Les mangeurs d'arsenic

The Fifth Annual James H. Cassedy Memorial History of Medicine lecture to be held Friday, July 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., in the Lister Hill Auditorium, National Library of Medicine, Building 38A, Bethesda, MD

"Pharmacology and Folklore: The Arsenic Eaters of Styria"

John Parascandola, PhD (Retired chief, History of Medicine Division, NLM; Adjunct Professor,
Dept. of History, University of Maryland, College Park)

In 1851, a publication in a Viennese medical journal alerted the medical community to the strange practice of arsenic eating among peasants in Styria (Austro-Hungary). These peasants consumed increasingly small doses of arsenic daily until they apparently built up immunity to lethal amounts.  The arsenic was believed to have tonic properties, increasing stamina and vitality, and also to enhance the complexion and figure (especially of women).  This lecture examines the controversy that developed in the medical community about the validity of the story of the arsenic eaters and whether or not it was possible to develop a tolerance
to arsenic.  It also discusses the stimulus that the story of the arsenic eaters of Styria gave to cosmetic and medicinal use of arsenic in various countries.

All are welcome.

Sign language interpretation is provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate may contact Stephen Greenberg at 301-435-4995, e-mail  greenbes@mail.nih.gov<mailto:greenbes@mail.nih.gov>, or the Federal Relay (1-800-877-8339).

Due to current security measures at NIH, off-campus visitors are advised to consult the NLM Visitors and Security website:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/visitor.html

Sponsored by
NLM's History of Medicine Division
Jeffrey S. Reznick, PhD, Chief

Event contact:
Stephen J. Greenberg, MSLS, PhD
Coordinator of Public Services
History of Medicine Division
National Library of Medicine, NIH
301-435-4995
greenbes@mail.nih.gov<mailto:greenbes@mail.nih.gov>