What could make a better skin lotion than arsenic? Arsenic was used at the time for a whole host of cosmetic products.
It was also found in wallpapers, dresses, toys and even medicines. This was generally due to the fact that arsenic was very cheap at the time due to the industrial revolution. Arsenic is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust so the increased amount of mining that was taking place meant that it was becoming more easily available.
It’s not like the Victorian’s didn’t know it was a poison either as it was one of the most common poisons used for murder at the time. Luckily though in 1851 the Arsenic Act was passed which regulated the sale of arsenic and products containing it. It wasn’t an out right ban on such products but did help minimise the risk.
There is never a time
to stop learning new things
Flippant, Comic, and Serious 