citations, smitations

     Here are the citations, Judy; an hour of my time probably equals the
hour of your time sending me the Gassan book, so we're even steven, huh, and
I thank you again for that.
     First let me state that it was not gum printers that were poisoned, but
lowly **carbon** printers (Sandy) and those working in factories where
potassium bichromate was used (either manufacturing plants for the chemical,
or dyeing plants, or drug stores, as per below). Apparently in the carbon
printing establishments the workers had their hands continually in the stuff
and all these nasty ulcerating things were occurring. In the factories
where horses were employed, the horses got the ulcerations up and down their
legs, too, so apparently they were all swimming in it.

BJP May 4 1877 it is mentioned that there is an abundance of information on
the effects of bichromate when swallowed, and he is just talking here about
its effect with skin contact...apparently this was more common (the
swallowing) than the BJP reports.
BJP Nov 13 1885 under The Bichromate Disease it was reported that several
fatal cases from drinking a solutoin of this salt have been reported from
time to time.
BJP FEb 22 1901 it says that the ill effects of bichromate upon the skin are
well known, but that it is rare when it has been taken internally (go
figure--no GOOGLE search back then). He had a "faint idea" that some years
ago there was a fatal case reported. Then he goes on to report two, one
where it was mistaken for **beer** (yes, BEER), in a warehouse of a firm of
wholesale druggists. The other was the man who bought "a pennyworth" of
what was supposed to be bicarb of pot and was instead bichromate of pot (for
rheumatism) and took it internally as medicine and almost died. But he
lived and was rewarded damages by a jury. The writer comments that
obviously the man was not a photographer or he would've known what he had
gotten.
     At this time pot bi was not listed on the Poisons list.
June 14 1907, an unusual remedy by a doctor (don't do this, I am NOT
supplying medical advice) for pot bi ulcerations: in chrome works factories
they were to bathe in...non other than sodium bisulphite or metabisulphite.
     Katharine, they did not report whether the former was quicker than the
latter in clearing the dichromate from the skin. I'm sure it was the latter.
Oh, and both were used at 5%.
     And Bob Kiss, I promise never to drink and eat in the darkroom again.
And all this info before my first cup of morning coffee.
Good day,
Chris
Received on Sat Nov 6 07:36:13 2004