Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-01-10
on POISONS In THE HOUSE.

In the popular MIND poison Is gen
orally regarded rs substance with sucf
powerfully noXious properties that il
even a minute quaint ty be received into
the system it VIII speedily act upon the
body with such violence that probabl,
the issue will be fatal While the idea
is TO some extent correct, it is quite IN
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 if taken in the
smallest quantity.
People, as rule, are perfectly aware
of the poisonous properties of arsenic,
yitriOl, sugar of lead, hemiock, labur-
= mum. and many more substances OF a
similar nature; but none the less must
we regard as poisOns in the true sense
of the word such familiar and much
used substances Us carbonate of soda,
tartaric acid, elder flowers, etc. In the
former case the effects produced are al
most Immediate ana violent: while in
the latter the action is slower. or q
larger quantity is necessary to pruducc
the same Feet upon the vital Organiza-
ton.
AT present. however, we have no in
tention of d Sru>Sing poisons in their
ordinar, aspect. our purpose in this
paper being TO point out the existence
in almost every house of poisOnS which
in various forms are Turk 'ng in dis
guise, and dong injury to many, while
their presence may be quite unknown
and never even suspected.
Undoubtedly the common II skeleton
in the house is arsenic. The law has
wisely put restlic; onS on il, sale. for
every one who sells this subst ancC is re-
CURED to make :; record of the FIJI par
ticularS OF every sale, and only persons
who are known to the ven Ter are TO he
supplied. But tbs has re ferrnce only
to arsenic pure and simple: for a man
ufacturer may with impunity sell any
article in the preparat on of which
arsenic has beer used, or into whose
composition it enters, and SO we find it
present in many articles OF. every day
use or ornament.
Its combinations produce beautiful
coloring materials, especially green:
hence it is used in printing Wallpapers,
carpets, chint1cs. ribbons. AMI colored
paper and cardboard. Its presen e in
wall-pa ers, especially of bright
green. is so extremely common that it
is quite an exception to find such wall
decorations free from it, and eyper.-
ments have been mad, which clearly
prove that arsenic gradually vaporizcs
from these colored surfaces, ana dis
seminates through q room in many
well authenticated eases to the injury
OF the occupants who have trcathed the
poison-laden air. Bright green patterns
of Wallpapers should therefore be re-
gart,ed with the great st of suspicion,
from the probabl ~ 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 it,
But the danger of arsenic-poisoning
is not confined to its presence in our
wallpapers. TEere it IS TO some extent
suspected; but even with our walls of
polished wood. or tapes try-covered, we
may he poisoned quite as readily, and
without the least suspicion, while read
ING by a shaded lamp.
Lamp shades are frequently made OF
Stiff paper, the outer side of which is
green. as being the easiest color for the
eyes: but while commendable thought
lessness is evident in the select on of
the color. tie same consideration is
certainly not shown in the materials
which produce that pleasant hue, for
in numerous instances the green pig
ment has been found 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 ventiliza-
ton OF the arsenic, we see how danger
Gus such useful articles may become to
persons in the room, and especially to
those who may be sitting close to
them.
An equally unthought-of source of
Hanger has been shown 10 exist in col
ored hat Innings; and although we do
not believe that there is much cause for
alarm on this score, the following case
is interesting as showing that such dam
ger really does exist A gentleman had
besn troubled for several mouths with
serere eruption on his forehead. and
at the same time one eye had become
almost useless. After consulting a
doctor he paid visit to the country.
taking with him an easy wide-awake
mat. Before long complete cure had
teen effected; but On his return to town
The eruption re-appeared. In conse-
4uence, he paid another visit To the
doctor, and on entering the room placed
" the tsbse the chi@asT.Wst Eat he