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Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 12, 20 January 1894, Page 8

We are seriously thinking of turning- extremely,-.virtuous, and never touching a card again. The reason is,' not that we are afraid of holding bad hands, but ;that we fear the- demon microbe, that ever present enemy to modern life. This wretched pest of the 19th century ha.s, it appears, pushed himself into a new field, and now- threatens the oard player.. A French doctor, one Dr. Eappin, announces,that '.on:one square centimetre of a single playing card he’-has 'discovered no less than two ;thbusand v one hundred and sixty “hactena.’ J /Bicvpjiy bcoccus pyogenes aiireks is said "to he the offender. It is ‘hard' that.' tiiis/.depraiyed, microscopical .concern ? .shppld stand between us: and our quiet rubber.. The parsons, : are, often fond of itaiking- of ithe fevibthat lurks in the: devil-s picture bo’dkß. but they never ;imagined r euch 'ai<strahgely named' findpiafangely made' fiend 3 as the 0 sinistW 1 si dp 'Merest' 3 dfs ’ afraid; however, • fliatn, ffp.odrmany,of>ns will risk the cb'dncea of meeidAg*this *^merry L microbe,” Mid that card playing will be as popular as ever in New Zealand.