THE USE OF WHITE LEAD IN PAINTING.

1142 which is characteristic, and differentiates it from alll possibility of danger from inhaling turpentine vapours other normal tissues, with the curious exception of the cannot be excluded. Statistical data indicate that retina. On this basis Warburg suggests a hypothesisi the lead risk for painters is not confined to one accounting for tumour origin. He conceives that country or one climate ; it is widespread. Even the normal tissues are not homogeneous but consist of a advocates of the continued use of white lead in paint mosaic of cells, growing and surviving by oxidative allow the existence of the risk. They claim, however, breakdown of carbohydrate, interspersed with isolated that dry rubbing down can be abolished in favour of recent experience cells which have the dual capacity of utilising carbo- using waterproof sand-paper; I hydrate by the oxidation or splitting processes. indicates that the hopes entertained from this Under abnormal conditions, when any group of cells innovation are not being entirely fulfilled. Technical suffer an oxygen deficiency, the chances of survival information is given as to the value of different are greatly in favour of the latter cells, which then paints and their costs ; the economic aspect of the for of nucleus the subsequent development appears to be somewhat in favour of white provide Next follows a discussion of legislative promalignant tissue, which retains this characteristic The total cedure adopted in different countries ; two courses method of carbohydrate metabolism. expenditure of the Fund during the year amounted to are open, either prohibition or strict regulation of the just short of 12,000, of which office expenses absorbed use of lead. In this and other sections of the volume the relevant information is stated fairly and without less than 9 per cent. bias. Many of the facts, technical details, and health statistics are derived from work done on behalf of THE USE OF WHITE LEAD IN different committees, by experts in Great Britain and PAINTING. in other parts of the Empire. Thus we learn how two THE Lead Paint (Protection Against Poisoning) committees appointed in 1911, one to consider the Act was passed on Dec. 15th last. Under Section 2 from lead in paint used upon buildings, danger arising of this Act women and young persons were prohibited and the other upon coaches and carriages, both from painting buildings with lead paint as from the in favour of prohibiting the use of lead in reported 19th day of this month except in the case of women paint; that simultaneously with the holding of the so employed at the date of the passing of the Act. conference at Geneva in 1921, a further committee Two exceptions were, however, made to this prohi- was appointed which recommended that the conbition in favour of (1) persons employed as apprentices, clusions arrived at in Geneva should be adopted ; and and (2) women or young persons employed in special that the Government, with this technical advice decorative or other work, not of an industrial character. coming from its own experts before it, saw fit to An Order just issued by the Home Office now makes adopt a code of regulations made under the Factory these exceptions more precise. Its effect is to relax Act for the painting of coaches and carriages, and the prohibition under Section 2 of the Act (1) in the another code under the 1926 Act already mentioned. case of any male young person employed under an The book contains a number of valuable tables and indenture of apprenticeship or under an established useful graphs, and includes among its appendices custom of regular apprenticeship (subject to the the official report of the 1921 Conference. condition that his name, age, and the date on which he was first engaged as an apprentice are entered in a separate list attached to the register of employees THE STORY OF A PHARMACY. which the employer is required to keep) ; and (2) in Bevan, apothecary, and 1 IN the year 1715 ofSilvanus the case of any woman or young person employed in the Royal Society, took over Fellow " the execution of wall or ceiling paintings, or any 5T similar work of decorative design." Nothing in1 the lease of premises in which the poet Pope was born. this Order, it should be noted, will relieve anyT The pharmacy thus established in a mall court off Lombard-street not only enjoys prestige as the oldest employer from the obligations imposed by the of its kind in London, and as the cradle of a business regulations contained in Section 2 of the Womenl of world-wide scope, but also has sent out distinguished And Young Persons (Employment in Lead Processes)) workers into the fields of pharmacognosy, botany, . A. 1Q9.n Those who would gain a concise view of the present and chemistry. Most of the early proprietors were members of the Society of Friends ; and in the use of white lead in the painting industry should refer to a volumejust issued by the International troubled international conditions of the late eighteenth Labour Office at Geneva, wherein is brought together century the formation of an overseas connexion was under one cover information gathered from all over not accomplished without many delays and hesitathe world. Previously the only volume claiming to tions occasioned by privateers, conscience, or both. We find, for instance, one of the Bevans writing to a cover similar ground was that compiled by F. L. certain Dr. John Gill, of Barbados, in 1779 : "Of but in this was Cantineau written definitely 1921 2 ; to present the case against white lead. The new the books none specified are omitted that are in print, volume is the outcome of the discussion which took exceptChesterfield,’ thePolite Lady,’ and the ’ United Friends.’ I hope thou wilt excuse the place at the third session of the International Labour freedom. From what I have seen of the first of these in at Geneva when it held was 1921, Conference, I know it is calculated to recommend folly, vanity, unanimously decided that delegates should advise and vice...." The main interest, however, of the their Governments to take steps to prohibit the use of white lead in paint used on the interior of buildings, story, so well told by Mr. Cripps,lies in the contribuwhile adopting stringent regulations where paint tions to various sciences made by men who were in the firm or near relatives. Daniel containing lead is used on the outside of buildings. either partners author with Fluckiger of " PharmacoThe volume opens with an historical sketch of the Hanbury, joint movement against the use of white lead ; it seems graphia," was an accurate, highly-trained observer that the campaign originated and has been followed in pharmacognosy and in botany : he accompanied in 1860, and during up by countries where zinc white, the great rival of Sir Joseph Hooker to Palestine white lead, is manufactured, while the leading the last few years of his life collaborated with his brother, Sir Thomas Hanbury, in stocking the garden opponents have been the countries where this material at La Mortola, which is still one of the glories of the is not manufactured. The medical aspect of the Riviera. Botanical investigation has also Italian then is risk to stated. The which fully question carried out by Mr. F. J. Hanbury, the owner of painters are exposed arises nearly entirely from the abeen remarkable rock garden in Sussex. From 1797 to inhalation of lead-containing dust generated when 1806 William Alien, then head of the business, had as painted surfaces are rubbed down dry, although partner Luke Howard, who afterwards founded the

problem lead.

____

I afterwards

,

1

the

White Lead. (Data collected by the International Labour Office in regard to the use of white lead in the painting industry.) Studies and Reports, Series F, Industrial Hygiene, No. 11, Geneva, 1927, pp. 409. 8s. 2 La Céruse. Paris and Liége. 1921.

1 Plough Court: The Story of a Notable Pharmacy, 1715-1927. Compiled by Ernest C. Cripps, M.P.S. London: Allen and Hanburys, Ltd. 1927. Pp. 227. 10s. 6d. (to medical practitioners, 5s.).