The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-10
or PoIsONs IN THE HOUSE.

In the popular mini poison lS gen
orally rcgar,lcdas substance with such
powerfully noNious properties that il
even n minute quantity be- received into
the system il Will speedily act upon the
body with such violence that probably
the issue will h. fatal. While the idea
j. To some extent correct, IL Is quite an
imperfect definition of that class Of sub
stances capable of destroying life, some
of which act rapidly. some slowly; some
of which are dangerous only in large
doses. some deadly even II taken in the
smallest quantity.
People. as rule. are perfectly aware
of the poisonous properties of arsenic.
Vitriol, sugar of lead. hcmlock, labur-
mum. and many moro substances Of n
similar nature: but none the less must
we regard ~ po>ons in the true sense
of the word such familiar and much
used substances rs carbonate of soda,
tartaric acid. elder flowers, etc. In the
former case the effects produced are al.
most immediate AMI violent; while in
the latter the action j. slower. err n
largcr quantity is necessary 10 produce
the same elect upon the vital organiza-
ton.
At present. however. we have no in
tcntiOn of discussing poisons in their
ordinary aspect, our purpose in this
paper being To point out the existence
i'm almost every house of poiSons which
in various forms are lurking in dis
guisc. and doing injury 10 many. while
their presence may be quite unknown
and never even suspected.
Undoubtedly the commonest skeleton
I'm the house is arsenic. The law has
wisely put restrictions on its sale. for
every ono who sells this substance Is r.
uuired to make record of the full par
ticulars of every sale. and only persons
who are known To the vcndcr are to bc
supplied. But this has reference only
TO arsenic pure and simple; for a man
uiacturcr may with impuniiy sell any
article in the preparation OF which
arsenic has been used. or into whose
composition il enters. and sO we find il
present in many articles of everyday
use or ornament.
Its combinations produce beautiful
coloring materials, especially green;
hc~cc Il j. used in printing wallpapers.
carpets. chint.cs. ribbons, and colorcd
paper and cardboard. Its presence in
wall-pa ers. especially of bright
green. is so extremely common that IL
Is quite mn exception 10 find such wall
decorations free from IL. and eNperi-
ments have been made which clearly
prove that arsenic gradually vaporizes
from these colored surfaces, and dis
scminatcs through u room--in many
well authenticated eases TO the injury
of the occupants who have brcathed the
poison laden air. Bright green patterns
OF Wallpapers should therefore be re-
pardcd with the greatest of suspicion.
from the probability that their
beauty Is due TO this poisonous materi-
nj. and especially should care be taken
that the paper on the walls Of bedrooms
Is quite free from IL.
But the danger Of arsenic-poisoning
is not confined TO its presence in our
Wallpapers. There il is to some extent
suspected; but even with our walls o!
polished wood. or tapestry-covered. We
NAV 10 poisoned quite rs readily. and
without the least suspicion, while read
ing by shaded lamp.
Lamp shades are frequently made ol
stiff paper. the outer side OF which is
green. as being the easiest color for the
ewes; but while commendable thought.
lessncSs is evident in the selection OF
the color. the same consideration Is
certainly not shown in the materials
which produce that pleasant hue. for
In numerous instances the green pig
mcnt has been fourd TO contain a large
amount of arsenic. The fact OF itself Is
sufficiently alarming; but when we take
into account the heat OF the lamp,
which greatly assists in the ventilizs-
ton OF the arsenic. we see how danger
Gus such useful articles may become 10
persons in the room, and especially TO
those who may be sitting close to
them. s.
An equally unthought-of source OF
danger has been shown to exist in COL
ored hat Innings; and although we dc
not believe that there Is much cause for
alarm ON this score. the following case
Is interesting rs showing that such dan.
ger really does exist Agentlcman had