Document 2q9bbOQN0poZw99n9QDeJEZDp

A <: * u HW8B-0007851 J. 'F\ O- ?7;; >: r\ % I S! REFERENCES TO RECENT LITERATURE ON INDUSTRIAL DISEASES (A) News Items 589 MICHIGAN SXIOSIU:'. Ind. lied. _6, 562 (Oct,, 1937). An Occupational Disease Symposium under the auspices of the Department of Labor and Industry of the State of Michigan was held at Detroit on Oct* 21 and 22* Several papers were presented ar.d will be abstracted as they appear* 590 OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE SYMPOSIUM. Ind. Ked. 6_, 550-3 (Oct., 1937). A symposium on industrial diseases was held at Northwestern University oc Sspt., 27 and 28. Papers on silicosis, allergy, industrial solvents and fsasnl iafe dustrial health were presented and will be abstracted as they appear* 591 A PLAN FOR INSTRUCTION IN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE. Ind. Med. 6, 566-71'(Oe*. Rapid developments in industrial hygiene throughout the country have ' demonstrated that the weakest link in plans for coping with oocttjAti ease, plant sanitation, and occupational disease legislation# is the adequate training of physicians and engineers in those subject instruction has been developed by the Bureau of Indue trial gyi Department of Health of Detroit. Didactic and laboratory work grc-es will be given by the schools sending their student#, hotassociated laboratory practice f.)r a unit of 3 months, or Ion will be provided by the Bureau. The above Bureau, directed by McCord, will furnish details to interested persons or in stitwtietfHf 592 FIGHTING DUST HAZARD BY GENERAL ELECTRIC. Ceram. Ago 29, 33< (Nov., The General Electric Co. is now engaged in an extensive program for If dust in its porcelain plant. Approximately $35,000 has been. spent on and some old equipment has been discarded or replaced* The equipment water-wash type and has proved highly successful* Dust oountt shew vsry-ttt* couraging results and are still being made, with the receptsolt dirwettyt* the breathing zone of the workmen. 593 EXHIBIT AT 1937 STATE FAIR. Ind. Bull. (Sept., 1937). The New York State Department of Labor sponsored an Industrie 1 hygiene saAiMt Mlat the State Fair in September, built around the central then# of *h prrijfgSm for the prevention of dust diseases in industry." A large pointing eotitlsd "silicosis" was surrounded with cards containing information about the wsrioo# silica industries and pictures of lungs showing silicosis, fibrosis saf'lMfcsrculosis. Following were pictures of efficient and practical sxhmst sysjPBi ' for use in typical dusty industries. Tfex models of hands Shearing dsmtfcSSS of various types Were displayed, and dust and gas detectors wars sis# exhibit is also beirg shown at schools, conventions and other meett#^^ v A s. r %**>* Q s HU6B-660785ii References to Recent Literature - 2 594 MEETING OF INDUSTRIAL PATHOLOGISTS OF THE 94TH CONTENTION OF THE SOCIETY OF GER MAN SCIENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS IN DRESDEN, SEPT. 24, 1936. Arch. f. Oerbepathol u. Gewerbehyg. 7, 596-706 (1937). The subject of the meeting was "Industrial injuries of blood and blood-forming orgar.6," and most of the papers dealt with phases of that subject, including in juries caused by various substances used in industry. Other subjects discussed included injuries of animals from remote action cf industrial exhaust gases, the possibility of manganese damage in pyrolusite mines, quantitative spectroanalytical determination of metals in cases of poisoning, and a report on a case of fatal radium poisoning. Abstracts of some of these papers may appear later. .5) Papers or. Dust, Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene 595 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON EFFECTS CF BREATHING DUST 'NIT'* SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SIL ICOSIS. D. Harrington and Sara J. Davenport, U.S.Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 400. 1937. 305 pp. j This review, originally issued in parts in mimeographed form, in 1935 and 1936, / has been printed as a single bulletin. It is a thorough summary of the liter ature on silicosis ar.d includes 527 references. It is obtainable from the Super intendent of Documents, Tfashingtor., D. C., for 25 cents, cash. 596 DUST CONTROL THROUGH ORGANIZED RESEARCH. 7?.G.Hazard. Safety Eng., 74, 11-14 (Nov., 1337) This office has a limited number of reprints for distribution.The author contrasts procedures for dust control in large plants having leg*|# . medical and engineering departments with the need of small plants having only limited facilities. The research plan of an ideal large corporation, tatam * a composite of the best parts of programs now being carried out by several large companies, is outlined. The urge for self-examination was begun in the legal department. A "Hygiene committee" was organized. The engineering department spent generous sums on laboratory apparatus, and a thorough dust survey was made. An engineer gave his full time to the installation of dust control equipment where needed. New types of approved respirators were purchased, two for each ex posed workmen ar.d previsions v:ere made so that each would always have his own respirator. Time was devoted to "selling" dust control to everyone from the plant manager down to the janitor. All new machinery was properly equipped with dust control devices at the start. Pre-employment and regular physical examination* were instituted. The legal department cooperated with the other organizations in bringing pressure to bear on State legislatures to bring silicosis under work mens compensation acts. Dust control was made a pert of the company's per manent program. The small company cannot go through this elaborate procedure, but must turn to an agency that will give advice and assistance. Such organizations include the U.S. Public Health Service, the Bureau of Mines, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Saranac Laboratory, insurance companies, several trade organizations, and the Air Hygiene Foundation. 