Devon colic
A historical lead-poisoning illness linked to Devon cider.
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For much of the 17th and 18th centuries, people in the English county of Devon suffered from a painful illness later identified as lead poisoning. The earliest known written description dates to 1655. Those affected experienced intense abdominal pain, and the condition sometimes proved fatal. Cider, a local staple, had long been suspected as the cause, often blamed on its acidity.
In 1715, William Musgrave provided the first scientific account in his work De arthritide symptomatica, and the ailment was later studied by John Huxham and Sir George Baker. The true cause emerged in the 1760s, when Dr. George Baker proposed that lead in cider was responsible. He noted the symptoms matched those of lead poisoning and pointed out that lead was used in cider presses and as lead shot for cleaning them. Chemical tests confirmed lead in Devon apple juice.
His findings faced strong opposition from cider makers protective of their product. Once accepted, lead was removed from cider-making equipment, and the colic declined. By 1818, Baker’s son reported it was “hardly known to exist” in Devon. An identical illness, Poitou colic, had been described in western France in 1616 by François Citois and was also proven to be lead poisoning by Théodore Tronchin in 1757.
Quick Facts
- First written account
- 1655
- Region
- Devon, England
- Centuries affected
- 17th and 18th centuries
- Cause discovered
- 1760s
- Discoverer
- Dr George Baker
- Related condition
- Poitou colic
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cider is a traditional drink of Devonians, and the connection between the colic and cider drinking had been observed for many years. The condition was commonly attributed to the acidity of the beverage. William Musgrave's publication De arthritide symptomatica (2nd edn, 1715) included the first scientific description of 'Devonshire colic' – it was later referred to by John Huxham and Sir George Baker. However, the precise cause was not discovered until the 1760s when Dr George Baker put forward the hypothesis that poisoning from lead in cider was to blame.
He observed that the symptoms of the colic were similar to those of lead poisoning. He pointed out that lead was used in the cider making process both as a component of the cider presses and in the form of lead shot which was used to clean them. He also conducted chemical tests to demonstrate the presence of lead in Devon apple juice.
Reader's Guide
The publication of Baker's results met with some hostile reaction from cider manufacturers, keen to defend their product. Once Baker's conclusions became accepted and the elimination of lead from the cider presses was undertaken, the colic declined. By 1818, Baker's son reported that it was 'hardly known to exist' in Devon. An illness with identical symptoms was described from Poitou in western France in a work of 1616 by François Citois.
It was known in English sources as Poitou colic. It was likewise demonstrated to be a form of lead poisoning in a 1757 publication by Théodore Tronchin of Geneva. The case of Devon colic illustrates how a regional health mystery was resolved through medical investigation and industrial reform, though not without initial resistance from local industry.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Devon colic (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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