The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-22
DEATH IN SrOCKINGS.
Serious Blood Poisoning 0ccasiOned by
Aniline Dyes.

DEATH IN STOCKINGS.
Serious Blood Poisoning Occasioned by
Aniline Dyes.
A striking example of the way in which
the followers of fashion may be injured in
obeyiug its commands is afforded by the
custom prevailing now and for some time
past of wearing colored hosiery. In this
case the danger affects both sexes, and even
children are not exempt from it. tits an in
sidious danger threatening every house
hold, and its evil effects are SO often misun-
ailments than the true one. Once in a
while the evil is brought before public mo-
tice by the discovery of some
PERSON OR CHILD SEEMINGLY POISONED
in this manner. A case has only recently
been brought into court at st. Louis, but it
will probably soon be forgotten. People are
rendered more cautious by these warnings
for a short time, but will return to their
fancy stockings and run their daily risk Of
disease and death. In cases where the mat
ter has been carefully Investigated and fami-
lies have been visited who are accustomed to
wear hosier dyed in color and bought from
dealers of no established reputation, num-
bers OF instances OF poisoning, and in some
cases of serious illness have been
found. This is borne out by the statements
of physicians and the admitted testi-
mony of dealers in the trade. At a meeting
of the Medico-L Legal Society a short time
ago. paper was read in which was cited a
well authenticated instance of young wo-
man in this city, both of whose lower limbs
were paralyzed from wearing colored stock
ings, and many physicians have met with
serious cases of poisoning from this cause in
their practice. Every one is aware of how
easily the color comes off imperfectly dyed
socks or stockings, and how difficult it is to
remove this coloripg from the skin. Should
the skin be at all abraded or cut, declare
medical experts, this poisonous matter is
received at once into the blood and quickly
pervades the whole system. Children, es-
pecialIy, are often in the habit Of
RUBBING OR SCRATCHING THEIR LEGS.
The skin is thus irritated or abraded, and
the poisonous coloring matter from the
stockings is at once absorbed. Should the
person thus afflicted be run down in health,
their blood In a poor or bad condition, the
has been found by analysis that preparations
of arsenic and lead are often used in the
chemical preparation of these colors. Lead
ing doctors say they can not tell what is
used, and most dyes, as a prominent ply
stefan testifies, are poisonous and hurtful.
1t is generally conceded that the aniline reds
are least hurtful, but in all the other high
colored aniline and other reds danger turks
and those who, in following the fashions,
persist in wearing colored hose that is not
properly dyed, little know what peril they
suffer-
The subjectseemed of so much public inter
est that a Mercury reporter sought DIR. Jayne,
of the health board, to ask his opinion on
the subject. There is no doubt said DR..
Jayne, ''that injury must result from the
wearing of colored stockings. My practice
is not an extended one, but have no doubt
you of cases of this poisoning that have
come under their notice. II a persons
skin is at all cut or abraded an Irritating
surface coming in contact with it will be
injurious, and If
THE BLOOD BE IMPURE
or poor, serious results or death may follow.
1t is impossible to tell what is used in the
preparation of the dyes, and poisons are
likely employed by disreputable manufac-
turers in the making and in the products
sold by inscriptions dealers. 1 should be
inclined to think that the red dyes were the
least hurtful, and have worn red stockings
myself for many years without experiencing
any i'll effects but very often the other col
ors may be dangerous" DR.. Willard Parker
terest in the subject. He said: Poison may
be absorbed in the perspiration of the feet
quite as readily as when the skin is rough o.
cut. The preparations of arsenic or lead
which can be used in producing these dyes
will work serious injury when rubbed off from
tue sLOCkluS duQ tdkeu III PcIsdIdtlOu lutC
the system. 1t is an undoubted fact that
the c0lor1ng matter of these stockings con
tinually rubs of, and one can not Judge ex
cept by chemical investigation whether il
contains poisonous material or no; If it does
it can be taken into the system and work Sc
rious injury"
Mrs. Wilson, of A. T. Stewart & Co., sale
the fashion for colored hoosler was as preya.
lent as ever. They had complaints of the
colors coming off frequently, but they en-
deavored to sell the best goods, and until
dye could be invented which would be per
fectly fast the complaints would probably
continue. At LeBoutillier & Co.'s the same
story was told, and they said all that coult
be done was to sell stock of the
BEST PRocURABLE QUALITY.
| At Arnold IL Constable's the reporter wa
| told that the high colored analine dyes nigh
be injurious, but they were the faGhion, anS
| people would have them. In the Theatres
| profession the use of colored hosiery is neces
! sarily an extensive one, and there have beer
reports far some time of injuries received
from their employment. A prominent &C
tress said recently that she had much uneasi
ness from wearing pair OF striped stocking
in play in which she took prominent part
Her lower limbs became indamed and irri
tated, the Irritation increasing day by day
until she learned the cause, and sacrificed
the plain white coverings of the good ole
days. Thus it will be seen how often Their
is danger when people least suspect, ant
they should 6e most careful where Ihey pur
chase, if they feel it necessary to do SO, thes
articles of dress which, under gaudy cqlors
bring diseas g and death.