Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-16

DOMESTIC POISONS.

Dangers of the Use Of Glass Dust Tor
Decorative Purposes-Aciion of Co.'S
metics-CoIors to be Avoided-Need for
Stringent Laws Against Adulteration.
From the London Standard
Science has put many contrivances at the
disposal of art, but some of the most usefui
and popular are not without their dangers.
Yesterday correspondent called attention to
the risk involved in the rapidly extending use
of the glass fiux now SO much in demand Tor
imparting a frosted appearance to various
ornaments. At one time 1t was employed SIM
ply as an adhesive varnish, and in that state
could do little harm. But Of late it has been
sprinkled on flowers, dress, and even on head
dresses. with the result that a crowded room is
speedily filed with its subtle spicul8. Every
grain of this powder is sharp particle OF
glass, which irritates the eyes and skin, and, II
inhaled, is capable of setting up an irritation
in the lungs and bronchi9, perhaps causing
serious injury. Ground glass, it must be re-
poisons. and as such was at one time
in great vogue among the more cunning
type of murderers. No doubt, the "fux" which
gives the snow-like glitter to Christmas toys,
cards and landscapes is less noxious. Yet, ike
the f1inty desert sand. which IS almost Identical
in composition, it is incapable of being dis
solved, and if it enters the pulmonary appaIa-
membranes, or gets in contact with the dell
cate structures of the eye, it must necessarily
create more or less Inflammation. We may,
therefore, hope that those who now use it will,
in the interests of others more self.denying.
abandon a domestic poison" the injurious
possibilities of which are SO much out OF pro-
portion to any charm it imparts to the human
form divine. Or, il they feel that this is too
great deprivation, it is no more than reason
able that the powder should be made adherent
to the ornaments, instead of being permitted to
impregnate the air of a ballroom concert hall
or drawing room with its vicOuS DarticleS.
Women Should Peruse This.
Already most wise women have dropped the
use OF the dangerous cosmetics at one time so
much patronized simply because they found
that, while for the hour they impaired an arti-
fetal smoothness to their complexion in the
end they destroyed it altogether. Arsenic
orpinent-the yellow sulphide Of that deadly
minerals, DR.. Malcolm Morris tells US, a
common ingredient in depilatories, and several
of the most popular washes contain leadin
various FORMS Nearly all the hair dyes do,
and cases of creeping paralysis have been
traced to their use. Corrosive sublimate is
another occasional ingredient in lotions war
ranted toimprove the complexion. Even bis
muth and zinc, SO generally employed in vari-
Gus forms, are 1ar from harmless, Tor IN @ the
skin, and produce that pitted appearance SO
frequently observed in the cheeks of elderly
actresses and others who habitually use prepa-
rations in which they are contained.
There is. indeed. no cosmetic like fresh air,
healthy exercise. early hours and cold water,
30 tnaI ~nen the vicar Oh WakeneIu spiIt tne
were concoctinc Is wasb for the fana tSat
as1ute narent ectad discreat,v IN tbe yyonng
ladies' interests. Still. even without the glass
fiux, the bismuth, arsenic and zinc powders,
sne various lotions and other cosmetics. there
wbo I;se pronoo sr;a + IL thin iIr
drink. and nut their raiment on,i For thoucb
the keen-eyed analyst has managed to raise a
warning cry against a great number of the
M more common domestic polsons, the progress
So;ous1,, ~ VJ,olt an @ anu Ienneinent nas; uncon-
scslousiy on tne part OF any one except the man
SIae.ulef, No. lntrouucea otners IN tnelr piace:
@ IIying W XII MS cilents out OF nance propense.
ne more re4uently errs from lenoranGe, or py
teaeon VI nLe peIlenGe OF tne enects Ilkely 70
~, pe causeu Ny tne new cnemlcaIs ne employs IN
us easerness 70 produce sometnlng pretty anu
cheap.
Death in Dress.
Asa rule IL NAV ba said that naorlv all tho
ortic,os Of dross l., hr;,ht rods anoI;,o rads
ai ioioies VI VI COO III Oilsn' iou', anaiine ieuo,
magentas and certain green's are more or less
quiry made into their composition some years
aqo was that these dves very freouentlv CON-
80, ar,on;o IT,, -. :. ~ -
.oin a.seio, "nion, unes' ~ Id. oeer re
s.S FN- 40 "AANA ~ AsSS SoNA
introduced is served, is apt to precipitate the
most painful consequences. Fuscine. as it is
called on the Continent solferino rosaniline
this country has been found to weld on analv.
sis over two per cent of arsenious acid, in ad-
dition to seven and a half per cent Of arsenic
acid. Coraline, another brilliant red dye, has
more than once caused poisoning by being abb
sorbed through the heated skin when used in
underclothing; while the green arsenite of cop
per, employed to color tarlatans, is apt to get
rubbed off and inhaled, not only by the wearer,
but by others In the same room. The
sgalpsoniS Snrpis rs, ns,-hod oJ pGi'onas d
swaIiinos of tbe narts affacted foiiowped nv
blisters, which in time verge into ulcers. and |
accompanied by headache, languor, nausea and
Ieyerisnness, Constantly increasing until the
dead fax niaces of undarclotbina which have
not at some time or other been accused of thus |
PLAYING the poisoner. The aniline dye in a |
flannel waistcoat. or in a 'chest protector" has
been affirmed to be the reason of painful pim- |
pies breaking out on the skin against which |
they law Socks have been guilty of raising |
inflammation on the legs, and even one of those |
gaudy-hued hats which for time were sup
posed to be 'sjust the thing'' for lawn tennis |
was condemned as the origin of a poisoned |
swelling of the forehead Gloves have not |
escaped a wel-founded suspicion of not being |
SO SO innocent as tney LOOK anu ease was lePoIts,
the ankles was occasioned nv wearing shoes
lined with yellow leather, into which some dele
terious ingredients had entered.
VpPy Ritter Sweets.