The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-09-09
Poisonous Dyes.

Adulteration is bad, but poisoning is
worse, and especially poisoning by arsenic.
The agonies which are endured by those
who have swallowed or imbibcd arsenic
in poisonous quantities are too we'll known
to need mention, and arsenic applied In
the shape of dye for materials, whether
silk or wooden, which are worn next the
skin, brings about consequences nearly as
dangerous and as painful. Attention
should be called to the subject because it
seems that manufacturers are recommend
ing the use of this substance for dyeing
articles of personal apparel. That arsenic
Tin the shape OF Schecle's grecn) has long
been used to produce the well-known daz-
cling green in dresses, artificial flowers
and papers for walls, and that these arti-
Giles have produced all the effects Of arsen-
lcal poisoning, are facts so we'll established
that sensible people have contented them
selves with avoiding any material Of that
particular color; but lately DR.. Sedgwick
wrote to the Times, stating that, his wife
and himself having suffered much in the
manner that people do when poisoned by
arsenical vapors," 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-werc
sold, and many persons suffered frightful-
ly through wearing them. The first symp-
toms were intense irritation in the skin Of
the feet, swelling and an inflamed 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 a 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 a milder type. In one casea gentleman
was obliged to wear cloth shoes for up
ward of eight months, and with other pa
tlents the system has been so impregnated
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,
tor the blisters first came in stripes CORE
spending to the colored stripes of the
stockings, and the laundresses complained
VI OiC AAItdtlOu dlu luudIleu COQult1On OF
their hands after washing these poisonous
articles. In another instance a 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 a "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 a
recent case is mentioned, too, of person
who had serious attack of blisters on his
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-polson-
ing, though it is not erysipelas, has a
strong tendency to run into that painful,
lisfiguring and dangerous disease.-PaU
Mall Gazette.