Crusoe's island . d be-ing the chief result. I could not help thinking, as Iturned in again after the alarm, that there could no lon-ger be a doubt on the subject which had already occa-sioned me so many unpleasant reflections. It evenseemed as if I smelled something like brimstone; but,upon calling to Zip to know what was the matter, heinformed me that he was only dryin the boots on thestove. CHAPTER V. SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA CITT. Notwithstanding the number of physicians who hadalready hoisted their shingles, there was much sick-ness in Virginia, owing chiefly to exposure and dissipa-tion, but
Crusoe's island . d be-ing the chief result. I could not help thinking, as Iturned in again after the alarm, that there could no lon-ger be a doubt on the subject which had already occa-sioned me so many unpleasant reflections. It evenseemed as if I smelled something like brimstone; but,upon calling to Zip to know what was the matter, heinformed me that he was only dryin the boots on thestove. CHAPTER V. SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA CITT. Notwithstanding the number of physicians who hadalready hoisted their shingles, there was much sick-ness in Virginia, owing chiefly to exposure and dissipa-tion, but in some measure to the deleterious quality ofthe water. Nothing more was wanting to confirm myoriginal impressions. The water was certainly the worstever used by man. Filtered through the ComstockLead, it carried with it much of the plumbago, arsenic,copperas, and other poisonous minerals alleged to existin that vein. The citizens of Virginia had discoveredwhat they conceived to be an infallible Avay of correct- R. TUK COMBTOOK LEAD. A PEEP AT WASHOE. 387 ing it; that is to say, it was their practice to mix aspoonful of water in half a tumbler of whisky, and thendrink it. The whisky was supposed to neutralize thebad effects of the water. Sometimes it was consideredgood to mix it with gin. I was unable to see how anyadvantage could be gained in this way. The whiskycontained strychnine, oil of tobacco, tarentula juice, andvarious effective poisons of the same general nature, in-cluding a dash of corrosive sublimate; and the gin wasmanufactured out of turpentine and whisky, with asprinkling of prussic acid to give it flavor. For mypart, I preferred taking poison in its least complicatedform, and therefore adhered to the water. With hotsaleratus bread, beans fried in grease, and such drink asthis, it was no wonder that scores were taken down sickfrom day to day. Sickness is bad enough at the best of times, but herethe condition of the sick was truly pitiable. There wasscarcely a te
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