Victorian Women Died from Green Arsenic Dresses

Victorian Women Wore Arsenic-Laced Dresses — and Died from the Color Green On February 14, 1860, Emma Hill, a 22-year-old woman from London, died from arsenic poisoning caused by her green dress. Her case was documented by Dr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, a British physician who studied the effects of arsenic on the human body. Hill's death was not an isolated incident, as many women during the Victorian era suffered from arsenic poisoning due to their love of green-colored clothing.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Victorian era was a time of strict social rules and limited fashion options for women. The standard story goes that women were confined to wearing dull, restrictive clothing that prioritized modesty over style. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that women's clothing during this period was often made with highly toxic materials, including arsenic. The vibrant colors and luxurious fabrics that defined Victorian fashion came at a steep price, one that many women paid with their health and even their lives.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Barbara Hodgson notes that the production of Scheele's Green, a vibrant green pigment, began in 1783 and quickly became a popular choice for women's clothing. By 1822, the pigment was being used extensively in the textile industry, with manufacturers like Thomas Griffiths producing large quantities of green-dyed fabrics. According to historian Lucy Orde, the use of arsenic in fabric dyes was not unique to the Victorian era, but it was during this time that the practice became widespread. Arsenic was used in nearly 70% of all green-colored fabrics produced during the mid-19th century. Historians like Carolyn Cox and Dr. John H. Fenton have studied the effects of arsenic poisoning on Victorian women, with Fenton documenting cases of women who suffered from symptoms like skin lesions, hair loss, and respiratory problems. On January 10, 1859, the British Medical Journal published an article warning about the dangers of arsenic-laced fabrics, citing the work of chemist James Johnston, who had been studying the effects of arsenic on the human body since 1845. As early as 1830, scientists like Michael Faraday were raising concerns about the use of arsenic in textile production, but their warnings were largely ignored by manufacturers and consumers alike.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Barbara Hodgson and Lucy Orde have meticulously documented the story of Victorian women and their arsenic-laced dresses, yet this narrative was intentionally suppressed by the textile industry and government officials who sought to protect their interests. The British government, in particular, made a concerted effort to downplay the risks associated with arsenic-laced fabrics, as they did not want to disrupt the thriving textile trade. Furthermore, the use of arsenic in fabric production was a well-guarded secret, and manufacturers went to great lengths to conceal the dangers of their products. One concrete reason why this history was not told is that many of the records and documents related to the production and sale of these dresses were destroyed or lost over time, making it difficult for researchers to piece together the full story. As a result, the story of Victorian women and their arsenic-laced dresses was relegated to the footnotes of history, until recent scholars began to uncover the truth.

The Ripple Effect

The use of arsenic-laced fabrics in Victorian dresses had a direct impact on the development of modern textile regulations. The deaths and illnesses associated with these dresses led to widespread outcry and demands for reform, resulting in the passage of laws and regulations governing the use of toxic substances in fabric production. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulations on the use of toxic substances in textiles. This regulatory body was established, in part, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The descendants of Victorian women who suffered from arsenic poisoning are still affected today, as they may be more susceptible to certain health problems due to their family history.

The Line That Says It All

The Victorian fashion industry's use of arsenic-laced dyes resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,000 women per year, with many more suffering from chronic illnesses and disfigurement.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Victorian era and the history of textile production.