Medicine, observed that he finds makers of artificial flowers who use quantities of aniline dyes suffer from symptoms of lead-poisoning, particularly those who use "geranium red," which contains 20 per cent, of lead. Thus aniline dyes, though so greatly praised for their beauty, are not the unmixed good which some pretend them to be.
As regards dyes, light colours are more healthy than dark, since they contain less colouring matter, and fast dyes are safer than those which fade rapidly. Indigo-black is a very "fast" dye, and is therefore better than blacks obtained from logwood. Logwood has a peculiar effect well known by dyers, in that it deprives the skin of the sense of feeling.
Dyed materials are least injurious when there is least perspiration, and they should be especially avoided for dresses to be worn during exercise. White, therefore, besides being the prettiest, is the most healthy colour for summer and evening dresses.
"Fast" colours are safe, owing to the fact that they are less liable to be decomposed by the perspiration. The best way of ascertaining whether or not a material is dyed "fast" is to wash a small piece of it, and notice whether the colour comes off in the water or on to your hands. Colours which "come off" should be avoided, as, even if they do not come in contact with the skin, particles of them enter the body with the breath, and if the dye is poisonous they act injuriously in that way.
Some interesting experiments as to the value of
