View report page

31
ARSENICAL POISONING BY BEER.
Considerable alarm was created throughout the country at the latter part of the year
owing to an outbreak of a disease, known as peripheral neuritis, in certain towns in the northern
counties and the Midlands. The disease consists mainly in an inflammation of the nerves of
the extremities, chiefly below the knees and the elbows, and is marked by weakness, or want of
power, in the limbs, with pain and abnormal sensations; pigmentation of the skin and many
other symptoms, varying in different cases; some of them, however, being characteristic of
chronic arsenical poisoning. The first cases were observed at Manchester, where the trouble
appeared to have been going on for some months, and to have affected many hundreds of
persons. The one feature in the previous history of the sufferers, common to all, was that they
were beer drinkers. Analytical examination of draught and bottled beers and stouts revealed
the presence of arsenic in numerous samples, and subsequent investigations led to the conclusion
that this poisonous mineral had found its way into the beer as an abnormal constituent of the
materials used as substitutes for malt in the preparation of the "national beverage"—viz.,
invert sugar and glucose. In the manufacture of these substances, sulphuric acid is used. The
cheap, commercial form of this acid is prepared from iron pyrites, which is known to contain
arsenic. To the use of such acid the mischief was due. The glucose containing the poison was
manufactured chiefly, if not wholly, by a limited liability company in a northern town, and had
been supplied to some two hundred breweries. This company lost no time, after discovery, in
warning their customers not to use their glucose, and to destroy all beer prepared therefrom.
In the Metropolis there was no evidence of unusual prevalence of peripheral neuritis,
either in hospital returns or in the bills of mortality. There is a glucose manufactory in
Fulham, but the material is not supplied to any brewery in this borough. The Medical Officer
of Health informed me that he had had the company's products examined, with satisfactory
results. I advised the collection of samples of beer for analysis in our poorer districts. This
was done, and in no case was arsenic found in the beers, or in any glucose. It should be
understood that arsenical contamination would not constitute an offence under the Adulteration
Acts; but the continued sale of poisonous drink would involve serious consequences to the
vendor. As to the future, provision should be made, by legislation, to secure the freedom from
arsenic of the sulphuric acid used in the manufacture of malt substitutes. It would be an
advantage to the country, in many ways, should the recent unfortunate occurrences lead to
diminished use of such materials, and were the " national beverage " to become once more for
those who desire it a decoction of malt and hops only.
THE TREATMENT OP CONSUMPTION.
In the first report for 1899 (January 31st, page 5), "The Prevention of Consumption,"
was dealt with—a subject then and since much in evidence in the medical and general Press.
The report was referred to the sanitary committee, and by them to a sub-committee, whose report,
"with slight modifications" by the committee, was submitted to the late Vestry and adopted (vide
Minutes, page 1,037). The subject was further referred to in the third report (March 29th, 1899,
page 31), but no action was then taken thereon. It was also dealt with in the annual report for
1899 (pp. 113 —130, inclusive). A resume of the late Vestry's proceedings in relation thereto will
not be out of place here.
I had prepared for the consideration of the sub-committee a draft report, which contained
the following paragraph:—
"Consumption is not merely preventable; in its early stages, more especially, it is also
curable. But to the generality of sufferers the means of cure are not available, for
few of them, probably, possess the means to obtain facilities for the ' open air treatment'—the
segregation, 'the constant exposure to fresh air, light, sunshine, &c.,
necessary to secure the end in view. Happily it is in the power of the Metropolitan
Sanitary Authorities to provide these facilities for those who need their help; viz.,
by the exercise of the powers conferred on them by Section 75 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, which enable them to provide hospitals for the inhabitants of their
districts, or make other arrangements for the purpose."
This paragraph was not embodied in the report of the sub-committee, nor the consequential
recommendation, that consumption should be dealt with " by provision of a hospital or hospitals, or
by making other arrangements so as to enable poor consumptive persons to be isolated and treated,
under the best attainable conditions to secure restoration to health." The report of the subcommittee,
however, contained the subjoined paragraph, the excision of which constituted one of the
" modifications " made by the committee:—
" (6) It is perhaps almost needless to observe that Consumption is a common cause of
pauperism. The bread-winner works while he can, but the time arrives when he can
work no longer. Then, too often, he has to 'come on the rates.' Many such cases
find their way to the Workhouse Infirmaries—with disease hopelessly advanced and
beyond remedy. They become a source of danger to other persons, and, no doubt,
spread infection more or less. It is a question whether it would not be well for Boards