Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

arsenic and copper; the bright yellow and white are of lead, and the olive green from arsenic, cobalt, &c.,) while the poison from water service pipes we know is a lead poison. But mark ! these two classes of very deleterious agents — in effect, " slow poisons " — are actually and perpetually at work, contaminating almost every respectable dwelling in all our large cities, as well as the majority of country residences and village homes. Arsenic acts as an irritant poison, while lead acts as a sedative poison; but from the ultimate effects of both (or cither) there may occur pains, palsies, weaknesses, and emaciation. But physiology shows us that there is a ceaseless depurating and repairing force going on in the human organism during health, which indeed is a very law of our being. Therefore, while the poison is minute on the one hand, and, at the same time, the health of the individual is vigorous, nothing of it is perceptible to us, although some of the organs may already feel the insid- ious influence. Now, if the vitality of any member of the fam- ily become lowered, from any cause, and consequently the dep- urating and repairing force is enfeebled or nil, and particularly if, at the same time, the minute particles or portions of this poison be somewhat increased, then it is that the nervous system gives way, and finally becomes deranged and diseased. The more immediate effects and consequences of extremely minute par- ticles of arsenic floating in the air, or as dust, in the rooms of a house, it must be known, do not act the same as when arsenic is properly prepared and taken as a medicine, but appear to be manifested by a weakness, or a kind of irritation of the eyes and throat. Dr. Jeffries recently read a very interesting paper on this subject before the Suffolk District Medical Society, show- ing that there may also be sudden and unaccountable attacks of dyspepsia, and other gastric derangement. Next, we find there are pains, partial palsy, loss of flesh and strength, and the case may possibly be mistaken for that of consumption, and then the end is inevitable. As a member of the medical profession, peculiarly positioned for seeing and knowing these direful consequences of house poison, I feel it a duty thus to plainly speak and urge the