Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-23
POISONOUS PAPER.

The fact that nearly all the graeU c5loring
now in use is arseniCal, has been indisputa-
ply proved by eminent analysts. Speci-
mems can be produced Of pale green papers
containing six, nine and even fourteen
grains of arsenic to the square foot; and
paper. containing only 3 leaf or line OF
green in the pattern are arsenical and
Injurious. Yet such papers are to be seen
everywhere. Arsenic was first employed
in the manufacture of wall papers about
the beginning of this century,
and its use has been on the increase, year
after YEAR up to the present time. If we
cover our walls with poison which is not
only deadly, but volatile, can we Wotider at
deterioration Of health and of race? But
now follows an important point, proving
that arsenic is not confined to green color
ing, as supposed, but is used in papers OF
all colors, and even In white. Many Of the
pigments now in use appear to contain az
senic; therefore, in substituting paint
or wash for paper, it is important to
know of what the COlOrs are composed.
There is a "neW blue" used for cOlorlng
walls, which contains arsenic, and the green
distemper wash so often used instead OF
paint is almost invariably arsenical; being
totally unglazed, it is all The more rapidly
injurious. But the gaseous exhalatiOns OF
arsenic have been found dangerous, both
from glazed papers and oil-paint, and was
proved at Munich in 1880. The Prussian
Government, recognizing the danger,
'sforbade the use of arsenic in
any colors, whether distemper or oil,
for indoor work" Yet in this country ar
senic paint is freely used on the walls Of our
rooms and on Venician blinds, the green
paint used for these latter articles containing
about seventy-per cent. Of arsenic. ofThat
use comparatively speaking, are restrictions
on the sale of arsenic by druggists, when
painters and paper makers can purchase it
in unlimited quantities, using it By tons
weekly for wall papers, and thus poisoning
the population by wholesale? Legislation
in this matter is urgently called for, to
make penal the use of arsenic in any form,
in the interior of houses, and to provide
legal protection and compensation for the
victims Of this ubiquitous mode OF pois-
oning. There is also another question to
be dealt with-how to get rid OF all the
arsenic now on our walls, which, with
out doubt, is permanently injuring the
health of the present and rising generation,
and through it future generations. How can
ANYTHING but deterioration of race result
from living and bringing up children ID At
mospheres where every breath that is drawn
conveys a deadly poison into the blood !?
The cerebral symptoms produced by arsenic
are peculiarly deserving Of attention, and
offer wide field for investigation TO physi-
clans who devote themselves to the study
of diseases of the brain and nervous system.
Fevers and eruptive diseases appear to
result not unfrequently from this mode
of blood-poisoning, and who can
say how much Of epidemic dis
ease and mortality therefrom may net he,
iii a great measure, due to this cause, by
predisposing the system for its reception,
and by the prostration Of strength which
would tend to induce fatal results in attacks
not of themselves dangerous? One marked
effect of arsenic.i is to produce Cholersic di-
arrhea, and ether symptoms akin to that
disease.