Or Swedish Green Resembles The Preceding Variety In Being A Compound

: ON THE SECONDARY, GREEN.

of copper and arsenic, and therefore rankly poisonous; but differs from

it in containing no acetic acid, in possessing less opacity, and in

having a darker shade. It is a cupric arsenite, with the common

attributes of emerald green, under which name it is sometimes sold. Of

similar stability, it must not be employed with the true Naples yellow

or antimoniate of lead, by which it is soon destroyed.



Upon th
lavish use of this dangerous pigment in colouring toys,

dresses, paper-hangings, artificial leaves, and even cheap

confectionery, it is not our province to enlarge: the constant-recurring

diseases and deaths, which, directly or indirectly, result from the

employment of arsenical pigments, are such every-day facts that they are

merely deplored and forgotten. With arsenic on our heads, our clothes,

our papers, our sweets, our children's playthings, we are so accustomed

to live--and die--in a world of poison, that familiarity with it has

bred contempt. Into the fatal popularity, therefore, of arsenical

colours for decorative purposes, we shall not further enter; but it

behoves us to deprecate their presence, and the presence of all

poisonous pigments, in colour-boxes for the young. It is one of the

pleasures of childhood to suck anything attractive that comes in its

way, openly if allowed, furtively otherwise: and as in early life we

have a preference for brilliancy, so vivid a pigment as Scheele's green

is an object of special attention. Artistically, it matters little

whether a pigment is noxious or not, but we hold that poison should not

be put into the hands of the young; and indeed are of opinion that a box

of colours is about the worst present a child can receive.



TTITLE MALACHITE GREEN,



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