due to ten minim doses (1-10 grain) daily, extending over three 
weeks” (17). 
Mr. E. Sargeant testified before the same Commission: “At 
the present time I understand that 50 per cent, of the persons at¬ 
tacked still suffer from the effects of the poisoning, and, with 
few exceptions, those who have returned to work still complain 
of nervousness, debility and cardiac troubles. The men that I 
examined usually drank from 2 to 4 pints of beer daily, with an 
extra allowance towards the end of the week. Three females; 
whose beer consumption did not exceed one pint daily, came un¬ 
der my notice suffering from arsenical symptoms; in one case - 
not more than half this amount of beer was consumed, and I cal¬ 
culate that the dose of arsenic taken would be equivalent to 
1-20th of a grain per diem” (18). 
What we learn from these observations is that while the aver- 
