The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-21
For the Daily Exchange.
SCIENCE AND ART.
POISON WALLPAPER.

for some time past good deal has been said
ABOUT the poisonous properties of certain green wall
papers. The beautiful tints so much admired are
communicated by the pigments known as Scbeee's
and Brunswick green The first of these is an arsente
OF copper, the second a mixture of arsenite of con-
per with verdigris; that of both of them arseni
Gus ana the common white arsenic of the shops is
an essential element.
That this is dangerous pigment tn emnlov in
rooms has been recently discovered in England and
thiS country. 1t has, however, been long known
IN russia, and special police regulation has been
leveled agalnstit 1t runs in this wise:
'Ureen copper colOrs containing arsenic are not
allowed to be sold as water or oil coors for naint
ing indoor work or for printing paper-hanpinps-
IL found on the premises of dealers in the latter ar
ticies they are conhscated and the owner punished
with fine or imprisonment"
story is told of an Englishman who. intending
10 S9lourn some time in Prussia hired apartments
and had them papered. Not knowing ANYTHING
ABOUT these police regulations, he selected such pa
per as pleased him, and his choice happened to fall
upon beautiful green, which was made of arsenite
OF copper. He left orders to have the apartments
attended to and absented himself for few DAYS
on ms return, he ascertained to his unspeakable
disgust, that the police had visited his rooms and
torn OIL his beautiful paper.
=, Inc discussion of this question was commenced in
England by an inquiry in a medical newspaper,
Whlch brought out DR.. Kinds, of Birmingham, who
narrated his own experience. This gentleman had
newly papered his study with 4 neat wall-paper ele
ganty tinted with two shades of bright green The
evening was his time for reading, and he used gas
Inc first time he studied in the apartment he was
sezed with nausea and great depression of strength
amounting to fantness; that he was compelled tn
suspend his studies The same thing occurred every
evening when he read in the room He began to
search Tor the causes of this result and soon fixed
IL upon the room, as he enjoyed his usual health
when he did not study in it. At last he susnactad
the paper, and, scraping off little of the color
ing matter soon recognized arsenic by the appro-
pirate chemical tests. He had the obnoxious paner
removed, and with il his unnlaaSont Oymrtop,a
disappeared.
Several other cases having been published, atten
ton was sufficiently attracted to the subject to in
teriere somewhat with the trade in these beautiful
papers, Accordingly Mr.. Fletcher, manufactu-
rer OF these articles published letter in the Lon
don Times, IN which he rdcules the public appre-
tensions, and asserts that the workmen in his esab-
lishment who are constantly engaged in handling
these polsons enjoy excellent health If so, they
are an exception to the general rule as usually
workmen in these arsenical pigments suffer greatly
from sores upon the body and from disturbances of
digestion This letter of Mr.. Fletcher called forth
a reply from Dr. HALEY, who had been poisoned in
similar manner with DR.. Kinds.
Inc TACT of the poisonous character of the paper
hanglngs being thus fully established by unequivo-
cal iacts 1t becomes question of some interest to
determine how the arsenic is communicated to the
system. 1t has been long known that this poison
may be introduced through the skin or through the
lungs and produce its characteristic effects as well
as when taken into the stomach. The gas known as
arsenlmetted hydrogen being chemical compound
OF arsenic and hydrogen, has in several instances
when inhaled, destroyed life. But the question is
now does the arsenic get off the paper and into the
lungs?
DR.. Kinds informs that one characteristic of
this pigment is that it does not firmly adhere to
the paper but that upon close inspection it will be
found to show little "runnng," as if put on
somewhat greasy surface. 1t is therefore easily de-
tached. draught of air from an open door, light
friction as with busting brush, must detach min
ute particles which will float in the atmosphere OF
the room, enter the lungs and produce the unpleas
ant symptoms of slow arsencal poisoning The
readiness with which this detachment of colorino
matter will be effected, is increased by the changes
OF the air from damp to dry. The gummy substance
by winch the pigment is made to adhere to the pa
per, Is acted on by the moisture. 1t is dissolved
and sinks into the porous paper leaving of course
a superficial layer of the pigment in the form of a
powder easily detached. Some have supposed that
the water effects chemical change in the pigment
forming arsenimetted hydrogen, which is diffnsed
through the air: This is not probable The water
may act In another way, by increasing the volatility
OF !he arsen0us acid and carrying it off in its vapor
as 1t dries. This effect would be very much increas
ed by the ammonia formed from the putrefaction of
the paste, and this is element which cannot he
overlooked In the study of the causes of this re-
markable method of poisoning.
DIR. HALEY has suggested that the products of the
of gas may form volatile compounds of
arsenic with this pigment. He has indeed proved
this to be the case BY subecting QUANTITY of the
paper to current of air loaded with the vapors of
burned gas and showing that such air absorbed
me- As for the air of the room he obtained from it,
by very simple chemical manipulations, crystals OF
the ordinary white arsenic of the shops.
W bile upon this subject, may as well state |
that last year in Paris similar cases of poisoning
occurred from handling green guaze which was |
colored with Brunswick green.