CATTLE POISONED BY PAINT. 
665 
These facts are sufficient to show that the danger arising 
from the use of green paper-hangings is not very great; and 
that it is almost confined to the unsized or unglazed papers ; 
they at the same time prove how desirable it is that the use 
of arsenite of copper and chromate of lead as pigmentary sub¬ 
stances should, as far as possible, be dispensed with, and this 
might be readily done in most cases by the substitution of 
other and unobjectionable colours. 
In my f Reports on the Adulteration of Food/ I showed 
that chromate of lead and arsenite of copper were frequently 
employed to colour sugar confectionery, as well as other 
articles. Such a practice is fraught with danger, and cannot 
be too strongly denounced. 
i am induced to make these remarks, because I believe, first, 
that greater alarm than is needful is entertained by the public 
as to the use of these green papers; and second, that the 
interests of manufacturers are greatly prejudiced thereby. 
While it is the duty of the sanitarian to guard with jealous 
eye the public health, he should be most careful that in doing 
so he does not unnecessarily interfere with trade and manu¬ 
factures.— Lancet . 
POISONING OF CATTLE BY PAINT. 
WElearnfrom Mr. Rolfe,V.S., Harleston,that Mr.Fairhead, 
of Rushall, lost, in June last, two valuable cows from eating 
some old paint which was mixed with some manure taken, 
six years previously, from the house of a glazier and painter, 
who had incautiously emptied the refuse of the paint pots 
upon a manure heap; and that, in 1844, the late Mr. Pearce, 
of Rushall, lost fourteen bullocks, which were affected with 
similar symptoms as Mr. Fairhead’s cows. These beasts 
were kept in a yard, about which was thrown some manure, 
obtained from the same person. It was not at that time dis¬ 
covered what was the cause of death. 
Some years since, also, the late Mr. Rush, of Palgrave, 
lost three cows, which were poisoned by eating some painted 
canvass which had been nailed on the barn doors, to keep 
out the wet ; and that in another locality, eight cows died 
from eating food which had been mixed in a tub in which 
there had previously been sugar of lead. 
Cattle are fond of licking and chewing paint, and it cannot 
be too generally known that these preparations of lead are 
deadly poisons. 
