Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-09

COLOR POISONING.

In the third annual report of the State
Board of Health, brief resume of which
was given in our editorial columns few
days since, reference was made to q pe-
cullarly interesting paper on "The Evil
Effects of Arsenic in certain Green Colors. !"
so important are the facts contained there
IN and SO necessary to be universally un-
derstood, that it seemed pity that it
should be confined to the pages Of a State
document merely.
The object of the article is to point out
some of the forms in which arsenic il in
troduced to daily use, and to warn those
exposed against its baneful effects.
Arsenic is universally known to be a
deadly poison, and in every country of the
world its sale has been regulated and re.
stricted by law These carefully devised
measures, however, apply no farther than
to its sale by druggists. As an Ingredient
in the manufacture of many articles its use
is wholly unrestricted. In the preparation
OF certain colors it is largely used It ap-
pears in our upholstery, upon the walls of
our rooms, in our carpets, and even in the
clothing we wear. So common has its use
come to be in daily life that the subject
warrants solicitude in behalf of the pub
lie health.
There is no color in nature 80 pleasing
to the eye as green, and chemists have
round by repeated experiments that the
clearest and brightest of its tints are best
produced by arsenic in one or another of
Its various forms, the most common being
the arsenite of copper, commonly known
as Scheele's green, and the acete-arsenite
OF copper, or Schweinfirt green. Either
OF these combinations is more than one
half pure white arsenic. Some idea of the
extensive use of arsenical green in the
manufacture of wall paper and artificial
flowers may be learned from the fact that
seven hundred tons were applied to this
use in England in 1862. The introduction
into the stomach of any of these prepara.
tions OF colors give rise to the same train
OF symptoms and demands the same
prompt antidotes as pure arsenic.
Ihe quantity of poison which the leaves
OF artificial flowers take up in their manu-
facture seems almost incredible. Careful
chemical analysis has shown that in a
twig of twelve leaves, the ordinary
amount is ten grains. A lady might thus
carry to an evening party enough deadly
poison in her floral adornments to poison
a score of the company.
SO in the matter of dress. The fabric
so popular among ladies for summer wear
called tarletan, contains more than half
its weight in arsenical green, a dress of
ordinary dimensions holding in its texture
between three and four ounces of virulent
poison. Two years ago, several girls en-
ployed in a shop in this city, were serious
ly poisoned by working upon this fabric
The hands and face were badly swollen,
eruptions appeared upon the parts ex-
posed to the effects of The labor, and the
sight was seriously affected. These local
effects were accompanied by headache,
lassitude, and feeling OF general illness
But perhaps the most dangerous form
taken by this poison is the coloring mate
rial used in the manufacture of confection-
cry, toys, and articles designed especially
for the use of children. Many of the
green wooden toys which are manufac-
tured abroad are painted with the aceto-
arsenite of copper mixed with water, so
hat the moment the color is moistened it
comes off either in the hands or mouth of
he child. The toy water colors, sold SO
contain in the two usual shades
Of green enough arsenic to destroy
whole family of children.
1t would seem that in any community
where the evil effects of the use of poison
Gus pigments were well known, the very
itself would operate as a rem
edy. In this country the right of individ-
uals and industrial pursuits are looked up
on as too sacred to allow of excessive
and prohibitory law to at
feet the sale or use of arsenical colors
would be of questionable power, and of as
little avail as that now in existence for the
sale of liouOr II the DeOple could he
brought to understand the dan.
indiscriminate nat use Of this poison under ie its its
no need of repressive law, for people of
a peril to shun it.-Gl06e.