Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-09
Poisonous Dyes.

Adulteration is bad, but poisoning 1.
worse, and especially poisoning by arsenic
The agonies which are endured by those
who have swallowed or imbibed arsenic
in poisonous quantities are too well known
to need mention, and arsenic applied H.
the shape of dye for materials, whether
silk or wooden, which are worn NEXT fbe
skin, brings about consequences nearly as
dangerous and as painful Attention
should be calledfo the subject because il
seems that manufacturers are recommenc.
ing the use Of this substance for dveinp
articles of personal apparel. That arsenic
Tin the shape OF Scheele's green) has long
been used to produce the well-known daz-
cling green in dresses, artificial fowers
and papers for walls, and that these artj.
cIes have produced all the effects Of arsen.
ical poisoning, are facts so we'll established
that sensible people have contented them
selves with avoiding any material OF that
particular color; but lately DIR. Sedgwick
wrote To the Times, stating that, his wife
and himself having suffered much in the
manner that people do when poisoned by
arsenical yapors," he analysed his bed.
room paper, which was pale blue, and
found large quantity of arsenic Now.
blue wallpapers are generally thought
safe. Some years ago silk socks and
stockings dyed in stripes Of very brilliant
hues-orange, purple and crimson-were
sold, and many persons suffered frightful-
" through wearing them. The first symp.
toms were intense irritation in the skin OF
the feet, swelling and an infiamed ap.
pearance; then an outbreak of watery
blisters of all sizes, from groups Of the
size of hemp seed TO single blisters
on the sole Of the foot larger
than five-shilling piece. This con-
dition was accompanied by general
feverishness, rigors, loss of appetite, and a
sensation of pervading malaise. In a
severe attack the patient was rarely able to
walk for three weeks, and after one attack
passed off it was often followed by another
of milder type. In one casea gentleman
was obliged to wear cloth shoes for up
ward of eight months, and with other pa
tients the system has been so impre grated
with the poison that blisters have reap
peared at intervals, not only on the feet
but on the hands, ears, ETC., for more than
three years. Three was no doubt as to the
cause and method of this blood poisoning,
for the blisters first came in stripes CORE.
spending to the colored stripes of the
stockings, and the laundresses complained
OF the irritation and inflamed condition of
their hands after washing these poisonous
articles. In another instance q crimson
silk vest dyed in the same way was worn
for two days with consequences very pain.
full to the wearer. A Scotch lady brought
successful action against the firm which
had supplied her with these goods; the
manufacturers had scare" and it was
formally announced that the employment
of arsenic for dyeing wearing apparel
would be abandoned But that this
abominable practice has been recon.
menced seems tolerably certain. And
recent case is mentioned, too, of person
who had serious attack of blisters on hi.
forehead, caused by poisonous dye used
for the lining material of his hat The
head is the most perilous point OF attack,
for this particular form OF blood-poIson.
ing, though 1t is not erysipelas, has a
strong tendency to run into that painful,
disfguring and dangerous disease. Pail
Mall Gazette