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Following this process, washing with plenty of water is highly
necessary. Any lime left in the furs forms a caustic dust when
it becomes dry.
A little acetic acid or formic acid will neutralise any traces
of lime, but these acids must be removed by another washing.
The next process is "mordanting." Mordants attract and fix
the colours. For light colours this process is unnecessary, but to
obtain deep colours, mordants are always required. Without them
the shades are uneven and not so fast to light and rubbing.
Metallic salts head the list of mordants either by themselves
or together. If these metals are not completely changed into their
oxides, the furs will give rise to rashes in the workers and wearers.
The skins are now ready for the dyeing process, and according to
Dr. Prosser White, it is during this process that residues are left
which give rise to the skin troubles among the wearers of, and the
workers in, furs.
Dyeing is comparatively a new art, a new fashion in the fur
industry. Aniline dyes are now used in almost every instance
except for the cheapest black which are coloured by basic and acid
dyes. The Berlin Aniline Company brought out three dyes under
the name of Ursol, Metol, and Amidol. Derivatives of these are the
dyes in general use at the present time.
All these require, or depend upon, subsequent oxidation, and
various oxidisers are used in the different trades.
There are two methods of dyeing—the general or common
method and the brush or topping method. The latter is much more
liable to cause trouble, as the solutions used are much more
concentrated, ranging from six to twelve times stronger than the
liquors required in the general method. Any faults in technique
will cause the liberation of the residues of the dying reagents in
the dye bath and on the materials.
Sometimes these harmful residues are in such quantities that
the fur workers suffer very severely and the clothiers are warned
before the furs are sent out to the public, but, as a rule, the furs
do not give rise to a rash if the skin is dry. If moisture is applied,
the rash appears. This explains the frequency with which the neck
and face are attacked. The perspiration is sufficient to enable the
dye to act as an irritant. Probably this fact explains the relative
frequency in which cloth coats with fur collars were the cause of
the trouble. The fur collars were turned up, especially when it
rained. In these circumstances the rash was not limited to the
neck, but occurred also in the lower part of the face.
Where a fur cape had been worn, the rash was usually
limited to the neck.
In some instances, the rash soon disappeared when the patient
ceased wearing the fur. In others, the rash persisted for a consider
able time in spite of treatment. In one case which came under