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by the use of glucose, and gave determinations of the amount
of arsenic actually found in certain glucoses by a French chemist
(T. Clouet, "Du Glucose Arsenical." Ann. d'Hygiene Publique,
XLIX., January, 1878). The possibility of its occurrence has
therefore been known to the scientific world from the date of
T. Clouet's research in 1878, and the chief facts accessible in
the English language since 1879. It was not, however, until
midsummer, 1900, that the attention of the medical profession
in the Manchester district was directed to a considerable number
of cases of skin and nervous affections, generally connected with
the result of inflammatory action of the ends and trunks of the
nerves—hence the scientific name of "peripheral neuritis."
These cases continued to increase, and were generally ascribed
to the action of alcohol, but Dr. Reynolds, by a process of
inductive reasoning, came to the conclusion in November that
they were due to probably arsenic in beer. Within a very short
time of the announcement of the nature of the poison, Dr.
Kelynak and Mr. Kirby, of Manchester, had localised the main
source of the poison, and immediate measures for its detection
and for arresting, as far as practicable, the consumption of
arsenical beer had been taken.
A strict investigation has conclusively proved that the injury
has been by no means confined to persons drinking beer to
excess. In one case a young woman suffered from very characteristic
symptoms after partaking of a pint of stout daily, a
quantity she had been accustomed to for years. Examination
of the stout showed it to contain 1/25 of a grain of arsenious acid
per gallon. Presuming that this was the usual amount of
contamination of the stout drunk, it shows that so small a
quantity as of a grain of arsenious acid taken daily may
cause serious illness.
The poisoned beer appears confined to the Manchester
district and the Midlands. Up to the date of preparing this
Report an enormous number of samples of beer have been
tested in the Metropolitan District—a district containing a population,
it must be remembered, of several millions—but no
arsenic has been found. Nor does there appear to have been
a sufficient number of cases of neuritis treated in the hospitals
in this district or in the neighbouring district to justify suspicion
of poisoning. The writer believes that the beer in the district
at present is free from metallic contamination, and the brewers
whose trade has already been affected by the arsenic scare may
be depended upon in the future to take especial precautions.