The Arsenic Eaters
- ISBN-10
- 9492051354
- ISBN-13
- 9789492051356
- Category
- Photography
- Pages
- 112
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2018-07-24
- Author
- Rob van Hoesel
Description
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.
Get the book
Similar books
-
Legendary Locals of Beacon Hill
By Karen Cord TaylorJohn Collins Warren Dr. John Collins Warren (1778–1856) assisted his father, Dr. John Warren (1753–1815), in 1811 in removing the cancerous breast of Nabby ...
-
America and the Tintype
By Karen Halttunen, Steven Kasher, Brian WallisBy Steven kasher, with contributions by Geoffrey Batchen and Karen Halttunen.
-
Rail Depots of Eastern North Carolina
By Larry K. Neal Jr.This book hopes to provide rail enthusiasts, local and economic historians, and history lovers in general a look back at the heyday of railroads and how much they affected daily life in North Carolina.
-
The Hall: A Celebration of Baseball's Greats: In Stories and Images, the Complete Roster of Inductees
By The National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumIn this unique, 75th anniversary edition, read the stories of every player inducted into the Hall, organized by position.
-
Sheffield in the 1980s
By Mark Metcalf, Justine JenkinsonWe soon afterwards set up SCAM to complete what had been intended fifty years earlier,' explains Terry Howard, who was secretary of the group until it was finally wound up in 2017. And achieve they did by peacefully trespassing over ...
-
Brookfield and Elm Grove
By Thomas Ramstack... (standing) Conrad Ramstack, Eleanor (Hastrich) Ramstack, Alma Theis, Veronica Ramstack, Helen (Phillips) Ramstack, and Joseph Ramstack. In 2009, this same tavern goes by the name O'Donahue's Irish Pub. (Author's collection.) ...
-
Antebellum Homes of Georgia
By David King Gleason... 101 Bailey, Mary Elizabeth, 101 Banks, William, 94 Barnsley Gardens, 82 Barnett, Samuel, 26 Barnsley, Godfrey, 4, 82 Barnsley, ... James W, 79 Elliott, Virginia Tennessee, 79 Emily and Ernest Woodruff Foundation, 59 Emmel, Walter C, ...
-
Hiroshima: Ground Zero 1945
By Erin Barnett, Phil MarianiThis exhibition includes approximately 60 contact prints drawn from a unique archive of more than 700 photographs in the collection of the International Center of Photography.
-
Legendary Locals of Lake Forest
By Susan L. Kelsey, Arthur H. MillerSusan L. Kelsey, Arthur H. Miller ... This became the Bell School in the first half of the 20th century. ... The photograph of Clarice Hamill and her daughter on page 58 came from the Bell School's 50th anniversary celebration, ...
-
Pembroke
By Karen Cross ProctorThe Bay Path, a main route from Boston to Plymouth, ran through the West Elm and High Street neighborhoods. Over the generations, these diverse and vibrant communities have helped to shape Pembroke into the town it is today.