The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-04-06
Poison from Stockings.

"Nice array of hoseryY"
The remark was that of Harris,
burg Patriot reporter. The place was
in front of one of the large show win
dows of a dry goods store. The man
addressed was a well. known clerk in o
similar house.
"Handsome amt they3" was his
reply.
beautiful shades pleasing blend
ing of colors-enough to drive fash
ionable woman into sea of delight"
continued the reporter "But amt
there danger of the colors running
out and people being poisonedl l
/ notice frequently published articles
headed, POISONED by colored stock
ings.
"Only in cheap goods. Women
will be in style even if they know
they run enormous risks. 1t is not
our fault if what we sell them polsons
them. The demand must be supplied
or we must go out of the business.
The standard goods are the best, but
fancy hosiery is now worn, and the
cry for it is loud and emphatic. The
tastes of manufacturers of dress go DDS
must be followed. New tints in dress
fabrics must, to keep up with the
fashion, have stockings to match
Poisonous dye-stuffs must be used to
meet this particular fancy. The
dealers don't care to do it the weav-
ers don't know it, and even if they
did, the demand would be just the
same.
DANGER IN THEIR USE.
"Are not all colors generally an-
nouhced as fast-not to fade?"
"They are, as rule, warranted I;
but there are some shades that will
come off. 1t can't be helped. The
best grade of goods will give off some
color when the feet perspire. Care is
taken TO use the choicest materials,
but some of them are really dangerous
don't give this away"
"What are the most dangerous
shades y ..a..
Undoubtedly green Any shade
of that color is liable to poison per.
son. Of course it depends, as | said
before, on the quality of the hosiery.
IF cheap, the more liable are persons
to be affected, because these poor dye
stuffs are used and the color rubs off
more easily. l wouldn't myself, wear
any such stockings with green in
them. 1t would poison me. / am
sensitive to it-more easily affected,
perhaps, than others, Black stockings,
in dying which logwood is the prin.
cipal material used, are also very in
furious. This class of goods is very
popular with ladies, and the cheaper
class of the goods is dangerous. No
color rubs off as does the black 1t is
almost impossible to get black
dye that will not come off on the feet
the first time the stockings are worn.
If the dye is poisonous, the wearer
should look out"
"What colors would you recon-
mend as safest p laf'
"Well, l wouldn't recommend any,
but less danger may be feared from
red and blue and brown"
WHAT A PHYSICIAN SAYS.
Leaving the dry goods gentleman
the reporter called on prominent
physician of the city to get his views
on the subject i.l.t ~
"Have you ever had any cases of
poisoning from the coloring off of
dyed stocklngs?" i.n5 i 3f.l
"Ob, yes" came the reply. ''It is a
common occurrence "r'l.'
The reporter became Interested.
What class of people are most sus-
ceptible to the influence of the dyes?"
"Thin skinned people. Some peo-
pie can rub the leaves of poison-vihe
all over their face and not be affected
but let others try it or even touch the
same and their faces swell and their
hands--weil you've seen them no
doubt-they look like boiled Holsters.
So it is with colored stockings. The
limbs and feet become infamed and
swollen and much annoyance re-
suits"
law yOu hdu dilN sellOus Cdstb
"No; | don't consider the matter
serious. If attended to in time only
slight annoyance results. Persons
who are on their feet constantly or
are compelled to keep their shoes and
stockings on longer than customary
time, are invariably poisoned. All
that is required, however, is to air the
feet and give them good washing
and the trouble soon passes away,
Cleanliness will more than anything
else prevent poisoning from dyed
stockings
"Is this disease from stockings
prevalent among women or men.
"Principally among men. They
are more constantly on their feet and
perspire much more freely in the
course of their pursuits. ] have yet
to have case of woman being poi
soned."
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