The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-27
Prom he Nu1 York IFibpins
Lead ". Ziur-publts Health.
FEsRUhRY II, l552.

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, u
white lead 10 really poisonous and dangerous. AZ
chemists and medical men sssert. We answer,
Yes The simple fact Of repeated poisonings by
lead water p'pes' leaded cisterns' &c, abundant
proof that lead. in is simplest form, is dangerous
iOr certain uses-cspecially in water pipes aud
paint. Whoever will read the able octave treatise
on Lead Diseases by l.. Ianquerel an eminent
French sapant, translated by Professor Dana, Of
po.ton will be satisfied, without our assertion, Of
the poisonous influence OF lead in various ways.
n other competent authorities arc necessary, con
suit Dire Dalton, Adams, Weber and Chiffon.
There are five diseases specially resulting from
contact with lead, and more particularly lead
paipt 70 Wit colo, rheumatism or neuralgia,
PARALYSIS, loss Of sensation, deiirium, and coma,
a. The British and Foreign Medical RsUiao-
standard authority-in an article on the subject,
states that during eight year,, in the single hoe
pit,l La Chdrtfie, Paris, 2,l6l persons. many Of
whom died we're treated with lead diseases ,2lS
being lead cbolic. A large proportion OF these
were persons who had been employed IN the man
uhcture aud grinding, or painting with white
lead. Chemists and medical men agree that build
ings painted with lead should not be tenanted for
several months after Thousands OF painters be
come diseased md die over their paint pOisons with
out dreaming that the cause lies in lead. The
public suffer proportionatoly. Nor IL this matter
of wonder when IL - known that various forms Of
,isop are plenifully evolved from lead In its di-
erfnt states by contact with substances and gases
We speak now Of this matter because the season
il at hand when the painter s 70 be specially busted
over his poisons There is no plea Of profit or ne
ccssty for the use Of lead for any Of the common
purposes, such ss pipe, paint, sc. Zinc is better
cheaper more durable, and entirely free from sani
tary objection. The pure zinc, from the New Jer
sey mines-and we allude 10 this because il is the
best il not the only pure zinc yet discovercd-is,
for any use VIC have mentioned, fifty per cent. gu
perior TO lead, commercially speaking, and meal
rulnby superior when health is considered. IL has
been tested 90 THE end, thoroughly, by chemists
and painters. As paint, zinc white, az mere
question Of dollars and conts, is about forty per
cent cheaper than white lead; besides, IL is pure
white spreads better than lead, ia more brilliant
and durable retains its FRESHNESS for years, and s
nearer fire proof than any other paint, mainly from
the fact that IL requires much Ices oil. So with
zinc colors No house owner, after trying zinc
paint once, will ever submit 10 the use OF lead
again and no painter who investigates the subject
will work with lead ii hc can get zinr. And con
slider that some fifty thousand tons Of lead paint
poison are used in this country per year
The French government, always foremost 10
adopting discoveries Of public utility has for
wears pact ordered all public buildings painted
uith zinc paint, for reasons Of both profit and
health. The example is being generally followed
i'm FrSnco II would be worthy Of our Govern.
,uept 20 think Of matters Of THE kind. We might
add a volume. bot We have said enough, we trust,
60 satisfy our q3erists, and 10 commend the sub
ect 10 The investigation Of painters, paint.cCnsu-
a,Crs, end the public.