In the House of Commons on Friday, July 29th, there
was a long, but on the whole satisfactory, discussion raised by Mr. Tennant in regard to lead-poisoning and " phossy jaw." The two voices—one for protecting the workpeople (and especially the women and children) at once and at all costa from the dangerous trades, and the other for moving very cautiously for fear of driving the trade out of the coun- try, depriving people of the power of earning their living, and for ascertaining before action whether things are really as bad as represented—were of course both apparent in the debate, but there was no heat or unfair accusation of callousness. The most encouraging thing in the debate was the announce- ment that new discoveries are going to do away with the use of both lead and phosphorus. Mr. Asquith alluded to the fact that a non-poisonous match which will strike anywhere has been produced. Mr. Tennant, like a second Burke, exhibited a plate glazed without lead, which he declared was, in the opinion of experts, a very good plate, and had had seven loaves baked upon it.
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