Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-29
DISEASES FROM SOAP.

WOMEN SUBJECT TO INFECTION-wHAI
SOME FANCY CLEANSING MATERIALS ARE
MADE OF
Soap is so universally used at the
present day that it seems almost impos-
sible to do without it. It may appear
surprising to learn that soap is not an
unmixed good, and that some of the
worst diseases have originated in, Or at
least been carried about by, the too fire.
quent use of some kinds of the article.
Manufacturers care but little what in
gradients they employ so long as the
article they bring forth has the proper
amount of perfume or the requisite cap
ability of producing suds with little rub
bing. In this manner vast amount of
diseased animal matter, taken from
beasts which have died of putrescent
maladies, is employed.
SOAP FAT
Is we'll known in the manufacture
of the soap, and owing to its condition
and to the imperfect way in which it is
refined, it sometimes contains most
deadly poisons, which, by friction upon
the skin, are introduced into the pores,
gradually soak into the blood and
develop into some local affection for
which no cause can be assigned. Ty-
phoid fever has been often produced in
this manner, it isascertained positively,
but the most common form in which
this soap poison has made itself felt is
in the production of diptheria. 1t has
hitherto been an inexplicable fact that
while doctors have been urging great
cleanliness to avoid this disease, it is
precisely where this has been most
shown that the disease has made most
ravages. The Board of Health has
been constant in its efforts to prevent
diphtheria by urging cleanliness, with a
result that is already known by the
constant increase of death. 1t has
come within the observation of some
physicians that
wASHERwOMEN ARE SUBJECT
To this disease. 1t was, of course, sup
posed that the reason was, having their
hands and arms constantly in water,
they have caught cola, which, having
settled in their throats, turned into
diphtheria. By the Few theory, this
prevalence of the disease in this certain
class of persons has been caused by
constant absorption by the pores of the
poisonous matters contained in the
soap of which they meke so much use
This manner of explanation will ac-
count for many facts which have hereto
fore remained obscure in the spread of
the disease. In an interview on Thurs
day with a well-kuown physician of
Philadelphia, he told s reporter of the
San that he had his attention called to
the matter few weeks ago by hearing
some physicians speaking of it after
meeting of the College physicians and
surgeons in New York. He feltinclined
to ridicule the matter st first as prepos-
ferrous, but was induced to give it some
attention. He has Stree become con-
vinced that the matter is much more
important one than at first appears, and
that it opens q vast field of new inquiry,
not only as regards soap, but tho alb
sorption by the pores as a general
cause of disease. He IN confident how
ever, that the indiscrim,nate use of soap
is one of the main causes of some dis
eases. the original and treatment of
which have hitherto baffled science.
This is particularly so as regards diph-
liberia. The ravages Of this disease
have of late been SO insidious and ap-
parently unaccountablo, that in many |
cases the doctor has been puzzled to
account for it among his patients. Some
have been attacked with it who have
never been in contact with the malady |
in others. The Sun man asked if it |
was not entirely throat disease? The
Doctor says it certainly is, it is local !
affection in the throat, but it is also uni
versally conceded to be blood disease,
but why and how have never been pro-
perly determined; the absorption by
the pores from soap which if in a |
diseased state would readily account for |
the malady being really one OF the
blood. He has in soma cases made an |
ANALYSIS OF isoAp
Used by persons having diphtheria, and
has found that it " as in an unhealthy |
condition, caused no doubt, by the use
of putrid soap fat in the manufacture.
This being absorbed by the pores must |
certainly enter the bloDd and produce
an unhealthy system, and might cause
any variety Of disease in the person US
ing it besides mere diphtheria; but in !
the examination he found not only the
common washing soaps are liable to
this, but that, if any, the
..5 HIGHLY scENTEtn SOAP
Are even worse. Iu none did ho find
SO much putrescence as in the highly
perfumed French soaps which are so
high priced. None of those are entire
ly free from poisonous substances, but
the toilet soaps are more so. By the
use of pungent scents the putridity of
smell is deadened, and can even be
made use of as perfume combined
with certain chemicals, which are known
to the manufacturers. It depends very
much on the constitution Of the person
whose pores absorb this poison whether
it turns to one disease or another. The
general predisposition to diphtheria at
the present is the only reason why so
much of the poison absorbed should de-
termine itself in this manner, and per-
haps it is the most innocent of ALL There
is an endless variety Of maladies which