08-16-2011, 04:57 PM
Hi there!
Thanks, I have Sally Pointers book and also Susan Stewarts- they are excellent resources!
Thanks for your help- and get the ladies on here!!!!
:-D :-D
I'm also looking at researching the scientific/ medical aspects and benefits/ detriments (if any!)behind health and beauty treatments.
Theoretically, I think rhusma turcorum would work in a similar way as modern thioglycollate-based hair removal creams, by forming hydrosulphides which dissolve hair by breaking cystine bridges.
I'm puzzled about the supposed physical properties though. Dr Allason-Jones and others describes this cream as being bright green and that 'green blobs' would be seen floating on the surface of the water in the bath house. However, orpiment (arsenic disulphide) is bright yellow to orange- only copper arsenates are green- and copper compounds are totally incompatible with orpiment??
Upon mixing with calcium hydroxide (the modern texts quote quicklime, calcium oxide which I believe to be incorrect as this would cause severe burns)the resulting calcium hydrosulphide would break down the hair and the arsenic would form arsenic trioxide plus arsenites- which would be white and powdery and dissolve in the water- not forming floating green blobs as described in modern texts. Unless there is another ingredient or impurity?
Could anyone please confirm/ discount this ?
The odour would have been awful- from rotten egg to garlic-like- rather like modern creams!!
The arsenic component doesn't seem to have any purpose in the hair removal, the orpiment seems to just work (theoretically anyhow) as a sulphur donor for formation of the calcium hydrosulphide??
Orpiment is photodegradable and doesn't keep well- therefore I am not totally convinced it would be widely used, if ever, in provincial Britannia,being more suited to volcanic areas where orpiment is plentiful.
However, I do believe it was rather effective, if unpleasant! :grin:
Thanks, I have Sally Pointers book and also Susan Stewarts- they are excellent resources!
Thanks for your help- and get the ladies on here!!!!
:-D :-D I'm also looking at researching the scientific/ medical aspects and benefits/ detriments (if any!)behind health and beauty treatments.
Theoretically, I think rhusma turcorum would work in a similar way as modern thioglycollate-based hair removal creams, by forming hydrosulphides which dissolve hair by breaking cystine bridges.
I'm puzzled about the supposed physical properties though. Dr Allason-Jones and others describes this cream as being bright green and that 'green blobs' would be seen floating on the surface of the water in the bath house. However, orpiment (arsenic disulphide) is bright yellow to orange- only copper arsenates are green- and copper compounds are totally incompatible with orpiment??
Upon mixing with calcium hydroxide (the modern texts quote quicklime, calcium oxide which I believe to be incorrect as this would cause severe burns)the resulting calcium hydrosulphide would break down the hair and the arsenic would form arsenic trioxide plus arsenites- which would be white and powdery and dissolve in the water- not forming floating green blobs as described in modern texts. Unless there is another ingredient or impurity?
Could anyone please confirm/ discount this ?
The odour would have been awful- from rotten egg to garlic-like- rather like modern creams!!
The arsenic component doesn't seem to have any purpose in the hair removal, the orpiment seems to just work (theoretically anyhow) as a sulphur donor for formation of the calcium hydrosulphide??
Orpiment is photodegradable and doesn't keep well- therefore I am not totally convinced it would be widely used, if ever, in provincial Britannia,being more suited to volcanic areas where orpiment is plentiful.
However, I do believe it was rather effective, if unpleasant! :grin:
Memmia AKA Joanne Wenlock.
Friends of Letocetum
Friends of Letocetum
