Report of the Committee appointed by the Westminster Medical Society, to investigate the subject of adulterating candles with arsenic; and to ascertain the probable effect of the use of such candles upon health and life ... / transcribed and reprinted by James Scott.

  • Westminster Medical Society (London, England)
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee appointed by the Westminster Medical Society, to investigate the subject of adulterating candles with arsenic; and to ascertain the probable effect of the use of such candles upon health and life ... / transcribed and reprinted by James Scott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CORRESPONDENCE WITH OFFICIAL PERSONS IN PARIS. Letter from the Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Academy of Medicine. Royal Academy of Medicine, Paris, Oct. 16th, 1837. The affair you mention has not been agitated in the Academy. The subject has been twice introduced to the Council of Health. They have there made two reports against a fabri¬ cation of candles, called candles “ de l’Etoile,” be¬ cause they were manufactured at the extremity of the Champs Elysee. The arsenic was not blended with the W'ax; but with the wick, in order to render it more combustible. This acid respired has caused many accidents, head¬ aches, vomitings, &c. It was complained of. The candles were examined, and the mixture discovered. They were very severely prohibited. These two reports are in the archives of the Council (of Health), and have not been made public. A thousand thanks for your kind remembrance. Ever yours obediently, E. PARISET. To Doctor Granville, London. Letter from M. Chevreul, the discoverer of Stearine. Paris, 12th Nov. 1837. My dear Friend, The presence of arsenious acid in 44 Margarique” or Stearine candles, is not novel. It is three or four years since some portions of this poison were first in¬ troduced into our candles at Paris; but as soon as the poliee were informed of it, they absolutely prohibited its use. Since this prohibition it has been no longer necessary to counteract the crystallization of 44 Mar-
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