Danger lies in wait for a person at every step. Now, even in the library, you need to observe safety precautions: turn the pages only with the damp pad of your index finger; never enter an unfamiliar fictional world without a compass; and most importantly, beware of poisonous books.
Deadly composition
It may sound strange, but some books are toxic if the wrong paint (ink) was used in their creation. Moreover, these toxins can lead to death. Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark recently again faced this curse of bibliophiles. This happened when they got their hands on the Renaissance manuscripts, which were kept among the rare books of one of the school libraries.
The manuscripts were urgently sent to the research laboratory of the university, as a library employee discovered that fragments of a medieval manuscript in Roman and canon law were used to make the covers of these books. Yakov Povl Holk, one of the researchers, noted that European bookbinders in the 16th and 17th centuries. used recycled parchment to create covers and spines. However, nothing unusual, if not for one but. Much to their surprise, scientists discovered that arsenic was included in the paint that once covered the book's cover.
How did you seek the truth?
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Kaare Lund Rasmussen, professor of physics, chemistry and pharmacology, and researcher Holck, worked on the found manuscripts. They had to face the following problem. After it was reported that codices were used for the covers, scholars wanted to read them.
However, the covers were covered with an abundant layer of paint, making it impossible to read the text. I had to use a microscope, but the text didn't budge. It was decided to remove the top coat of paint. For this it was necessary to know what is included in its composition. Usually, you can find calcium or iron in such paints, but instead, scientists found arsenic.
A little chemistry
Arsenic is a natural component of the earth's crust that is ubiquitous. However, when it is combined with other elements, such as hydrogen or oxygen, it becomes deadly poisonous. Holk and Rasmussen point out that arsenic is one of the most toxic substances in the world. By acting on the human body, it can lead to various symptoms of poisoning, the development of cancer and even death. But most importantly, no matter how much time passes, its toxicity will not decrease.
Is the book on the cover of which arsenic was found really so dangerous? As it turned out, yes. Poisoning can occur if a person licks their finger to turn the page of an infected book. This is how the arsenic gets inside. Also, some poisons can give off poisonous gases, so the reader can be poisoned if he stays near the toxic tome for too long.
In the distant century before last
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark note that this tasteless, odorless poison has been used for thousands of years. Yet despite its "deadly reputation", in the 19th century, arsenic was viewed as a safe ingredient that could be used to make paint. The main thing was to make sure that he did not enter the body. Such a careless attitude led to the fact that poisonous wallpapers, postage stamps and even clothing appeared on the market.
What's up with the books?
According to Withers and Rasmussen, the arsenic green paint that covers the book covers was based on the popular mass-produced Victorian pigment, Paris Green. Impressionist painters used different versions of this pigment in their work, which means that many museum exhibits contain poison.
Researchers believe Paris Green is the backing that was used to cover the cover before being painted over with a few more coats of another manufacturer's paint. Most likely, arsenic paint was used in the 19th century on rare books. It was a kind of pesticide that helps keep insects and other pests away from precious pages.
Three toxic manuscripts are now kept in separate ventilated cabinets at the University of Southern Denmark library. Soon they will be digitized so that future readers can safely comprehend the secrets of the past without fear for their lives.
Author: Irina Bukach
