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CHAP. VIII.] know whether the decree has yet gone forth for their abolition from the manufacture of clothing.

Symptoms of arsenical poisoning are drowsiness, weakness, internal pain, severe depression, swelling of the throat, feverishness, and—which is very important—a metallic taste in the mouth. All these symptoms have been produced by arsenical wallpapers, and would probably result in an increased degree from arsenic in clothes, but in this case perhaps the cause is not so likely to be suspected. There is a popular idea that green is the only colour in the production of which arsenic plays a part; but this is a great mistake, for not only can good greens be obtained without the use of arsenic, but very many other colours, such as red, yellow, mauve, fawn, magenta, brown, blue, and even innocent-looking grey and white, are frequently obtained by its use. Hence it is not sufficient, in order to escape the risk of poisoning by arsenic, simply to avoid certain colours, but samples of wall-papers or dress materials should be chemically tested for the poison. The public analyst or some chemist can be applied to, or the following test, called Reinsch's test, may be employed: —

Cut the suspected substance into small pieces, and place them in a test-tube half filled with a liquid consisting of one part of hydrochloric acid to four of water. Light a spirit-lamp with a moderate flame underneath the test-tube. Take a small piece of copper foil, brighten it by rubbing with emery or glass-paper, and through a hole in one end fasten a fine platinum wire. As soon as the