DI'CAST, a body of 6,000 Athenian citizens chosen annually by lot from the whole people, except slaves, to assist in the administration of justice. They were divided into 10 sections, each section having the powers and performing the duties of a court of justice. The evidence in a cause was taken beforehand, and the members of the D. were kept in ignorance of the eases to come before them, being sworn, as jurors are in the present age, to decide according to the law and the facts.
DICE (plural of die), small cubes of bone or ivory, marked on their six sides with black dots, from one up to six in number. Two dice are employed in certain games of chance, such as backgammon; also in throwing for high stakes, or settling some dispute in which the decision is referred to the highest number thrown. In this latter point, the throwing of dice is equivalent to what is usually spoken of as " casting lots." The throwing of dice is in all eases effected by means of a small tubular box, which, held in the hand, is shaken at will by the player. When the dice are true cubes, there is no
plan by which any kind of shaking can bring out a desired number. In order to repress gambling, and secure players against deception, the state, by the act 9 Geo. IV. c. 18, imposed a duty of 20s. on each pair of properly made dice, which were accordingly stamped, and a penalty was imposed on the sale of unstamped. Nevertheless there appears to have been a pretty free sale of unstamped dice under the name of "bones" at an insignificant price. In 1862, the stamp-duty was abolished, yet the repeal of the restriction has not to any extent stimulated the use of dice. Unscrupulous gamblers adopt the odious practice of loading dice. by plugging them with lead on a particular side, so that the higher numbers may turn up. Where there is any suspicion of this trick, the thrower should be requested to turn down the mouth of the box abruptly, to prevent the dice from rolling, and improperly adjusting themselves. See GAMBLING.