POISONOUS VIOLET POWDER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

POISONOUS VIOLET POWDER.

fFrom tho Queen). ■ Of all the preparations in use at the toilet table violtt powder has, hitherto, been looked upon as the most harmless. We will not say that, in its use, ladies have always been judicious. Ilidges of violet powder at the roots of the hair are apt to have an unsightly appearance, and violet powder, does not- always look well in its effects after sharp exercise has been taken. But people, who used this powder for their faces did it in the firm belief that it contained nothing noxious. If tljey were so silly as to choke up the portis of their skin, they trusted they had done no greater harm -than a judicious application of soap and water and a good hard towel would repair, liven in the nursery, where sumo kind al dusting powder is necessary, “ violet powder " was looked upon as perfectly safe to bo applied to the tender skin of a baby.

It is very grievous to learn on the authority of tho Lancet that “violet powder,” ns ordinarily sold, is no longer to be reckoned among tho “innocent” skin preparations. It lias boon recently ohSbrved in and near London that an epidemic was prevailing among little' children, which presented all tho symptoms of erysipelas. In many oases thb-little, sufferers have died and the medical men have h&fa at a loss tb account fbr the origin of the attack to which the patients have succumbed. At last the “ violet powder” in use in a nursery was suspected. A packet was sent to a well-known firm of analysts, and it was found that, instead of consisting of scented starch, as it ought to have done, one-fourth of this terrible powder (25 per cent.) consisted of white arsenic. Tho cases which seemed so mysterious have received a solution of only too great certainty—the children have been the victims of ar.-enical poisoning. Other packets of “violet powder,” purchased at other places, have given similar results, and the analysts have found it their duty to warn, mothers against purchasing “ violet powder,” except from well-known chemists. The Laneet suggests that bought “violet powder” should bo given-up altogether, aitu that ■ in its place should be substituted “some home-made preparation of finely pulverised starch, such as that made from tho potato by boiling to complete dryness,” Wo learn that “cases of the nature) described have occurred, aud the alleged cause is under close scrutiny.” In the meantime mothers are warned to bo careful. It is a terrible thought that, in ministering to/ tho comfort of a little child, a nurse or mother may be slowly poisoning it. But the remedy is at hand. Use only some finely-powdered pure starch for the baby, and leave off face powders for all who are grown up. Face powders are not wanted, if women could only believe it. Air, exercise, and tho proper use of tho hath will do more to produce good complexions than all tile face powders in tho world.

Tljc following is the statement in the Lancet above referred to “It is. unhappily beyond question that not only cosmetic paints and washes, but applications of the class prepared and sold for i ijja on tho akio, down to the 1 innocent’ article specially recommended for use in the nursery under the name of ‘ violet powder,’ may contahi or consist of poisonous materials. A very serious aud extensively fatal series of instances in which poisoning has resulted from tho unsuspecting use of powder publicly sold as harmless, aud proved to contain arsenious acid, has occurred near Loudun, aud is now under official investigation. The

results obtained go far to prove the existence of a grave peril to. which'a large section of the community is daily exposed. We are especially tiro;:* to create no uccdßsa aiu.*u: m this matter, becau e dusting powder is .in use in ev‘;ry nursery, raid may almost he counted a ueces-nry, No ertheless, iu the face of the terrible disclosure now made, it is manifest that the violet powder” sold in the diops must be replaced by eoine. Home-made preparation of finely pulverised starch—that made* from the potato, by boiling to complete dryues*, is probably the purest and the bcat--or a guarantee of more than common value must be obtained from both maker and vendor before the public confidence can be restored. All we at present are add on our own authority is, that it is a fact that cases of the nature described have occurred, and the alleged cause is under close scrutiny. The repeats wliich have reached us 'issue from several creditable sources. The public should bo .instantly warned. Meanwhile the practice of uslug face-powder, paints, and washes of all but the simplesthome.made descriptions should be suspended, if not abandoned, as common prudence plainly enjoins.” In a later issue fho Lajicet observed : “ Frtah, evidence reaches us of the disastrous effects produced by the adulteration of violet powder with white arsenic. A medical man narrates the cases of four infants now under his care. The immediate effects seem to resemble an outbreak of erysipelas. The . limiter is so serious that attention ought to be directed to the’ cause. AVe fear there is too much reason to apprehend that the particular instance of * accidental’ adulteration which has created the present panic is exceptional only as regards the manner of its occurrence. . The powder commonly sold is not by any means innocuous,, and, for the present at least, the public will do wisely to exercise es-’ pedal care.”