Toothpaste that could kill you....

This pot lid dates back to the early 1880s and was in production for around 20 years. W. Woods of Plymouth were one of the biggest toothpaste manufacturers in Britain and these pot lids were a common find in Victorian rubbish dumps that were uncovered by 'enthusiasts' in the 1970s. Another one of my poor man's antiques worth about £20!

However, users of this product were, unknowingly, taking great risks with their health. Areca nut is the seed of the areca palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Southeast and South Asia, and parts of east Africa. It is now known to be a major risk factor for cancers of the mouth and esophagus.