Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1852-07-07
Lead VS.. Zinc Public Health.

Since the introduction of zinc paint in this coun-
try, some three years ago, by the New jersey Zinc
Company, we have been asked repeatedly if white
lead is really poisonous and dangerous, as chem
lists and medical men assert We answer yes
The simple fact of repeated poisoning by lead in
water-ppes, loaded cisterns, &c, is abundant proof
that lead, in its simplest form, is dangerous for
certain uses, especially in water-pipes and paint.
Whoever will read the able octave treatise on lead
diseases, by i. Tanquerel, an eminent French
cant, translated by Prof. Dana, of Boston, will be
satisfied, without our assertion, of the poisonous
influence of lead in various ways If other COM
petent athorites are necessary, consult Drs Dalton
Adams, Webber and Chiffon.
There are five diseases specially resulting from
contact with lead paint--to wit: Collie, Rheuma-
riism, Neuralgia; Paralysis, Loss of Sensation,
Delirium and Coma, &c. The British and For
egn Medical Review-standard anthority-in an
article on the subject, states that, during eight
years, in the single Hospital La Charlie, Paris
/ 2l51 persons many of whom died. were treated
/ for lead diseases; 1918 being lead collie. A large
proportion of these were persons who had been
employed in the manufacture, grinding, or painting
with white lead. Chemists and medical men agree
that buildings painted with lead should not be ten
anted for several months after. Thousands of
painters become diseased and die their paint
poisons without dreaming that the cause lies in
lead. The public suffer proportonately. Nor
is this a matter of wonder, when it is known that
various forms of poison are pentilully evolved
from lead in its different stages, by contact with
substances and gases.
We speak now of this matter, because the sea-
son is at hand when the painter is to be specially
busted over his poisons There is no plea of pro-
fit or necessity for the of lead for any of the
common purposes, such as pipe paint &c. Zinc
is better, cheaper, durable, and entirely free
from sanitary objection. The pure zinc from the
New Jersey mines-and we allude to this because
is the best if not the only pure zinc yet discov
ered-is, for any use we have named, 60 per cent
superior to lead, commercially speaking-and in
!, caiculably superior when health is considered
1t has been tested to this end thoroughly, by chem
lists and painters. AS paint zinc white, as a
mere question of dollars and cents is@bout 40 per
cent cheaper than white lead I; besides, it is a pure
white, spreads better than lead, is more brilliant
and durable and retains its freshness for years.
The colored zinc paints form directly a metallic
surface on wood, brick, ron &c, and are nearest
fire proof of any paint known, owing to the great
!, amount of mineral condensed in the zinc eolors,
and the small amout of oil used. No house-own-
er, after trying this paint once, will ever submit
to the use Of lead again, and painter who inyes-
tigates the subject will work with lead if he can
get zinc And consider that some 10000 tons OF
lead paint-poson are used in this country pei
year. Tribune.