Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1874 — Hints to Painters. [ARTICLE]

Hints to Painters.

You are generally working in ill-ven-tilated shops and handling poisonous pigments the year round, one of the most dangerous of which is white lead; therefore, it is imperatively necessary that you be cleanly in your habits and person. If you eat with unwashed hands and wear clothing saturated with paint, you must expect to absorb large quantities of poison, and suffer in consequence, and perhaps bring on paralysis or kidney disease, which will render you, if not entirely unable to work, so weak and prostrated in mental and physical power as to be but a shadow of your former self, and suffer always from general weakness. All carriage painters should wash their hands before commencing or resuming work, and should do it as often as possible during the day. They should have a strong decoction of oak bark also to wash in, the tannin of which would not only harden the skin, but would protect it against the action of lead and other poisons. This Is where the British coach painters are ahead of us; you will always find plenty of oak bark in their shops. You should also keep your hair cut short, and wear a light cloth or paper cap while at work. Be sure that your hands are well washed before partaking of food. lam very sorry to say it, but the truth must be told sometimes, you often eat your noonday meal with unwashed hands. The mouth should be well rinsed with water before eating food. The body should be sponged as often as possible with cold water, and the hair should be thoroughly washed every day; you will find it better than hair oil. Your food should contain a large proportion of fatty substances; avoid all strong drink; drink milk in large quantities; rest or sleep five or six hours, and my word for it you will have no painter’s colic or cross wife.— Carriage Monthly.