6 nasty Victorian era fashion trends that could kill you

Scheele's Green was a bright green pigment that was popularly used in the Victorian era for wallpapers, fabrics, and even confectionery.

The pigment was created by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1775 and was widely used throughout the 19th century.

However, it was discovered that Scheele's Green was highly toxic and caused serious health problems, leading to a ban on its use.

The pigment contains copper arsenite, which is highly poisonous. Exposure to the pigment could cause a range of health problems, including skin irritation, respiratory problems, and digestive issues.

Long-term exposure could lead to more severe health problems, such as cancer and organ failure.

Additionally, Scheele's Green was often used in wallpaper, and when the wallpaper was damp or moldy, it released toxic fumes that could cause health problems for those living in the room.

Many people, including children, were affected by the toxic effects of Scheele's Green, and it was responsible for numerous illnesses and deaths during the Victorian era.

Mercury was a popular ingredient in many beauty products during the Victorian era, including creams, ointments, and even hats.

Mercury is highly toxic, and exposure to it can cause a range of health problems, including tremors, irritability, memory loss, and personality changes.

Prolonged exposure to mercury can also cause serious neurological damage, kidney damage, and even death.

Hat makers were particularly vulnerable to mercury exposure because they were exposed to the toxic fumes on a daily basis.

The process of turning fur into felt involved heating mercury nitrate and applying it to the fur.

The hat maker would then shape the fur into a hat, which would release mercury fumes as it was steamed and pressed.

As a result of the constant exposure to mercury, hat makers often suffered from a condition known as "mad hatter's disease," which was characterized by tremors, anxiety, and other neurological symptoms.

Many hat makers died from mercury poisoning, and the use of mercury in hat production was eventually banned in many countries.

During the Victorian era, makeup was very popular among women, but many of the products contained dangerous ingredients that posed serious health risks.

Some of the common ingredients in Victorian makeup included lead, arsenic, and mercury, all of which are highly toxic and can cause a range of health problems.

In particular the use of lead was a common ingredient in makeup, particularly in face powders and whitening creams.

Women used these products to achieve a pale, porcelain-like complexion that was considered fashionable at the time.

However, the use of lead in makeup was incredibly dangerous and caused serious health problems for many women.

Lead was used as a whitening agent in face powders and was also sometimes added to lipsticks and other cosmetics.

It was effective at creating a pale complexion, but it was also highly toxic. Exposure to lead can cause a range of health problems, including anemia, kidney damage, and neurological damage.

During the Victorian era, tuberculosis was a common disease that was associated with beauty and elegance. 

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body.

In the Victorian era, tuberculosis was a leading cause of death, and it was not until the late 19th century that the bacteria responsible for the disease was identified.

However, many people believed that having a pale complexion was a sign of beauty, and tuberculosis caused the skin to become pale.

As a result, many people intentionally infected themselves with tuberculosis or drank “tuberculosis milk” in an attempt to look more beautiful. 

This dangerous trend resulted in many people becoming seriously ill or even dying from the disease.

Electronic tablecloths were an exciting new popular fashion trend in the late Victorian era.

As the potential of electronics became more common, inventors explored ways of making it accessible to the masses.

Electric tablecloths were made of cloth that was woven with thin wires, and they were designed to have electronic devices, particularly lightbulbs, plug directly into them.

However, there were some obvious shortcomings. Since many people placed these items on their dining room tables, whenever liquid was spilled, there was a genuine risk of electrocution.

Obviously, these tablecloths were highly dangerous and could cause serious electric shocks or even start fires.

As a result, their popularity was short lived.

Wearing corsets was a common practice among women during the Victorian era, and it was believed to be an essential component of fashionable dress.

However, the use of corsets was associated with a number of health risks and dangers, some of which were severe.

One of the most significant dangers of wearing corsets was the potential for organ damage.

Corsets were designed to cinch the waist and compress the internal organs, which could lead to a range of health problems.

Prolonged use of corsets could cause the displacement of organs such as the liver, kidneys, and stomach, which could result in chronic pain, digestive issues, and respiratory problems.

Corsets also restricted breathing, as they forced the wearer to take shallow breaths.

This could lead to a range of respiratory problems, including shortness of breath, coughing, and even pneumonia.

In extreme cases, the use of corsets could lead to fainting or loss of consciousness due to oxygen deprivation.

Despite the numerous health risks associated with corsets, they remained a popular fashion accessory throughout much of the Victorian era.

It was not until the early 20th century that the use of corsets began to decline, as women began to seek out more comfortable and practical clothing options. 

As you can see, the Victorian era was a time of dangerous fashion trends that had serious health consequences.

From toxic pigments to restrictive corsets, the fashion of the era was often hazardous to those who followed it.

It is important to learn about these trends and their risks to understand the importance of safety in fashion.

So, if you're wearing a green hat and wearing lead makeup while drinking tuberculosis milk at your dinner table covered in an electric tablecloth, you're almost certainly out of luck...