ABSTRACT
The mystery of the poisoned sausages is typical of the many fascinating stories—some true and some legendary—which have emerged during the long association of arsenic with man. Arsenic compounds have been widely used both as medicines and as poisons. Arsenic is widely distributed in the environment, being present more abundantly than most elements in rocks, soil and sea water. It often occurs in association with iron, copper, lead or silver. The industrial demand for arsenic has increased greatly in recent times. A hundred years ago the total world production of arsenic trioxide was about 10,000 tons. Seaweed (or kelp) tablets, sold in health food shops, contain significant amounts of arsenic. Writing in the British Medical Journal on 24 November of that year, Dr Ernest Reynolds drew attention to a recent increase in the number of cases of alcoholic neuritis admitted to hospitals in Manchester and neighbouring towns.
