- Joined
- Nov 26, 2016
- Location
- central NC
(Credit: Wellcome Collection)
These were three of the top dangers lurking about:
1 Flammable Fashion - In the Mid-19th century, huge crinoline skirts were at the height of their popularity. Often made of silk and muslin, these were highly flammable. Fanny Longfellow, wife of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, died in 1861 after her dress went up in flames when a lighted match or small piece of paper fell on her. Longfellow himself attempted to extinguish the flames, but Fanny's skirts were so flammable it was impossible for him to save her life.
2 Opium Overdoses - In the 19th century opium was an extremely popular medicine. Extracts of opium, such as Godfrey’s Cordial, were widely used as a method to soothe sickly or teething infants. Adults were not immune either. They frequently turned to opium for pain relief and a sleep aid. Accidental overdoses were frequent.
3 Arsenic Poisoning - Green wallpaper was the height of fashion in the Mid-19th century. The key ingredient in the vibrant shade of green pigment in the most popular wallpaper, known as Scheele’s Green, was arsenic. Although arsenic was known to be poisonous if eaten, at the time it was thought to be safe as a color pigment. Today, historic homes have had their arsenic wallpaper removed and the arsenic-dyed clothes in museum collections are generally kept safely behind glass. The picture above accompanied an article entitled, 'The dance of death' published on February 8, 1862. In the article, the chemist, A.W. Hoffman, shared his finding that green dresses, wreaths, and artificial flowers, made with copper arsenite or copper acetoarsenite (Scheele's green, Paris green), were toxic.