The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-03
DEATH ON THE WALL,

DEATH VN THE WALL
The force and meaning of DR.. Woods dis
coveries concerning the use of arsenic in the
manufacture of wall papers and the presence
of this deadly poison in wall papers OF every
color cannot be fully understood by those
who have no knowledge of the effect of the
poison on those who suffer from it and of
the symptoms that appear in cases of arse
nical poisoning. 1t has been shown that |
wall paper of any color may have arsenic on
its surface, and that there is no safety in
high prices for the reason that some of the
most expensive papers contain large
amount of the poison, hile some very cheap
papers contain none. These facts may not
seem alarming to many intelligent persons,
because they have never known of cases of
Illness caused by arsenical wall paper. A
man may be inclined to give very little
weight to the results of DR.. Woods investi-
cation because neither he nor any one of his
friends or relatives has ever, as he believes,
suffered from arsenical poisoning.
The tt lth is that the symptoms of illness
caused by poisonous wall paper are in so
many cases similar to SYMPTOMS of illness
due to ordinary causes that physicians have
been misled. They have failed to perceive
the connection between the illness and its
real cause. A report upon this subject pre-
pared last year by committe of the Landon
Medical Society, and based upon about one
hundred cases, contained the following: "a
most important feature in this testimony is
that no fewer than twenty. four instances of
the poisoning occurred in the persons of
medical men themselves, which tends to
show that the better opportunities for obser-
walton afforded to a medical man in his own
house may lead to the detection of the mis-
chief which, from its insidious nature,
battles ordinary tests, or, by assuming symp-
toms of general character, is often erron-
eously treated as indicating different class
of ailments" But it has also been shown
that in many cases the physicians have been
deceived and have discovered the real cause
of fatal illness in their own families only by
chance after the death of the patient. Even
in their own houses medical men of high
rank have seen their children sicken and
die, Notwithstanding the most faithful treat
: ment, and have not learned until months
afterward that the cause of illness was
arsenic absorbed from wall paper, and that
treatment based upon knowledge of this
| cause would have saved life.
DIR. Wood describes AZ cases in his aiticle
From the history of these cases it appeari
that the symptoms of local poisoning-or o
:, disturbances caused by the direct action o
n the arsenical dust before the poison hal
been absorbed-may very easily be takeI
for those attending severe cold or catarrh
In some persons the attact resembles cha,
!, fever" The trouble caused by arsenica
dust in the stomach before absorption close
Ie ly resembles n bilious attack" or simpl
+ indigestion, accompanied by loss of appe
tite, lassitude, headache, &c. After absorp
- ton the poison's action is shown mos
rs prominently by nervous disturbances
At 'neuralgic pains, attacks of dizziness, sever
:. headaches, drowsiness, loss of energy an
=, inability to perform any severe mental O
physical work, feeling of great depression
% nervous prostration. The same symptom
may be seen in patients suffering from othe
lie diseases. "All medical men know" say
y - hoou, INV bue JcTluS ger
;s eral debility nervous prostration, and tn
like are used in medicine without the ply
As sician having the slightest idea, in man
'd cases, as 20 the cause of such serious di
Sc turbances of the general health; and thin
lis that even in the obstinate cases, those whic
"A resist all ordinary treatment, it is rare fC
medical men to think of arsenic in domest
ho articles as possible cause In many case
also, when recovery takes place after
le change of scene, such as vacation in til
n country or at the seashore, the removal fror
the influence Of some domestic poison is nc
thought Of"
A. great mass of evidence shows that
would be foolish for any one to assume tina
arsenical wall paper does little or no harr
a. because he has never known of Hines
IN caused by it. He may be suffering froI
ut arsenical poisoning and may suppose ths
his trouble is due to some other cause II
!, own children may be dying of the same po
" son while their physician may be treatin
III them for some other ailment.