Part 2

Probably enough has been made out to satisfy any reasonable doubt that may have been entertained as to the connexion between the use in Loughton of the particular violet powder and the lamentable effects attributed to it. It will be observed that the evidence is absolutely independent of the nature of the irritating agent in the powder. Whether or not that agent may have been arsenic, as found by Mr. Jones in the specimens submitted to him by Mr. Deacon, matters nothing to the proof I have given of this connexion. But I have submitted to Dr. Dupré for analysis samples of the violet powder which I obtained from the mothers of three of the sufferers from the malady, and when Dr. Dupré’s report is received I shall append it. Meanwhile I annex a tabulated statement of the cases investigated.

W. H. POWER.

9 April 1878.

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REPORT on three samples of VIOLET POWDER received from Mr. W. H. POWER, April 4, 1878.

All the powders were of a very pale yellowish colour, and rather more gritty to the touch than ordinary violet powder; they were also appreciably heavier, bulk for bulk. Taking the weight of a given bulk of ordinary violet powder as 1, the same bulk of these powders would weigh about 1.25. Under the microscope they are shown to consist of potatoe starch mixed with a very considerable proportion of crystalline matter, among which regular octahedra (arsenious acid) can be distinguished. On burning they evolve a very powerful arsenical odour.

Chemical analysis showed them to consist in 100 parts of

A B C Starch with traces of other 37.58 34.56 36.76 organic matter Arsenious acid (white arsenic) 50.34 51.40 48.94 Oxide of lead {6} 1.07 1.16 0.83 Other mineral matters chiefly 11.01 12.88 13.47 carbonate of magnesia 100.00 100.00 100.00

A. DUPRÉ.

Westminster Hospital, April 13, 1878.

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29 cases dealt with in Mr. W. H. Power’s Report respecting a Special Mortality among Infants in Loughton Parish.

Locality in Loughton. Date of Date of Result. Remarks as to Reference to in Report, under Birth. Attack. use of the particular Powder. Table Table Detailed I. II. evidence. 1 Golding’s Hill 14 Feb. 1877 2 March 1877 Died 7 March Powder from No. 8 — — 1877. one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards. 2 Baldwin’s Hill 7 Dec. 1876 4 March „ Died 6 March Powder from — — — 1877. one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards. Had four packets. 3 Baldwin’s Hill 20 Jan. 1877 4 March „ Died 8 March Powder from ,, 5 — — 1877. one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards. 4 Baldwin’s Hill 17 Oct. 1876 Early March Recovered Powder from — — — 1877 one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards, fresh packet just before attack. 5 Baldwin’s Hill 20 Jan. 1877 7 March 1877 Recovered Powder from — — — one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards till attack, probably fresh packet just before attack. 6 Golding’s Hill 12 Jan. „ Mid. March Recovered Powder from ,, 1 — — 1877 one of the vendors of the particular powder used from birth onwards till attack, probably fresh packet about time of attack. 7 Ash Green 20 Feb. „ Early March Recovered Other powder „ 13 — F. W., page 1877 till day 5. before attack, then particular powder. 8 High Road 4 June ,, 5 June 1877 Died 8 June The „ 10 — — 1877 particular powder used from birth. 9 Pump Hill 26 May „ 9 June „ Recovered The — — A. W., page particular 5. powder on and after 11th day from birth. Was twice attacked. 10 Baldwin’s Hill 29 June „ 1 July „ Recovered No powder of ,, 11 — (doubtful any kind. case) Thought by mother to have had local injury at delivery. 11 Baldwin’s Hill 30 June „ 2 July „ Died 7 July The ,, 21 — — 1877 particular powder used from birth to attack. 12 Baldwin’s Hill — 1875 Aug. „ Recovered The — — — particular powder exceptionally used to a chafed thigh. 13 Stoney Path 15 Aug. 1877 16 Aug. „ Died 21 Aug. The ,, 22 — T. C., page 1877 particular 5. powder used from birth till death. 14 Baldwin’s Hill 6 Oct. „ 25 Oct. „ Died 28 Oct. Other powder — No. 4 E. W., page 1877 till day or 4. so before attack, then particular powder. 15 Ash Green 25 Oct. „ 26 Oct. „ Died 30 Oct. The ,, 6 ,, 8 — 1877 particular powder used from birth onwards. 16 Baldwin’s Hill 11 Nov. „ 15 Nov. „ Recovered The ,, 24 „ 13 — particular powder used till attack, then discontinued. 17 Ash Green 20 Nov. „ 22 Nov. „ Died 30 Nov. The „ 30 „ 16 — 1877 particular powder used from birth till death. 18 Stoney Path — 1873 — Nov. „ Recovered The — — Sister to T. particular C., page 5. powder exceptionally used to sores following measles. 19 Golding’s Hill — 1875 Xmas „ Recovered The — — A. D., page particular 5. powder exceptionally used to sores from chicken pox. 20 Baldwin’s Hill 29 Dec. 1877 30 Dec. „ Died 1 Jan. The — „ 23 Infant of 1878 particular N.’s powder used daughter, from birth page 4. till death. 21 High Road 7 Nov. „ 31 Dec. „ Recovered Other powder — „ 11 C. N., page till 29 Dec., 4. particular powder at and after that date. 22 England’s Lane 26 Nov. „ 1 Jan. 1878 Recovered Starch only „ 16 „ 18 — thought to have been used; but particular powder kept in house. 23 Ash Green 30 Dec. „ 14 Feb. „ Recovered Powder ,, 17 ,, 24 P. S., page remaining 5. from previous confinement till few days before attack, then particular powder. 24 Baldwin’s Hill 13 Feb. 1878 14 Feb. „ Died 18 Feb. The ,, 7 „ 33 — 1878. particular powder used from birth till death. 25 Golding’s Hill 2 Jan. „ 20 Feb. „ Recovered Other powder — „ 26 E. D., page used till two 5. days before attack, then, for two days, particular powder. 26 Golding’s Hill 13 March „ 15 March Died 19 March The ,, 12 „ 39 — 1878. 1878. particular powder from birth till illness. 27 Baldwin’s Cottage. — Dec. 1875 Mid. March Recovered The — — Sister to H. 1878. particular J., page 5. powder exceptionally used a day or so before attack. 28 Baldwin’s Cottage. 19 Feb. 1878 Mid. March Recovered Powder from „ 18 „ 36 H. J., page 1878. London till 5. day before attack, then particular powder. 29 York Hill. 17 Feb. „ 19 Feb. 1878 Died 22 Feb. The ,, 36 „ 35 — 1878. particular powder from birth.

NOTE.—Nos. 3 and 4, 13 and 18, 4 and 12, and 27 and 18 occurred, in each instance, in the same household.

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LONDON: Primed by GEORGE E. EYRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, Printers to the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty. For Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. [B 580.—100.—10/78.]

Footnotes.

{6} The exact combination in which the oxide of lead occurs has not been determined, whether as carbonate or combined with the arsenious acid or in some other form.