456 
Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. 
OPHTHALMIA AS A RESULT OE THE USE OF ARSENICAL 
WALL-PAPERS. 
By Alfred S. Taylor, M.D., F.R.S. 
As it is now a demonstrable fact, that a fine dust or powder 
containing arsenic is evolved from the walls of rooms which 
are covered with arsenical or emerald green papers, it becomes 
a question whether some obscure cases of inflammation of 
the conjunctiva may not be traced to this cause. Arsenic, 
it is well known, has a powerful action on the mucous mem¬ 
brane : when taken in small doses at intervals, one of its 
marked effects consists in producing irritation and inflamma¬ 
tion of the conjunctiva, as well as of the membrane of the 
nose and fauces. These symptoms have been frequently 
observed in chronic poisoning by arsenic. The following 
case of a friend appears to support the view that, exposure to 
an atmosphere containing an arsenical compound diffused 
through it may produce this symptom of chronic poisoning 
by arsenic. I here quote the words of my friend as con¬ 
tained in his letter to me dated January 9th, 1858. In 
reference to his library or sitting-room he says — 
“ The library was papered in 1853 with a brilliant green 
flock paper, but owing to the bad draught of the chimney, 
one of the windows was generally kept open with or without 
a fire. This naturally prevented mv using the room much ; 
but about a year or more afterwards, the defect seemed to cure 
itself, and it has not since given the same inconvenience. 
I on two occasions made a more than ordinary use of the 
room. The first time was during the winter of 1856-7* 
when my mother was abroad, and it was my only sitting- 
room ; and the second time was during the spring of 1858, 
when I was busy with some literary work. Both these 
occasions were followed by an attack of illness, consisting of 
great depression, a want of interest in anything, a husky 
feeling in the throat, and a soreness and irritability in the 
eyes. It was not until you analysed my paper in the summer 
of 1858, that I was aware of its containing arsenic. I then 
ordered it to be pulled down, which was done while I was in 
lodgings. I had, however, the book-cases carefully covered 
with thick cloths to prevent the oak being splashed by the 
