44 ARSENIC IN PAPERS AND FABRICS. 



recorded in Table XII intended to be used either as rugs or as robes. 

 The arsenic content of each of these eleven samples is above 0.1 grain 

 per square yard, varying from 5 to 170 times as much as should be 

 allowed. 



TABLE XIII. Arsenic content of furs for rugs purchased in Washington, D. C. 



Arsenic. 



Such rugs as these are extremely dangerous, in that they contain 

 such large quantities of arsenic that there is great danger of this sub- 

 stance being mingled with the dust of the room and breathed in com- 

 paratively large quantities. In fact, the presence of arsenic in rugs 

 in large quantities would appear to be even more dangerous than its 

 presence in wall papers in like quantities, since there is much more 

 chance of its appearing in the dust of the room. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



Stated briefly, the following conclusions regarding the arsenic con- 

 tent of papers and fabrics sold on the American market may be 

 drawn from the data collected : 



(1) If 0.1 grain per square yard is considered as the maximum 

 amount of arsenic allowable in wall papers, the condition of the mar- 

 ket is quite satisfactoiy, but if for reasons previously mentioned the 

 limit is reduced to 0.05 grain per square yard some improvement 

 should be made. 



(2) The arsenic content of glazed, shelf, and crepe papers is as 

 small as could be reasonably expected. 



(3) Entirely too large a percentage of the dress goods, dress furs, 

 and fur rugs sold on the American market contain excessive amounts 

 of arsenic. 



(4) The presence of excessive amounts of arsenic in such goods as 

 are described in paragraph 3 is dangerous to the health of a large 

 number of people, especially those who are susceptible to arsenic 

 poisoning. 



(5) The arsenic content of miscellaneous fabrics other than dress 

 goods such as pillow covers, hangings, carpets, etc. is in the main 

 satisfactory with the present limit for arsenic; but if this limit were 

 reduced to 0.05 grains per square yard, as advocated for wall papers, 

 a considerable number of carpets would be without tile pale. 



