I used both these at first, but I soon dispensed with the latter.

Having a slight cold, I found my expectoration black, a circumstance that slightly alarmed me until I reflected that my lungs were in excellent order, and that the discoloration must be due to some extrinsic cause.

This I discovered to be the blacklead from the floor.
It wears off under your tread, and as there is no draught to carry the dust away, it floats in the air and is inhaled.

The only remedy was to avoid the blacklead altogether.

When, therefore, the bucket containing a quantity in solution was next brought round, I declined to have any.
"But you must," said the officer.