176 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



4. The elimination of the arsenic by the kidneys in wall paper poi- 

 soning is very slow and the amount eliminated very small. 



5. The absorption of the volatile compound, though in smaller 

 amounts, is more direct than that of the dust particles, and the action 

 is modified by the 2Jresence of carbon in the compound. 



6. The effect of minute closes of any compound of arsenic, in what- 

 ever way ingested, has not been studied. 



7. The effect of any quantity whatever of many compounds of 

 arsenic that occur in wall papers and fabrics, notably arseniates, is 

 not well known, whether the arsenic compound be taken at once or 

 in continued doses. 



8. The localization of any compound of arsenic and particularly of 

 the arseniates, when taken in minute continued doses, has not been 

 studied. 



9. The salts of arsenic acid seem to be less irritating than those 

 of arsenious acid. Is this because the state of oxidation permits its 

 readier accumulation ? 



My position does not permit me to advance any decided opinion on 

 the source of chronic wall paper poisoning, and I can only submit the 

 above facts for consideration. From the facts, however, that have 

 come to my notice during the preparation of these two papers, I 

 cannot help making the following suggestion: — 



Chronic arsenical poisoning from wall papers and fabrics may be 

 chiefly due to the ingestion of minute continued doses of arsenic as a 

 derivative of arsenic pentoxide, which from its state of oxidation is 

 likely to be accumulated in the system, from which it is slowly 

 eliminated. The absorption may be from an inorganic arsenhte in 

 the form of dust, or from a volatile organic derivative of arsenic acid, 

 or from both. 



The remark of Dragendorff,* that a part of the arsenic acid may go 

 into the bones in place of phosphoric acid, should be remembered 

 here. It seems quite possible that calcic arseniate, being isomorphous 

 with calcic phosphate, should replace a part of the latter. This may 

 be confirmed by Ludwigf and Gibb,J both of whom found arsenic in 

 the bones, Ludwig finding that it was held there long after the doses 

 ceased. Evidently a large field of investigation must be cleared 

 before a definite conclusion can be reached as to the cause of chronic 

 wall paper poisoning. 



* Ermittelung v. Giften, 1876, p. 326. 



t Loc. cit. 



t Trans. Pathol. Soc. London, 1858, IX. 442. 



