substances
have remained openly exposed in Tin vessels for a while, before being
eaten, colic, vomiting, and other symptoms of being poisoned have been
known to ensue. Dr. Pareira recorded this fact in his standard large
work on Materia Medica as long ago as in 1842 ; which bears a fourfold
significance in these modern times when comestibles of every sort are "
tinned," or " canned," for almost universal consumption. It must
further be guardedly borne in mind that Arsenic frequently occurs
combined with metallic block Tin. The Phoenicians (who were perhaps the
first people who carried on commerce by sea), traded with England, and
Spain for Tin at least a thousand years before the time of Christ. In
Pliny's time the Romans did not realise the difference between Tin,
(their Plumbum album), and Lead, (their Plumbum nigrum). The present word for Tin (Stannum) did not assume this meaning until the fourth century.
Of
dear old England wrote Bartholomew Anglicus, even as long ago as in
1250 :—" England is a strong land, and a sturdy, and the plenteoustest
corner of the world ; so rich a land that unneth it needeth help of any
land, and every other land needeth help of England. England is full of
mirth, and of game ; and men oft-times able to mirth and game, free men
of heart and tongue, but the hand is much better and more free than the
tongue." Can as much be honestly said of our dissatisfied, democratic,
peevish, factious country in the present year of Grace (forsooth !) 1
The
ordinary Block Tin is manufactured by heating crude Tin Ore, (never
quite free from iron, or lead, or arsenic.) in furnaces with Charcoal;
then carbonic oxide gas escapes, and the melted Tin is drawn off so as
to be
