THE ANALYST. 228 NOTE ON ARSENIC IN PLAYING CARDS. By DR. WALLACE. Read befom the Society of Public Analysts, on 19th November, 1879. IN the last number of THE ANALYST, a letter to the Glasgow Herald was quoted, in which I stated that I had found a large quantity of arsenic in a pack of green-backed playing cards. I have since extended my observations, and now bring the matter before the Bociety of Public Analysts, in the hope that public attention may be drawn to it in such a way that legislation may follow, not only in regard to playing cards, but also to wall papers, and paper used for book covers, confectionery and other purposes.Such a law already exists in Sweden, and I have reason to know that it is very strictly enforced. The following are the results of examination of a few cards, from which it will be seen that the use of arsenical green is not confined to any particular maker :- As 203 As ,03 Grains in each Card. Grains per Pack.De la Rue, Plain Green . . . . . . 1-49 . . . . . . 77.48 Ditto, Figured . . . . . . -86 . . . . . . 44.72 Goodall, Plain Green . . . . . . 1.84 . . . . . . 95.68 Ditto, ditto . . . . . . . . -50 . .. . . . 26.00 Willis, Plain Green . . . . . . 1.60 . . . . . . 83.20 Ditto, Figured . . . . . . . . -31 . . . . . . 16-12 Ditto, ditto . . . . . . . . 1.45 . . . . . . 75.40 Ditto, Figured . . . . . . . . -63 . . . . . . 32-76 The plain green backs, usually called club cards, contain the largest proportion of arsenic, while the figured ones have more or less according to the pattern.It is unnecessmy for me to point out to the members of the Society the danger arising from the introduction of tt powerful poison into an article in such general and frequent uge as playing cards ; it is enough to state the facts. I have only to add that, so far as I have had an opportunity of examining pattern books of various makers, arsenical-coloured cards constitute about one-sixth to one-eighth of the whole number manufactured.Dr. Dupr4 said that cards were so constantly used, that he should have thought if there was really any danger there would have been many complaints of sore fingers, but he had not heard even a rumour. He, however, had had a number of lamp screens to examine, and nearly all contained arsenic. Dr. Bartlett referred to a case he had been engaged in, where a girl had died after having been employed for a few weeks in a factory, where she had been engaged dusting arsenical powder on pBper.224 THE ANALYST.WITH reference to the above subject, the British Medical Journal has the following:- Mr. Jabez Hogg writes :-The British Medical Journal of the 18th Oct. directs public attention to the dangers of poisoning by the use of arsenic in playing cards.The following relates to a case of psoriasis unguium from the same cause. A lady, fond of a rubber of whist, for a considerable period sdered from a painful soreness of the tips of the fingers, extending to the roots of the nails, which became, in consequence, altered and misshapen. She had become convinced of the fact that an hour or two spent in card-playing increased the pain and tenderness ; often so much so, that she was unable to deal.This went on, and in the meantime all kinds of domestic medicines were tried without effect. A medical friend, who was one of the party seated round the table, and into whose ear Mrs. W. (the lady in question) was pouring her distress, but whose eye just then caught the bright green backs of the cards as they fell on the table, half-jokingly remarked, “ Arsenical cards.” He said that the painful condition of his hostess’ fingers was, in his opinion, due to the arsenical pigment on the backs of the cards.Mra. W., it appeared, had a decided preference for green-backed cards. The next day, some of the pigment was scraped off a card and tested for arsenic, and an estimated quantity of arsenioua acid crystals was produced.The discontinuance of the use of the cards soon led to a greatly improved state of the fingers. A pack of cards used by my children in a game of forfeits, the backs of which were of a bright green colour, on being examined, turned out to be coloured with arsenite of copper.-Dr. Wallace has sent specimene of the cards referred to in the Journal of October 18th to Mr.Hogg. They are London-made cards; and it is a fact that manufacturers of repute send out hundreds of similar packs of cards, the backs of which are coloured with a poisonous arsenical pigment. Between the shuffling of the cards and the warmth and moisture of the fingers, a considerable quantity of arsedte of copper wiU be detached and inhaled during the evening.Arsenical poisoning by coloured sweetmeats is a source of danger against which parents should be on their guard. Dr. Russell, the Medical Officer of Health of Glasgow, has furnished Mr. Hogg with the following particulars of the narrow escape of two children by sucking the coloured sugar off a toy-watch purchased at a sweet-shop. A medical practitioner reported that he had been called to see two children who seemed to be sutTering from the effects of an irritant poison.On inquiry, it was found that they had quite recently eaten some sweetmeats made in the form