CLEANLINESS AND THE PAINTER'S HEALTH The painter is exposed in a peculiar degree to the danger of poisoning. in his case espe cially, cleanliness is an absolute essential of con tinuous good health. He handles materials of a poisonous character. White lead, for example, is a deadly poison; so is chronic yellow; and so are all other colors derived from either lead or copper. The painter who allows his clothing to become covered with paint runs a great risk of undermining his health.
Lead poisoning is caused by minute particles of lead which are absorbed into the system through the stomach, and manifests itself first by a bluish discoloration of the gums and loosen ing of the teeth, as well as by severe colic-like pains. These finally lead to wrist drop and par tial paralysis, and terminate in dropsy. These symptoms are due to a disordered condition of the kidneys, caused by the presence of lead in the system. While they may be alleviated in the earlier stages by the sufferer drinking large quantities of skimmed milk, or preferably but termilk, living principally upon fruit, and avoid ing the use of meat, liquor, and tobacco, it is much easier to prevent than to cure lead poisoning.
The first thing to be observed by the painter is to avoid eating or even taking a chew of to bacco until after he has taken off his overalls and thoroughly washed his hands. Soap, how ever, unites to a certain extent with lead, and carries the metal into the pores of the skin. It is
safer, therefore, first to rinse the hands in clear water to which a few drops of sulphuric acid have been added. This unites with any lead which may be present, and changes it into a harmless lead sulphate. The hands may then be washed with soap, using a nail brush or hand scrub to remove all traces of paint from beneath the nails and in the cracks of the skin. Care must be taken not to use too much acid or it will burn the hands.
Another thing that is necessary is for the painter to refrain from using alcoholic liquor before going to work or while at work, and he should also avoid the use of acid foods, such as salads and the like, containing vinegar. The reason of this is that these cause an acid condi tion of the stomach and the acid breath acts on the lead, forming a lead compound which is breathed or absorbed into the system.
Painter's overalls can be cleansed by boiling them with washing soda or a strongly alkaline washing powder. They should then be thor oughly rinsed with clear, warm water.
The smell of turpentine from fresh paint, which is very disagreeable to some persons, can be neutralized to a great extent by leaving bowls of water or preferably of milk in the room. The liquid will absorb the turpentine fumes. It is also said that fresh hay, or a dish of sauer kraut, left in the room, will absorb the fumes from fresh paint.