Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-20
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Poisonous WALLPAPER.

Arsenic is ucauly Poiooii' SSPo SA"iiJ
when absorbed by the pores OF the skin
or inhaled with the breath. Arsenlcal
preparations will poison the atmosphere
of house and slowly work their evil
effects. AS part OF colcring matter in
certain wallpapers they cover a large
surface; they are feebly adhesive to the
paper and are slowly rubbed from it by
alterations of heat and cold, moisture
and dryness, by currents OF air, by sweep
ing and busting, and, being dislodged,
they form part of the impalpable dust
always dancing in the air. A ray of sun
light in a room at once defines the pres.
ence of minute particles in the air,
among which are the arsenical pigments
If the room is exposed to them The va
rious surfaces of the air-passages absorb
these particles, and palpable injury is
done. Among the evils caused are
catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, dyspepsia,
pain in the bones and joints, headache,
debility and thousand natural ills;
chronic disease, Z" a sense OF goneness,"
depression of spirits, may he produced.
How far women who ego into decline"
may be affected is by no means problem
atical. Travel may benefit such, buta
return home to the malgn and mysteri-
Gus influences of the predisposing cause
may renew the trouble.
All wellinformed physicians know how
injurious it is to pass much time in
museums where anatomical preparations
and stuffed animals have been protected
by arsenic against moth and worms and
they should warn their patients against
anything in the room which may give
suspicion OF containing arsenic, mercury,
or any other poisonous substance subject
to slow evaporation.
Manufacturers of these papers ought
to know how baneful they are those who
sell them ought to know also. Generally
speaking, every one knows that the
bright green colors are arsenical, and
that they are poisonous. But they are
pretty and striking, and so they are on
the walls of houses, in theaters and else
where, where beauty and brilliancy of
color are desirable. The arsenical green
is not in the groundwork of the cheaper
papers; it is too costly, but 1t may be in
the ornamental part. 1t is ordinarily
easily detected by the eye; used as u
tone" it is not so easily discovered,
and 1t may escape notice as a part of
other shades.
SO important was this matter consid-
cred that the State Chemist Of Michigan
procured samples of arsenical paper and
had them placed as warning on exhi-
bition in all the public libraries of the
State. The report cites numerous facts
bearing upon this subject. In one case
where severe sickness occurred in u
family, it was found that the wallpaper
had set free into the atmosphere of II
bedroom an ounce of arsenic every six
months. This was proved by an analysis
of the faded Wallpaper and of new paper
Of the same pattern and purchase. -Four
or five grains TO the square foot is not
uncommon. In some Instances children
have been experimental upon, and n
short stay III a suspected room has soon
developed the same symptoms that
Others had experienced who had occupied
the room before. Often decided maletc
influence has been felt after sweeping or
busting.
What is the remedy for this2 Tear
the paper from the walls or cover it with
thin varnish, which will securely fix
the dangerous pigment. But first test
the paper you buy; the green, arsenical
colors are soluble in ammonia water. If
little ammonia water poured on the
paper discharges the green color, or pro-
duoes such a change IN the color indicat
ing the removal of the green, the paper
should be rejected, as it probably con
tans arsenic TO identify the presence
OF arsenic in any paper wet the paper
"ith ammonia water, pour off this water
on clean piece of glass and drop into
this crystal OF nitrate of silver or a
small piece of lunar caustic. If yell
low precipitate forms around the crystal
1T indicates the presence of arsenic,
The subject is worth consideration
everywhere; this poison is all around us.
An intelligent examination of wallpaper
may close up avenues and sources of
disease now altogether unsupported. -
Manufacturer and Builder.