Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Scheele's Green
Dec 27, 2023
Discover the captivating history of Scheele's Green, a mesmerizing pigment created by Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Despite its vibrant appeal, this arsenic-laden color poses deadly health risks, sparking irony and irony in Victorian society. The discussion touches on historical challenges in recognizing arsenic poisoning and the pigment's troubling legacy, including connections to infamous deaths and a recent wallpaper poisoning case. It's a fascinating exploration of beauty intertwined with danger!
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Scheele's Green Toxicity
- Scheele's Green's toxicity, due to its arsenic content, was known but its long-term effects weren't fully understood.
- Acute arsenic poisoning was often misdiagnosed, and chronic effects from prolonged exposure were not initially obvious.
Matilda Scheurer's Case
- Reports of illness and death linked to Scheele's Green began to surface, notably the case of Matilda Scheurer.
- Scheurer, an artificial flower maker, died from arsenic poisoning after prolonged exposure to the pigment, highlighting the dangers of long-term use.
Napoleon's Death
- Napoleon Bonaparte's death is suspected to have been caused by Scheele's Green-laced wallpaper in his bathroom.
- The damp conditions of St. Helena are thought to have released arsenic dust from the wallpaper.