DANGER IN DYED FURS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1924, Page 4

DANGER IN DYED FURS.

(Physician in Daily Mail). It is by no means uncommon for doctors to he consulted by women who have bought and worn coats with dyed fur collars; and the reason for their doing so Is that they have found that, after wearing these coats, an acute inflammation of the skin, or dermatitis, has been set up, not only in the neck hill frequently also in the face. This same form of deimatitis has been noticed after the application of some hair dyes, and the cause is the same whether the human hair lie dyed or a dyed lur he worn next to the skin.

The basis of these dyes is a substance known as piiiapheiiyleire-dia-mine, which while it gives a perfect and fast (oloiir to fur and hair, also deposits on the fur and hair a poisonous irritant. Hence the dermatitis. In the process of dyeing, chemical reactions continue after the i'ur 01 hair has attained the desired colour, .rind a scbstaiice known as ’ “Rnndrowski's base” is formed, and this ad-

heres to the fur or hair. It is to this substance that all the trouble which follows has been ascribed. Abroad, tie poisonous and irritant effects of this by-product which result from the use of paraphenylene-diimiiue has been recognised. So much so that in Saxoy and other parts of Germany the use of paraphenpleiie-diamin:: has been prohibited as a liair-dye, as it has also in Paris, while in the United States importation has been prohibited. In England, however, the use of this dye is permitted without any restrictions. 'The furs -most frequently dyed are rabbit- skins; and it would seem that these skins are prepared, dyed, and dressed abroad, usually in Germnny and Belgium, and then imported into this country. In addition to para-plienylenc-diamine, another substance known as motaphenyleiie-diamine is used, and this also is deleterious. Surely the time lias ariived when the public should he protected against injuries resulting from the wearing of these furs? This protection may take the form of prohibiting altogether the importation of dyed furs or by insisting that the dyers—that is, the trade —remove all the poisonous substances from these furs before Kiev are imported.