Toxic Luminescence: The Lethal Industry of Victorian Matchsticks

In the late 19th century, the simple act of lighting a fire was fueled by a horrific human sacrifice. The matchstick industry of Victorian London relied on white phosphorus-a highly toxic chemical that caused a grotesque occupational disease known as "e;Phossy Jaw."e; Workers, mostly young girls, would literally glow in the dark before their jawbones rotted away completely. While factory owners ...