Mechanical an Useful arts. New White Paint.

The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art
Exhibiting the Most Important discoveries and Improvements of the past year,
in mechanics and the useful arts; natural philosophy; electricity; chemistry; zoology and biology; geology and geography; meteorology and astronomy.
By John Timbs,
editor of "the Arcana of Science and Art."
London:
David Bogue, Fleet Street,
MDCCCXLIX (1849)Mr. Forrest, the discoverer of this novelty, has announced to the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, his intention to present the secret to the public, intimating, at the same time, that it consisted of white oxide of antimony (argentine flowers, as it used to be called by the old chemists), and that it had many advantages as an excellent body paint, superior to white lead, and much cheaper, inasmuch as antimony might be obtained in abundance for about £12. a ton, while lead costs £24. 10s. He also pointed out its greater permanency of colour, and its capability of being spread over a much larger surface, than an equal weight of white lead. Indeed, it is not only lighter, but may be made more subtle. It is rather singular that the old chemists called antimony their lead, maintaining that, in some of its properties, it bore a near affinity to lead.
- Abridged from the Builder.

The discovery has since been claimed by a Mr. Waldon, who states that he, some years since, furnished specimens of this new pigment, "oxide of antimony, superior to while lead, and much cheaper," to Mr. Barry, for trial at the new palace at Westminster. A finer or more brilliant whiteness is the result; another excellence is its succadaneous remedy for "painters' colic."