CURIOUS CASE OF ARSENICAL POISONING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 300, 29 May 1875, Page 2

CURIOUS CASE OF ARSENICAL POISONING.

[New Zealand Times. ] A most peculiar case of poisoning occurred in this city a few clays ago, which, although fortunately unattended with fatal results, presented at one time a serious and even dangerous aspect. On Tuesday last Mr Yon Mirbach. was called in to see a young gentleman, employed in the Post-office, named Nicholls, who had been ill some two or three days. The doctor found his patient very feverish and delirious, yet without any symptoms of ordinary fever. He prescribed for him, and on visiting next day found him much worse, the delirium having become more marked and violent. Dr Mirbach then came to the conclusion that Mr Nicholls had been poisoned, but on inquiry could not discover that any article of food likely to cause poisoning had been partaken of by the patient. The second visit took place in the bedroom, and there the medical gentleman quickly discovered the cause of the illness. He noticed that the room was papered with a coarse-grained green paper, very commonly used. He immediately administered antidotes to counteract the effect of arsenical poison, and although they acted beneficially, Mr Nicholls was in a very dangerous condition for some time, owing to the quantity of poisonous matter that had been inhaled from the evaporation of the arsenical coloring of the paper, and the time that had elapsed before professional assistance had been sought. The lips and eyes were severely ulcerated, and the feverish symptoms, with delirium, very strong. The doctor took a piece of the paper, which had been recently put on the wall, and, in the presence of Mr Brittain, chemist, analysed it. It was found to contain a large quantity of arsenic, the crystals being seen quite distinctly in the tube used for the process. It was found that from a piece of paper about three times the size of a man’s hand sufficient arsenic was extracted to cause the death of an adult. We are pleased to say that under the excellent treatment of Dr Von Mirbach, Mr Nicholls is progressing favorably, although yet scarcely out of danger. It is almost needless to state that the walls of the bedroom were immediately denuded of the obnoxious covering, and the place thoroughly cleansed. Strange to relate, two other gentlemen who were sleeping in the same apartment experienced no ill effects, but their beds were near the window, whilst that of the person poisoned was in a corner of the room where fresh air seldom reached. This case, which but for the clever discernment of the medical gentleman called on would most probably have terminated fatally, should act as a warning to the public to exercise care in the selection of their wallpaper. It is a matter of surprise that more cases of a similar nature have not occurred, as green is a favorite color for rooms, and always contains more or less arsenic. It may be mentioned that the French glazed green paper, which is properly pressed, is not dangerous, as from the nature of its preparation evaporation does not occur. It is the less carefully prepared and rough grained paper that should be avoided. Similar cases of poisoning have occurred, but not frequently, and the one in question is the first we know of being recorded in this colony. The thanks of the public are due to Dr Mirbach for making the facts known.