Download or read book Arsenic in Papers and Fabrics (Classic Reprint) written by J. K. Haywood and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-05 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Arsenic in Papers and Fabrics While it is undoubtedly true that many cases of arsenical poisoning have been caused by the use of arsenical compounds, or compounds containing arsenic as an impurity, in the coloring of papers and fabrics, the question as to the form in which the arsenic leaves the paper or fabric and the form in which it is absorbed by human beings has been much discussed. Some assert that the arsenic is simply set free as a dust or powder which upon being breathed gives rise to symptoms of arsenical poisoning, while others maintain that the arsenic is set free as a volatile compound which upon being breathed causes even more serious symptoms. As long as wall papers were colored with green pigments, consisting almost entirely of arsenical compounds, it was easy to understand how the dust of arsenic might be rubbed off of the paper and thus inhaled with the air of the room; but when indisputable cases of poisoning were discovered where the paper containing arsenic was covered by another one which was free from arsenic, or where the paper in question only contained arsenic in very small quantities as an impurity in the dye used, it became necessary to assume that some volatile compound of this metalloid was formed. It may be as well to state at the beginning of this article that the writers are fully convinced from data which have been published that volatile compounds of arsenic can be set free from wall papers, and, therefore, that cases of poisoning by this class of substances are due both to the formation of a volatile compound and to the actual dusting off of arsenic into the air of dwelling places, or to either of these causes. While practically all cases of poisoning by arsenical dress goods, playing cards, and like articles are due to a continued absorption of arsenic from such articles by the pores of the skin, there may be a few cases in which the arsenic dusts off into the air and is breathed. The following brief historical sketch is given to show upon what grounds the opinions expressed above are based. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.