Dermatitis from metal spectacles; demonstration of nickel and copper compounds from corrosion of ear pieces.

Abstract

The present undertaking was started when a patient asked about an irritation under the nose pads of her glasses. Upon looking at the frames, a greenish stain was seen under the plastic tubing covering the earpieces. The fact that the temples were gold added to the interest. It was known from the action of jewelry metal on normal skin and in the presence of salt that pure gold was inert, and, furthermore, an alloy of gold and copper was not reactive. 1 The green color may have been due to copper, but nickel also develops greenish compounds. If the color was due to nickel, this fact could prove valuable, as pure nickel and nickel silver (nickel and copper) were not reactive on normal skin or in the presence of salt. Like gold, nickel seemed to inhibit the activity of copper. A number of opticians were visited, and a collection