The Arsenic Eaters
Download and Read The Arsenic Eaters full books in PDF, ePUB, and Kindle. Read online free The Arsenic Eaters ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!
The Arsenic Eaters
Author | : Rob van Hoesel |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 112 |
Release | : 2018-07-24 |
Genre | : Photography |
ISBN | : 9789492051356 |
Download The Arsenic Eaters Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle
This book investigates the widespread historical belief that the consumption of arsenic, generally known to be a deadly poison, is beneficial to one's health. Accordingly, many "poison eaters" were found among the Austrian rural population in the nineteenth century. What they were ingesting was white (arsenic trioxide) or yellow arsenic (arsenic trisulfide). It was produced by roasting arsenic-containing minerals. Arsenic eaters were robust persons, and usually of the lower class of society, wood cutters, charcoal burners, stablemen, foresters, etc. They ingested arsenic to be 'strong and healthy': to look rosy, to resist fatigue or to strengthen their physique: "See how strong and fresh I am, and what an advantage I have over you all! In times of epidemic fever or cholera, what a fright you are in, while I feel sure of never taking infection." Though being a popular custom among hard working people, arsenic eaters were very anxious to conceal the fact, particularly from medical men and priests. It was also believed that once a person became an arsenic eater, he can never stop the habit. To do so would bring rapid decline in health, leading inevitably to death.
The Arsenic Eaters Related Books
Pages: 112
Pages: 161
Pages: 370
Pages: 5
Pages: 209