Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1875 — Poisonous Wall-Paper. [ARTICLE]

Poisonous Wall-Paper.

Arsenic is a deadly poison, especially when absorbed by the pores of the skin or inhaled with the breath. Arsenical preparations will poison the atmosphere of a house and slowly work their evil effects. Asa part of coloring matter in certain wall-papers they cover a large surface; they are feebly adhesive to the paper and are slowly rubbed from it by alternations of heat and cold, moisture and dryness, by currents of air, by sweeping and dusting, and, being dislodged, they form part of the impalpable dust always dancing in the air. A ray of sunlight in a room at once defines the presence of minute particles in the air, among which are the arsenical pigments, if the“room is exposed to them. The various surfaces of the air-passages absorb these particles, and palpable injury is done. Among the evils caused are catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, dyspepsia, pain in the bonesand joints, headache, debility and a thousand natural ills; chronic disease, “ a sense of goneness,” depression of spirits, may be produced. How far women who “ go into a decline” may be affected is by no means problematical. Travel may benefit such, but a return home to the malign and mysterious influences of the predisposing cause may renew the trouble. All well-informed physicians know how injurious it is to pass much time in museums where anatomical preparations and stuffed animals have been protected by arsenic against moth and worms; and they should warn their patients against anything in the room which may give suspicion of containing arsenic, mercury, or any other poisonous substance subject to slow evaporation. Manufacturers of these papers ought to know how baneful they are; those who sell them ought to know also. Generally speaking, every one knows that the bright green colors are arsenical, and thkt they are poisonous. But they are pretty and striking, and so they are on the walls of houses, in theaters and elsewhere, where beauty and brilliancy of color are desirable. The arsenical green

is not in the ground-work of the cheaper papers; it is too coetly, but it may be in the ornamental part. It is ord'inarily easily detected by the» eye; used as a “ tone,” it is not so easily discovered, and it may escape notice as a part of other shades. So important was this matter considered that the State Chemist of Alichigan procured samples of arsenical paper and had them placed as a warning on exhibition in all the public libraries of (he State. The report cites numerous facts bearing upon this subject. In one case where severe sickness occurred in a family, it was found that the wall-paper had set free into the atmosphere of a bed-room an oupce of arsenic every six months. This was proved by an analysis of the faded wall-paper and of new paper of the same pattern and purchase. Four or five grains to the square foot is not uncommon. In some instances children have been experimented upon, and a short stay in a 'suspected room has soon developed the same symptoms that others had experienced who had occupied the room before. Often a decided malefic influence has been felt after sweeping or dusting. What is the remedy for this? Tear the paper from the walls or cover it with a thin varnish, which will securely fix the dangerous pigment. But first test the paper you buy; the green, arsenical colors are soluble in ammonia, water. If a little ammonia water poured on the paper discharges the green color, or produces such a change in the color indicating tEiFremoVar = oftfie = green, the paper should be rejected, as it. probably contains arsenic. To identify the presence of arsenic in any paper wet the paper with ammonia water, pour off’ this water on a clean piece of g.ass and drop into this a crystal of nitrate of silver or a small piece of lunar caustic. If yeL low precipitate forms around the crystal it indicates the presence of arsenic. The subject is worth consideration everywhere; this poison is ail around us. An intelligent examination of wall-paper may close up avenues and sources of disease now altogether unsuspected.— Manufacturer and Builder.