The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-01-19
Poisonous Face Powders.

effect of using face powders, as believed
by the physician in charge. A Globe
Democrat reporter gives the following
account of an interview with physician
In reference to the case:
"What are the active ingredients con-
tanned in the face powders and rouge
commonly Did in the drug storesP''
90 Bismuth and white lead" "
ais not arsenic also used?"
"It may be occasionally, from a mis-
taken notion of it's properties. 1t will not
act in the way desired if applied exter-
nally, but when taken internally in small
doses it clarifies the skin. Many wom-
en-, TO add to their beauty, take arsenic
powders. 1t is a dangerous habit; like
opium eating, when once acquired, diff
6cult to shake off, and if persisted in is
finally fatal to health and life. The
powders are not sold in the stores, but
can be easily obtained by such as de-
sire them"
"What is the character and effect of
bismuth and white leadP"
"Wel, they are mineral poisons, like
arsenic. Bismuth, in the form of nj
trate, commonly known as white bis
muth, is probably the oftenest used in
compounding powders and rouge. 1t
udS hhhGolNO BlODOlLl6S anu
is less injurious than white lead. Bis
muth is locally hurtful when applied ex-
ternally, but not an active poison like
lead. 1 recently made an analysis
of a face powder sent TO me by we'll
known society lady. 1t was composed
almost wholly of pure lead, in the high
est degree injurious. Lead is readily
absorbed into the system. 1t is q cumu-
lative poison, and the symptoms, while
inactive for time, may suddenly as
sumo very serious aspect. In the use
of powder and rouge the lead and bis
muth act only during the time they re-
main on the skin, and require to be of
ten renewed"
"Is it your belief that one of these
drugs is contained in all the staple pow
der and rouge manufactured"
Yes, undoubtedly. An analysis
made in New York laboratory some
years since showed that out of about
fifty of these preparations examined
only one or two were free from mineral
poison, ,and they were comparatively use
less, for this reason, for the purpose for
which they were designed"
What is the direct effect of bismuth
when applied externally, as in face pow
dersP''
a. 1t generally closes the pores, thus
checking the perspiration, irritates and
dries the skin and imparts to it pre-
maturely old and leathery appearance. "
"And how would you describe the eff
feet of white lead, following the use of
powder and rougeP"
Lead causes roughness and blotches
on the skin by degrees, and by absorp-
ton all the symptoms of lead poisoning,
such as Indigestion, constipation, con-
Vulsions, extreme nervousness and de-
preston of spirits, loss of appetite, etc.,
in short, a general lowering of the tone
OF the whole system"
(Which do you consider to be the
more injurious, the powder or the liquid
| coSmeticSp'
IS The liquid rouge is more penetra
tive and liable TO absorption, hence more
dangerous. But with both the liquid
and the powders it may be safely saiC
that the more effective they are the NOR
injurious"
How about the lip balmP''
&" 1t has strong adhesive properties
but is probably non-poisonous."
And the preparations for turnin.
blonde the hairP"
" Well, the most of them are hum
bugs. One of these preparations, whicl
was brought to me by dealer VIII,
wished to test it chemically ere he in
vested, discovered to be nothing but
solution of sulphurous acid gas in waite
and utterly worthless. 1t sold for 8
per bottle, but would like to take
contract to supply it to dealers fol
| twenty-five cents per BARREL"
"Why is it that these poisonous min
erals are so generally used in the manu-
facture of cosmeticsP
"Because all vegetable preparation
are too light and not sufficiently adhe
sive. For such purposes bismuth anC
lead are the best known agents and thu
most commonly employed"
The last authority consulted by tht
reporter was noted physician and sur
geon. He said
"Cosmetic is term used formerly by
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, il
the sense of adornment, and was applied
even to the bracelets worn upon the
wrists. Now it signifies in common
usage the art of emhe!lishing and pre-
serving beauty. Among the means usu
ally employed TO effect this end are thu
oxides of lead, bismuth, mercury ant
arsenic"
"In what form are they chief!
| u5edP"
''An powder, rouge, essences, fame,
soaps-in fact, nearly all the toilet prep
arations come under this head"
What is the immediate effect re
sulting from the use of such prepara
tionsp'
Cutanoous diseases and debilitatiol
of the nervous system. What we woul'
recommend as a substitute for thes
pernicious powders and lotions is fire
quent ablutions in cold water and bath
ing, with well-regulated outdoor exer
else. The complexion, when one is il
good health, needs not the artificial ali
of any cosmetic"
Belladonna and arsenic are exten
sively used by the fair sex, 1 am toldP'
"Yes. Belladonna, when applied ex
ternally to the lids, imparts brillian
luster to the pupils of the eyes an
causes them to dilate, while arsenic
taken internally, gives peculiar CLOS
and glow to the complexion. Women
Ike Jockeys, 1 regret to say, feed al
senio."
Powders and rouge are held to b
highly harmful to health by physiciansp
" Assuredly they are"