, 1879-02-09

anu IIlc c1sGS III alCAucsS tE1 1luf { aGEastuhtNs
On page 80, where the subject is begun, I find
the following; t'As result Of the un-
cquiyocal warnings published by physicians in
past years. the use Of arscncal paper hanEines
BECAME for q time, and in some degree, uD-
fashonable; but the dictates OF fashion are Ca
PRECIOUS. and ore not long mindful Of the pro-
tests ot science. The public has forgotten The
experience Of ten years ago. and the poisonous
paper-hapginrs are displayed in the shops to-
day with the same destinations OF colors, de-
sign, and finish, that lave characterized them in
tile past. In every store which the writer has
visited, in the course OF these Investigations,
specimens Of the paper have been obtained,
which, on being tested, exhibited the presence
Degree" Tn page 3G I find that Prof. Bacon
asserts that '.TcQuen1ly as much as fifty or sixty
grains Of the arsenica1 pigment Is spread on
each square foot OF the paper" On page 81 the
same writer states that, taking the average re-
suits obtained by ANALYSIS, j room or ordinary
dimensions, decorated with arscnlcal paper
hangings, would hold on It's walls considerably
more Than pound of poisonous coloring mat
ter, containing half its weight OF arsenic.
In the Boston Medical aud Sstrqicat Journa!
Of May II, 1876, there is an article on arsenral
papcr-hangings BY DR.. Francis Fl. Brown, then
surgeon to the Childrcn's Hospital of this city,
but now Of the United States Marine Hospital,
Chelsea. Hc gives in this article cases OF ar
scnical poisoning from Wallpapers which &C.
which were also included the death Of two
canarv:birds that showed symptoms OF having
been polsoncd.by the arsenic OF tie papcr-hang-
ings. On page $50 Of the number OF the Journal
above quoted from, Dr.. Brown gives, from the
Brit;A !lfetiica, Journal Of July g, 1871, tile
symptoms OF arsenical poisoning: Irritation OF
the mucous membrane, causing diarrhtea and
vomiting; gastric arrangement, resulting i'll
permanent indigestion; incessant severe cold in
the head, which Ia one instance lasted several
years; liberated throat, with acute inaamma-
ton, resulting In diphtheria and Qusnsy; brou-
chitls and congestion OF the lungs; soreness Of
tile mouth, lips, and tongue, which appear as If
scaidcd in patches; Inflammation OF the eyes
and eyelids; congestion and torplditv OF the
liver; severe. bilious and feverish attacks,-in
short, irritation OF every organ. In many
cases, ii not in all, the action of the heart was
| weakened, and in some palpltatlon frequently
occurred. There were pains in various parts Of
the body, especially across the shoulders, and
down the spine and limbs; also in the joints,
which were often stiff and swollen; scaling OF
the skin and Irritating eruptions. The effects
upon the nervous system were most remark-
able. producing thoroughly shattered condi-
ton, great irrtablity, depression, and tendency
TO tears, With unusual prostratiun Of strength.
The list also includes giddincss. headache,
| acute carac!e, neuralgia, bleeding Ut the nose,
frighttul dreams, hystcrcal faintness, cramps,
rigor, numbness OF the limbs, rigid spasms,
aEu commissions. The last symptoms deyel-
opcd tn the worst cases were loss OF memory
alld threatenings Of pdralysis; also spasms,
with twitching OF the body and limbs. In con-
eludlng, Dr. Brown says on page $50 OF the