ARSENICAL AND LEAD PIGMENTS IN PAPER-HANGINGS. 660 
the presense of a minute quantity of arsenic in the viscera 
may not be owing to its direct administration, but to its 
having found its way into the system through the vegetable, 
and, indirectly, animal food taken by the individual. 
These and other important considerations connected with 
this subject can only be determined by a series of carefully 
conducted experiments, which I purpose commencing, and I 
hope at some future time to have the pleasure of communi¬ 
cating their results to this Society.— London , Edinburgh , and 
Dublin Philosophical Magazine . 
ON THE USE OF ARSENICAL AND LEAD PIGMENTS IN THE 
COLORATION OF PAPER-HANGINGS, AND OTHER 
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, DRESS, AND ORNAMENT. 
By Dr. Hassall. 
The subject of green paper-hangings is one of considerable 
importance, both in a sanitary and manufacturing point of 
view; and although much has been said and written, clear 
and correct notions regarding it are by no means generally 
entertained. Some w T riters have treated of green papers as 
though the colouring matter employed always consisted of 
arsenite of copper, whereas the fact is, as I have already 
pointed out to some extent in a former communication, that 
in a very large proportion of the green papers in use the colour 
consists of a mixture of chromate of lead and Prussian blue ; 
this mixture is nearly always employed in the case of the dark 
green flock papers. Now, chromate of lead is as poisonous a 
substance as arsenite of copper; and if the papers prepared 
with the one pigment are rightly condemned, so ought those 
to be that are coloured with the other. Further, these same 
pigments are almost universally employed in the dyeing of 
green carpets, curtains, table and chair covers, silks, muslins, 
and a variety of other articles of furniture, dress, and orna¬ 
ment; and if the papers coloured with them are to b<£ con¬ 
demned, so in general should the articles above enumerated, 
as well as many others; for the objections urged against the 
green papers, apply for the most part equally to these. 
In the room in which I am now writing there is a green 
Turkey carpet, a green velvet sofa, several green morocco 
chairs, and three green table covers. Now r , if the views of 
those who have so strongly cautioned the public against the 
