Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-12

Or. Diapers paper on the evil effects Of arse
mic in certain green col0rs, appended to the re-
port of the state board of health, contains some
facts which ought to be, if they are not, gener-
ally known. Two pigments into which arsenic
enters as an ingredient are in common use: the
arseniie Of copper or Scheeles green, and the
aceto-arsenite of copper, called also Sehweinfurt
green, from the town where it is largely manu-
featured They are also known among work
men by other names. They contain ffty-fye
and fiity-eight per cent. respectively of pure
arsenic. The color produced by these pigments
is a lighter and purer green than any other of
artificial manufacture, and is also more durable
than most others. The materials used in the
manufacture are cheap, and the processes are
simple and easy. For these reasons the arsenicaI
greens are popular with manufacturers and the
public, aud are used in immense quantities.
One manufacturer Of paper hangings in En-
gland testified before parliamentary commit
Tee that he used Two tons of arsenic weekly.
These coors, are, of course, deadly poisons, but
so, perhaps in a somewhat less degree, are lead
and various other substances used as pigments.
The reason why arsenic colors are more danger
GUS ludli plAIc Is lidt III oOulE vi llGlI
uses hey are NOT incorporated with the fabric
a dive, nor firmly attached to its surface by
means of oil or varnish or other such strongly
adherent substance In making the foliage Of
artificial flowers, green tarlatanes and papers Of
various kinds, the arsenical colors are mixed
only with size, which causes them to adhere but
insecurity to the fabric to which they are APP
piled.
The manufacture of all these articles is full of
danger to the persons employed in it, and pro-
duccs always harmful and occasionally fatal
effects. But these we do not care to notice
now. They aie well enough known to the
operatives, who engage in the work with their
eyes open, but this may not be sufficient reason
for allowing these dangerous trades to be carried
on without the use Of all the precautions which
science can suggest. There are many persons,
however, who are liable TO use the products OF
this manufacture for purposes Of utility or orna-
ment without any knowledge Of the danger
which attends them, and for their benefit the
nature and extent Of this danger should be ex-
planned. Artificial flowers, OF which DR.. Draper
first speaks, do not cause very frequent or Sc
rious injury. Well authenticated instances are
related, however, where painful eruptions and
other unpleasant effects have been traced to the
handling or wearing Of sprays Of artificial leaves
coloIed with arsenic, and this does not seem
strange when we learn that single sprig OF
twelve leaves has been found by analysis to con.
tain ten glalns Of pure arsenic. The coloring
matter, being merely spread over the surface of
the material of which the leaves are made, and
fixed only by miXture with starch, gum arabic
or some such substance, is Of course
easily detached, and in the form Of
dust mingles with the atmosphere of
the room to be inhaled with other impurities.
Where many persons are assembled in warm
room and the air is violently agitated by con.
slant movement, as in large dancing parties, the
evil effect Of these arseneal particles may be
very perceptible. But much more dangerous
article Of dress when colored with arsenic is the
material called tailatane, light fabric resenl.
bling muslin, which has, at times, been quite
fashionable. In this, too, the color is fixed only
By starch or size, and, when il is torn, plenti-
ful cloud Of arscncal dust arises. Any moder.
ate agitation Of the fabric also disengages the
coiored powder. A lady wearing a yoluminous
ga'zy drapery Of this kind, might, in a ball
room, surround herself with cloud of poison.
Gus gust whose fleets on herself aud her friends
might never be recognized or traced to their
proper source These tarlatanes contain nearly
hali their weight Of eolonng matter, and dress
Of ordinary dimensions might thus hold thsee
oriour ounces Of pure arsenic. Of which. proba.
bly, more than tenth part might DC shaken ont
add dihusod Though the air Of a room in A sin.
Gle evening. Gases Of unmistalsabe and danger
ous poisoning by this means are well known ant
the material ought to DC prescribed as too dan
gerons ior use.
Bat perhaps the most insdi0us and most fro
aueuuy harmful employment Of arsenic is in ia
~ anniaeure Of coloIcd papers, particular