Death from soda water

DEATH FROM SODA-WATER. - A curious case is reported from Lennoxtown on good authority. A lady in delicate health was ordered to drink freely of soda-water. She did so, and shortly afterwards manifested all the symptoms that would attach to a patient suffering from the effects of poisoning. 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 the 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.