Friday, June 25, 2021

TOXIC FUN! The Dutch Boy's Lead Party

 


FINALLY, I found a "cleaner" version of an old classic. This gif runs fairly slowly (a 5-second lag) so you can read those captions - which are really the best part. In addition to the smarmy rhymes is horrifying scientific information about lead and all its marvelous properties (in small letters at the top). This seems to give this harmless-looking little paint book some sort of educational value, or at least an explanation to the parents (teachers?) that renders the product not only harmless, but a tremendous boon. EVERYTHING seems to have lead in it! We now know that if an infant ingests ONE paint chip containing lead, he or she may become violently ill or even die. Cribs were painted with lead-based paints, and we all know how babies teethe on any surface they can find. This is a real artifact and an example (along with asbestos - I'd LOVE to see an Fun With Asbestos paint book!) of how a horribly dangerous substance can be effectively "pitched".