By the mid-19th century, publishers began using vivid pigments, like Emerald Green, to appeal to consumers. Unfortunately, this striking hue was developed using arsenic, a naturally occurring element that has been known for its toxic properties for centuries. The flaking green dye, text, and gold leaf accents presented here make this book another great candidate not only for future testing, but also as a prime example of what a toxic Emerald Green book could look like.
RB 005. McGovern Collection on the History of Medicine 1514-2013. Heads and faces, and how to study them: a manual of phrenology and physiognomy for the people (by N. Sizer, 1885). McGovern Historical Center.
