margin
of the gums characterises such general toxication of the system by
metallic Lead. As a practice which will operate (in some measure)
preventatively, lemonade may be taken freely for a daily drink, the
said beverage being made agreeably acid, partly by fresh lemon-juice, and partly by admixture with dilute sulphuric acid (which any chemist will readily supply).
When
first dug from the earth, this metal, whilst still unsmelted, is
Litharge, or Red Lead. It may be smelted into metallic Lead by
combustion with wood, and charcoal; so that the carbonic acid (oxide)
shall be driven off. As an experiment to show on a minor scale what
thus takes place wholesale, a small quantity of Litharge should be
mixed with some powdered coke, or charcoal, in the bowl of a
tobacco-pipe (the stem of the pipe being used as a handle), whilst a
dull red heat is applied to the bowl. Then the charcoal will combine
with the oxygen of the Litharge, and will escape as carbonic acid gas.
At the same time the metallic Lead will gradually collect at the bottom
of the bowl, and can be poured off, on to a mould, or on to damp sand.
It
is a remarkable fact that, after years of desertion, the Lead mines of
the Peak of Derbyshire are now again attracting hopeful speculators of
all sorts, thereto. Lead, like Copper, has become raised in price, and
is in brisk demand. When any comer has established a claim, and settled
down on it, (having the Barmaster's consent), the law thoroughly
safeguards his property. All persons then attempting to purloin his
Lead become liable to a heavy penalty. Formerly thieves of this kind
had to undergo punishment quite barbaric. For the first, and second
offences they were fined ;
