Evening star., 1894-03-20

lhs Win a certain degree OF accuracy the
various compounds by name ami by char
acteristics, and led TO definite results more
conclusively than ever before. An interest
ing instance of arsen!cal poisoning was
, eited, showing beyond doubt that the
presence of wall hangings colored with
these materials is deleteriOus 20 health.
rms case of prolonged discomfort and
dlstress, said Prof Munroe, is but one
example from among multitude on record
which have occurred among arscnIcal cur
roundings and where the ACCOMMODATING
symptoms have puzzled both nhysicicns
ana ana patlents, and have disappeared with
the disappearance of the arsenical body.
Arsenical paper is used for other purposes.
such as wrappings for lozenges. Chocolates
ana other confections, :or covering boxes.
Tor tickets. lamp-shades, show cards rlsv-
ing cards. for the manufacture of Na,ioi,.
decorations, and in kin iergarten Mcrk. Ar
senlcal colors have been extensively used in
the manufacture of artificial flowers Nary
OF the green sprays of artificial grass and
leaves, which so closely initiate nature owe
their delicate shade and brilliaucy TO the
presence OF an arsenical green. Indeed
holinann i1 has found in single twig OF
Twelve leaves ten grains Of arsenic so that
woman might carry, in all Innocence.
enough arsenic in her .ioral decorations 10
oestroy herself and score of her fellows.
alsei,lcal ea,s.I. eolors have been used in the
colorlng of dress-goods. especially for tar
latal; the color being loosely fixed on with
slarch or size and in such quantity that a
1Fess 1 OF ordinary dimensions would hold
ounces of arsenic Well authe7tIca.sa a.
stances OF chronic poisoning from red win
uon curtains containing 1.95 grains of ar
seilic se per yard from blue cretonae curtains
containing 80 grains per yard. and from
eieeh palze curtains are reported"
Poisoning From Paints.
Arsenical pigments are sometimes used
% OiocAs OF color in the boxes Of paints
IN common use among children. ana ,h.
have
paints or the brushes IN their mouths
Such colors have been used for colorsn,
cheap wooden toys. A red toy flag which
poisoned child was found 10 contain aos
sraihs OF arsenic to the square yard Arsen-
icai colors are used for hatbands stock
Niss' gloves, candles, crayons and othar
arIcies. One case is given of a child play-
ins win water colors. who. attracted by
the bright green color of a book. used IL
49,, a PaleIIe. s. and, placing the brush be-
tween mis- lips. was seized with Commissions.
investigation showed that the book cover
was dyed with Paris green and the sad
yet conlical side Of the affair was developed
when 1t was found that the book was a
report of the Society for the Preven-ion -
Cruelty to Children"
Lead and its compounds next occupied tho
altehtlon OF the lecturer. who showed that
ils lnclscrininate use in poisonous conn
pounds is very threatening to the general
health. In the form of chromate OF lead
or chrome yellow, this substance has bcan
see.io esea Ior decorating toys and coloring con-
Iecuohefy, adulterating mustard and egg
substitutes, and also used oy bakers 10
give to their noodles. buns and cakes the
appearance of richness
Fortunately the emplovrnent of laaa ,,g
ment for coloring articles of food IS nnTv
owing 10 the active assaults made upon
tnem py sanitar;ans, quite unusual but
nave seen candy toy made to represent
several mounted soldiers gaily Uniformed
which was built up of pure sugar. while
their red caps and trimming were colored
with vermillion. their yellow buttons and
certain other portions of their uniforms
besides their cream colored horses. with
chrome yellow, their blue coats with ultra
marine and the grass on which they rode
with Prussian blue mixed with chrome
yellow, made brilliant with cc.sional
patches of arsenic green. Lead compounds
nave also been used as the constituents
or cosmetics and hair dyes. and have
produced poisoning by absorption through
the skin. As lead is a cumulative poison
the frequent repetition of these small doses
eventually leads 10 paralysis Of the muscles
Copper Salts.
THE coloring property of copper salts re-
suits in their being somewhat used for coli
oring sweetmeats.toyS absinthe, and in i'm
parting the coveted green TO peas pickles
and other vegetables. Among other me-
taliic salts having poisoning properties
which are used for coloring are: Bismuth
sublimate. used under the name OF pearl
white for painting, in cosmetics and hair
dyes. and the chromate, used in calico
printing; silver nitrate. used for hair dyes
In photography, and for marking inks; mer-
curry sulphide or vermillion. used in confec-
lonery. tapers, cigarette papers: mercuric
nitrate, used for coloring horn and the
finer sorts Of wool; cadmium yellow used
in toilet soaps as well for painting, and
the antimony yellows, which are used as
pigments"
In addition to these Prof Munroe gave
large number of noxious coal-yar dyes
which are used extensively. In Conclusion
he said: 1T is impossible to Invariably
pronounce on the physiological action of a
chemical substance from a knowledge Of
lts constitution or its derivation. and IL has
led number of chemists to institute pre-
else researches with each of the many
colors most commonly employed. that we
might have more accurate information on
which to base legislation regarding the
sanitary control of the bodies. We now
have positive assurance that many colors
which have been employed in foods are
harmless. but that some are so poisonous
as TO be unit fer use. and further that
some of these innocuouS ones have been in
terdfcted by sanitary ordinances. while the
use of harmful ones has been permitted. IL
Is gratifying to the sanitarian to learn
that but a comparatively small proportion
of the colors are actively injurious. and
that some of them possess such high tine
torial powers to make IL unlikely that
any very serious results would follow their
use. l trust that / will not be thought to
seek to be sensational or 10 alarm the
community, for l have not mentioned any
fact that is not generally known to sani-
tarians. or that i condemn the use OF coll
oring matters in foods. clothing or deco
ration; for on the contrary believe IL an
essential feature of our civilization that
we should make our surroundings as agree
able and our foods as attractive to the eve
as well as TO the palate as possible. But
have accomplished my purpose IL have
nraSSpd hat ha M fhnY
criterion by which 10 determine the purity
and safety of the materials employed, ex-
cept that which chemistry supplies"
New Church Received.
The Mt. Mount Pisgah Church CMetho-
dist, situated on the corner of 10th and
r streets northwest, was the scene OF very
Interesting exercises Sunday afternoon ~
3 O'Clock, the occasion being the reception
of the church and mem bership into the