POISONOUS DYES. 
321 
admirably well; and, in every instance in which it may be used for the future., 
a small piece of thick blue paper should finally be tied over it. All cold 
cellars tend to promote the oxidation of the iron and its final separation from 
the iodine; they should be particularly avoided. In fact these observations 
are equally applicable to all syrups containing iron. In conclusion, I may be 
permitted to sum up :— 
1. If the syrup were to be made thicker than usual, it would prove an ad¬ 
ditional advantage to what has been stated. 
2. Thick vegetable parchment should be used to cap the bottles, in lieu of 
corks or stoppers. 
3. The syrup should always be kept in a warm place. 
4. By following these minutiae the syrupus ferri iodidi will keep colourless 
for an indefinite period. 
I am, your obedient and obliged servant, 
J. Hughes. 
14, Grand Parade , St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex , 
September 15, 1868. 
POISONOUS DYES. 
On Tuesday, September 29, Mr. Webber made a statement at the Guildhall 
before Mr. Alderman Dakin, on the poisonous dyes used in some of the coloured 
socks now in use. In the course of his practice he had met with cases in which this 
dye had caused great constitutional and local complaint. The new colours were 
brilliant, but the dye contained a poison, the nature of which had not yet been ascer¬ 
tained, but it was stated that the men who made it were not able to work at it more 
than six months. The colour which appeared to contain the poison most was a brilliant, 
orange, but it more or less pervaded the other colours. Mr. Webber stated that the manu¬ 
facturer had now discontinued the use of these dyes. Dr. MWeagh, of Coventry, in a 
letter to the ‘ Times,’ gives similar experience as to the effects produced by these coloured 
socks, and states that he has been informed these colours are produced by some aniline, 
dye. 
The following report of analysis of sone seeks in May last is communicated by Dr,. 
Tarral to the ‘ Times — 
-»- 
“report oe chemical analysis. 
“ The sock is composed of three textile substances. 
“ 1. and 2. A mixture of wool and cotton forms the violet ground. 
“ 3. The red bands are in pure silk. 
“ The violet ground is coloured with the violet of aniline, a colour much used in 
dyeing. The discovery of it is due to Hofmann, of London. This colouring matter 
is prepared with aniline, which latter is obtained from benzine. The silk is dyed with 
fuchsine, a red of aniline, which is also prepared from aniline. The red colouring 
matter is pure fuchsine ; it is not accompanied by any substance recognized as poison. 
It is to the fuchsine alone that the occurrence can be attributed. Aniline violet and 
fuchsine are prepared by different processes. They constitute two processes which have 
not the same composition. It is remarkable that the violet of aniline, which is derived, 
from benzine, should have no action, while that of the red of aniline should be so ener¬ 
getic ; it is for science and the public to appreciate a fact so new and so important. 
In presence of the circumstances described and of the accident to Mr. M-, the 
question arises how fuchsine, which has been used largely in dyeing for ten years past, 
has never been discovered to possess any poisonous property. The reply would be that 
up to the present time it has been used only for articles of dress not coming in direct 
contact with the skin. The present is the first case in which I have met with fuchsine 
used for stockings. The stocking is of all others the article of dress brought most into 
contact with the skin, round which it is moreover compressed tightly by the shoe. I 
must remark also that fuchsine is soluble in weak acids. Perspiration is acid, and is. 
VOL. X. Z 
