The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-22
Some Woods That Are Dan-
 gerOus to Carvers
ALL ARE NOW TESTED
More Than One Good Workman Has Been Laid Up Through Illness Contracted From Some Sort
 of Poisonous Wood
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 Every ybody connected with woodworklng knows that there is series of woods which have more or less poisonous quali- ties, and for this reason can do more or less damage to those who handle, and ss- pecially to those who work them.
 More than one good workman has been
 laid up through illness contracted by con- tact with some sort of poisonous wood. without. however, having the slightest idea of where the danger lay or that one existed. But now, as a rule. every new sort of lumber which comes into the mar ket or is offered for importation Is tested chemically as to it's constituents, so that any dangerous property which it might possess would be likely to como to light. Several different kinds of substances are contained in one wood or another
 which can be considered as dangerous. Sometimes they are widely distributed al-
 kaloid vegetable poisons. sometimes acids, sometimes again, essential oils. And fin- ally there are plants poisonous on account of milky juice, which. for instance, ia the case with the euphorhiocine, or
 'wolfs milk family, which is to be found
 al lover the world. In Central European
 latitudes one of this family Is to be found large enough to come under the head of 1 trees. There are. however in the so- | called temperate zones many trees the
 wood of which is poisonous. Among these is the yew Taxus baccata. the wood of which is very highly przed for its other qualities. but which on account of it's rlt prominently Into view and use The jun- per sa blna, which dues not grow in North crn Europe, is a representative Of the jun iper class, the wood of which betrays by its strong and unpleasant odor it's poison- ous qualities
 Despite these qualities if is not infre- quently used in the manufacture of lead pencils and other small articles. And, fin- ally we can recall the well known la | burnum, the wood of which by reason of
 it's hardness and beauty is used q sub | stitute for ebony but which by reason of its poisonous qualities should be excluded | from use.
 The diseases which can be caused by
 these woods are seldom severe in char | acter. and generally manifest themselves
 in headaches. nausea and light derange-
 rnent of the heart. But much more dan l gerous are the results of working with several of the exotic woods from Africa. Asia and Australia This Is especially the case with the various sorts of boxwood. Among the most poisonous varieties of wood may be considered the sandal which receives so much praise and is especially sought after on account of It's perfume. Various kinds of rosewood, which exhale | 6 special perfume, and especially the In- l oian variety from the Amyris balsamifero, despite their perfume arc dangerous. and
 can cause severe illness to those working | them
 | Many of these sorts of woods are used | in medicine. exactly on account of tho
 poisonous materials which they contain
 and yield the healing art, as is well
 known. making especial use of poisons to
 effect cures Dr. Grossman. in an article
 on poisonous woods In the Journal fur
 Pharmazle und Cheme. calls attention
 also 10 the eorobolo, the Maba tree of
 the Moluccas. the wood of the nutmeg
 tree the so-called violet wood, and finally
 the popular mahogany, which latter can | occasion In those working 1t fnfamma- | ton Of the pulmonary organs