Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1876 — Poisonous Garments—A New Hot Weather Peril. [ARTICLE]

Poisonous Garments—A New Hot Weather Peril.

It has been a mooted question for a considerable period whether or not the pigments derived from aniline, itself a well-known poison, are poisonous to the body when brought in close and continued contact therewith. German chemists assert the negative; but on the other hand, numerous cases of obvious poisoning have been so clearly traced to the wearing of garments dyed with aniline colors as to leave no doubt that, although poisoning by such substances maybe a constitutional icliosyncracy in individuals; stiff enough persons have suffered to render clothing thus colored to be avoided, at least in hot weather. And this for the reason that during the heated term, when perspiration is free, the pores of the skin are open, and the road for the absorption of this foreign deleterious matter is clear. Moreover, the perspiration may act as.a solvent and at the same time as a vehicle for the poison; while in addition the system is necessarily enfeebled by the heat and hence is not in a condition successfully to resist the noxious effects. A recent case of poisoning by an aniline dye has been brought to our notice, and will ssrve to indicate the nature of the danger to which we allude. We may here remark that we have heard of repeated Instances of poisoning due to corralline dye, a red pigment prepared from carbolic acid and allied to aniline: also to aniline red on cotton, notably colored undershirts and stockings having a red edge, and also to browns and yellow's, in which dyestuffs picric acid may enter in its combinations. We have not hitherto heard of,however, nor by examining authorities at hand have we been able to discover, an authenticated case of poisoning by aniline blue, other than that to which we now refer, and which has come under our immediate observation. The garments were of a light woolen material, and, having become somewhat worn, were sent to an extensive dyeing and scouring establishment in this city, to be dyed a dark blue. The owner, after wearing the clothes for a few days in hot weather, observed that the blue color stained liis undergarments, and in the localities of the stains he became sensible of a cutaneous eruption. The latter soon extended on a large area, which became excessively inflamed; and a pustular state, followed, resulting in excruciating suffering and prostration. The case was carefully exatnined by several eminent physicians in this city, who pronounced it one of the most severe attacks of poisoning that they had ever encountered, and unhesitatingly ascribed it to the'dyeing of the fabric with aniline blue. Had the sufferer been a child or an invalid, the opinion was that the disease was sufficiently malignant to prove fatal. Perhaps the safest rule is to watch all colored goods when worn, and promptly Toffiscard the clothes on the first appearance of the dye’s discoloring the garments or person, wherever it comes in con tael.— Scientific American. A healthy cow fed upon suitable food and supplied with pure water will give pure milk. There is a great deal of nonsense about the so-much-talked-about “cowey” taste and smell to milk. It is filth, in one way or another, not the cow, that is to blame. Some farmers’ cows always give “ cowey” milk. The milk drawn in a cleanly manner from a healthy cow, which has been fed upon suitable food and kept in a clean stable, will be as pure as the spring-water bubbling up at the basis of our rocky hills. Nature is not such a bungler that her work in this respect must needs be aerated and purified before it is fit for use— Detroit Free Free*. -