Poisons in domestic fabrics in relation to trade and art : a paper read before the Society, 21st January, 1880, John Simon ... in the chair : being a sequel to the pamphlet, Our domestic poisons, from the sanitary point of view / by Henry Carr.

  • Henry Carr
Date:
[1880]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Poisons in domestic fabrics in relation to trade and art : a paper read before the Society, 21st January, 1880, John Simon ... in the chair : being a sequel to the pamphlet, Our domestic poisons, from the sanitary point of view / by Henry Carr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    24/32 page 24
    samples have been examined which have produced violent irritation in the hands and feet. There seems, therefore, no reason why arsenic should not be eliminated frc»m all dyed goods and from all cotton prints, as finally sent out for the use of the public. A sample of a stocking, which has pro-- duced very serious irritation, was received from Dr. Routh, and forwarded to Dr. Alfred Taylor. His remarks are as follows :— “ I find no arsenic in the enclosed sample. I believe the colouring is due to a mixture of coal-tar dyes, all of which are more or less irritating to the slrin, more- especially to an irritable skin. This is obviously a bad and unsafe dj’-e, for the colour is not properly fixed by any mordant in the stuff. The cutaneous perspiration; would suffice to draw it out, as water easily dissolves it.” The bright green arsenite of copper is a favourite- colour for the cardboard boxes, now so generally used, and for labels of all hinds. Though these- boxes and labels are not intended to be eaten, nevertheless, after the case of the death of a child at Peckham from sucking a piece of arsenical wall-- paper, it seems undesirable to have such a poison scattered widely in our houses, no real object being gained thereby. It is reported by Dr. Wallace, of Glasgow, that on the back of a single pack of playing cards, there was found no less than 83> grains of arsenious acid. This poison, as Dr. Wallace suggests, is liable to be carried to the mouth by uneducated persons, who wet their thumbs to deal. The impropriety of colouring confectionery and, sweets with poisonous pigments needs no comment; nevertheless, it is to be feared that there is still a necessity for its prohibition, more especially as re- gards aniline colours, which may^ be arsenical, and which, if not arsenical, arc, nevertheless, not de- sirable to be eaten. A case of a number of children being poisoned, and having a very narrow escape of their lives, is reported by Dr. Russell, of Glasgo w, as having occurred in October last, f'ome toy
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3