DEATH IN SODA-WATER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1999, 4 January 1875, Page 2

DEATH IN SODA-WATER.

Of all the improbable sources of poisoning that could be imagined, death in a soda-water bottle would be usually considered the most unlikely. That the habitual use of so inocuous a beverage as aerated water should result in a pronounced case of lead poisoning is a fact as novel as it is unpleasant. Tet such a case is reported from Lennoxtown, says the " Glasgow News," on good authority, and accompanied by proofs which place the matter beyond the possibility of doubt. A lady in delicate health was ordered to drink freely of soda-water. She did so, and shortly afterwards manifested all the symptoms that could attack a patient suffering the effects of poison. Suspicion eventually . fell on the \ soda-water. A bottle was sent for. analysis to Dr Wallace, Glasgow, with the result that the aerated liquid was found to contain lead in the proportion of nine-tenths of a grain in a gallon. The effect of that is stated in the following sentence in Dr. Wallace's report :— " Ordinary drinking water is considered dangerous if it contains one-tenth of a grain of lead per gallon, and some authorities consider even one-twentieth of a grain deleterious to health if the water is used continuously for a series of weeks or months." In the case referred to the patient drank this soda* water to the extent of six or seven

bottles daily— swallowing in the same time no less than three-eighths of a grain of lead. This is a serious business, and Dr Wilson has performed a public duty in making it known. A searching investigation into the circumstauces should follow, for it is out of the question that our population should be poisoned with nonintoxicant or more avowedly dangerous liquids.