of a watch. The parents produced one, the outer rim of which was composed of sugar coloured pink. The face was green printed paper pasted on behind, and overlapped the rim fully one-half its breadth.When this green paper was removed, a portion of the green pigment adhered to the sweetmeat; and, on submitting this to analysis, it was found to be arsenite of copper. The quantity on the entire face of the watch was estimated at eighteen grains of arsenic. Dr. Russell adds that ‘( cases of poisoning from sugarsticks wrapped in striped green-coloured paper to attract the bairns” have also occurred.A gentleman also consulted Mr. Hogg for dimness of sight and a severe eczema of the forehead. The eczema had troubled him for several months. Since its appearance, the sight of one eye had become dim. The eruption proved very intractable; and, in one of his visits, Mr. Hogg questioned him closely about the wall-papers of his rooms ; but these, he was assured, were non- arsenical.A visit to the country effected what medicine could not; it cured the eczema; but, on his return to his duty, the eruption reappeared. Three weeks ago, on entering Mr. Hogg’s room, he placed his hat on the table ; and, the bright maroon having at once attracted Mr. Hogg’s notice, he suggested that the hat-lining was the cause of the eczema.A portion was removed and examined for arsenic, and aconsiderable quantity was found. The use of the hat was discontinued, and the eruption quickly disappeared. He was, however, curious about the matter, and thought he should like to be convinced of the poisonous nature of the lining. The hat was taken out; and, placing it on his head, he left home. The forehead became irritable, and on the second day the eruption reappeared.He was now thoroughly convinced. The improvenient that took place when he went to the country is explained by the fact, that during his stay he almost invariably wore a wide-awake, and not the usual chimney-pot hat. The following letter has also appeared in a Glftsgow journal :- Sm,-My attention has just been directed to a letter which appeared in a recent issue of your paper, in which Dr.Wallace sounded a note of warning against the presence of arsenic and oxide of copper in various manufactured articles, and mentions that in a single pack of cards he had discovered as much as 83 grains of the former and 47 grains of the latter poison, the pack containing nearly “ one-fifth of an ounce of arsenic ; more than enough to kill a hundred children.” At the same time he regretted that ‘‘ unfortunately there is no law to prevent the use of dangerous pigments on wall-papers or playing cards.” As the “Adulteration of Food Act ” legialates against the introduction of deleterious compoundsTHE ANALYST.225 into articles of food, there is certainly no reason why it should not be extended to embrace all articles of household and personal use.On the above subject it may be interesting to your readers to know what has been done in this direction in Sweden. Some years ago the attention of the Swedish authorities was seriously directed to the peculiarity of many cases of sickness, cramp, debility, depression, loss of appetite, inability to work, &c., which were quite unaccountable until clearly traced to poisoning by the presence of arsenic in paints, colours, wall-papers, ladies’ dress stuffs, ribbons, carpets, curtains, blinds, pasteboard boxes, confectionery, &c.In cases of poisonous wall-decorations, the removal of patients to other chambers secured recovery, while the return to the arsenious-decorated rooms brought back the original illness.For special cases with these and other materials see ‘‘ Gradualafhandling, by Dr. Adolph Grape, 1877,” which can easily be procured by applying to him at “Gefle, Sweden,” where he is practising. The evil influence was not confined to what is now pretty generally known as ‘I arsenious green,” but was traced in reds, browns, and yellows, in printed cloth. Nor did the use of these arsenious colours even when applied in the form of oil painting on walls, &c., prevent the generation of dangerous vapours, seriously affecting those living, and especially sleeping, near them.Some beautiful green lamp shades were found to be very dangerous, the distribution of the poison being assisted by the heat of the lamp. So painful and so numerous were the troubles arising from the presence of arsenic in various forms that the Court Chemist, Dr. Hamberg, and the (Stockholm) City Analyst, A. W. Crong-rdst (with whom the undersigned was engaged), investigated thousands of cases which caused prompt and rigid action to be taken. The result of the above was that, about four years ago, a stringent law was passed prohibiting the sale of any articles containing poisons, especially arsenic, This Act is so rigidly enforced that the slightest trace of arsenic leads to the confiscation of the goods and the fining of the seller. Some such law is clearly necessary to prevent the possibility of such a state of matters as Dr. Wallace has disclosed, which every respectable physician and chemist in the country can endorse and strengthen by the contribution of other instances.-I am, &c., c. 0. L.