View report page

49
ARSENIC IN BEER.
During the latter part of the year a wide-spread epidemic of
arsenical poisoning, attributed to beer, occurred in the North-west of
England, involving more especially the towns of Manchester and
Salford, but extending also to the Midlands. The approximate
number of sufferers appears to have been about 4,000.
The disease attacked many whose consumption of beer was
moderate, as well as those who were heavy drinkers; and women
suffered more than men.
There appears to be no data by which to judge whether the beers
to which the greater part of the poisoning has been attributed, have
in general been highly contaminated (e.g. 1½ grains arsenious acid per
gallon), or have been contaminated to a much smaller degree (e.g. ¼
to ⅓ grain arsenious acid per gallon, or less).
The main channel by which the arsenic gained access to the
beer was the impure sulphuric acid used in the production of glucose
and invert sugar; but various other channels by which arsenic can
gain access to beer in very small quantities, have been suggested.
Attention has been specially directed to malt, which in some instances
has been found arsenical; and the explanation is that this is due to
the combustion of arsenical coal in the malting kiln leading to*
arsenical fumes coming in contact with the grain.
METEOROLOGY IN AND AROUND LONDON DURING
THE YEAR 1900.
January.—The weather was mild, dull and wet, the fall of rain being
somewhat above its average. The mean daily temperature of the
air was generally above the average.
February.—The weather was wet and dull, with a remarkably cold
period extending from the 7th to the 13th. The mean daily temperature
of the air was below its average from the 1st to the 15th,
and above its average from the 16th to the 28th.