597 INDUSTRIAL EXHAUST VENTILATION. FLO.V OF FLUIDS. John L. Alden. Heating and Venti lating. _34, 39-45 (Sept., 1937). This paper is the first of a series dealing with various phases of exhaust ven tilation. The laws of flow of conveying fluids are discussed, with special refer ence to air. The following factors are considered: compressibility, static ve locity and impact pressures, static pressure as a measure of resistance, measure ment of pressures, relation of velocity pressure to velocity, Bernuouilli*a theorem, nature of fluid flow, critical velocity, empirical friction formulas 03117772 HWB8-BB07855 References to Recent Literature - 3 Reynolds' dimensional analysis, pipe friction in laminar and turbulent states, velocity distributions and flow of mixtures. The most important conclusions are that flow in industrial exhaust systems is always turbulent and that the presence of solids in the air stream can usually be ignored in the design of dust collecting systems. No reprints are available at present, but the combined papers may be published at the conclusion of the series. 653 INDUSTRIAL EXHAUST VENTILATION. TYPICAL EXHAUST HOODS. John L. Alder.. Heating h Ventilating 34, 49-53 (Nov., 1937), See preceding note about reprints. The second paper in the series was abstracted in our last Bulletin (No. 548). In this third paper, hoods of various types are described and illustrated by diagrams. Every exhaust problem calls for individual treatment, but the hoods described are to serve as examples. They include hoods for woodworking ma chinery - sav-'s, planers, shapers and sar.ders. Hoods for shoe machinery, auto matic lathes, drills, milling machines, and similar machinery follow the same principles, ar.d the following general directions are given: (l) always fit the hood to the dust trajectory; (2) provide no adjustments unless absolutely necessary, and (3) hoods must be rugged and must be attached solidly to the machine. Top hoods or canopies are similarly discussed, and booths for spray painting are to be considered as top hoods with side walls. Blow-and-exhaust hoods are recommended for use with tanks where the space over the tank is obstructed. Hoods for abrasive processes are not included, as they have been fully treated in the Tentative Code of the American Foundrymen's Association. 559 DUST DANGERS EXPOSED. Milton H. Kronenberg. Chief, Division of ladustJ'ial Hygiene, Illinois State Dept, of Health, Chicago, HI. Modern Hospital 49 A, (Aug., 1937). Reprints obtainable from author. ""* In a large city hospital rubber gloves were dieted with talo powder in the course of preparation for operations, in a rather small room, by methods which produced a great amount of dust, and no precautions were taken for protection or dust removal. The Illinois Division of Industrial Hygiene in a survey found 39 million particles per cubic foot, of which 55# was under 5 microns* The powder consisted of 82.75$ talc, 8*7 calcium carbonate, 6.6# nagnesiuo car bonate, and 1.0# moisture. The conditions were comparable to those found in dusty factories. Talc is one of the substances implicated in the production of pulmonary diseases, which, however, are of the non-disabling type. Measures to control and remove talc dust environment in hospitals are urged, and the sane preventive measures that should be taken as in an industrial establish ment. "Te feel that perhaps many other hospitals in this country are using methods, some more primitive then others, where a potential hazard is oreated by the inhalation of talc dust which contaminates the working atmosphere. The trend of the day, based upon scientific facts and measures, is to prevent all dusts, as well as fumes, vapors end gases, since all are dangerous*" 6C0 NOTES ON AN INSTRUMENT DESIGNED TO RECORD CONTINUOUSLY THE AMOUNT OF DUST IN AIR. C.'u.Biccard Jeppe- and E.C.Halliday. J. Chem. Met. Milling Soc. S. Africa, 28, 75-80 (Aug., 1937). This instrument, developed at the University of Tfitwatersrand, measures atmos pheric dust while in suspension. The air is drawn through a chamber by con vection by : heating -unit. The light scattered by the suspended dust falls upon ?. photo-electric cell, and the current is measured by means of a Tfheatstene bridge. The possibility that moisture may increase the light scattering is being r.modied by the construction of a waterproofed instrument. The work is being continued. 03117773 vt 0 0 0 References to decent Literature - 4 601 NOTE ON A NEW OCULAR MICROMETER FOR USE IN DUST COUNTING. Richard T. Page. Pub. Health Reports 52, 1315-6 (Sept. 17, 1937). Obtainable from Supt. Of Documents, Washington, D.C., for 5 cents, cash. A description of a new micrometer eyepiece which has only one ruled grid cor responding in size to one quadrant of usual Whipple grid. The new eyepiece is used by the Division of Industrial yg lene of the U.S.Public Health Service, and it is said that the results are identical with those obtained when counting one-fourth of the Whipple field. 602 determn^tion o? dust bloving gases. E.v.Tushmancv and M. Fopii'sku. Zavodskays Lab. (Russian) 5, 620-4 (1936). The gas is passed at known velocity through a small dust-trap, which is weighed before ar.d after the experime nt. 603 FINE-DUST FILTER - THE PRO ELEN AND ITS SOLUTION. G. Stampe, K. Grosskopf and K.F.Moellerir.g. Draeger-Hefte German) No. 151, 3571-82 (1937). The paper opens with a discussion of the occurrence, characteristics and danger of fine dusts. Coarse dusts, def;r.ed as between 1 ar.d 3 microns in diameter, are easily caught by a filter of cotton or other fibers, but dusts under 1 micron re quire a specially constructed filter. Several methods for particle size deter mination are described. A filter constructed by the Draeger Co., designated "fine dust filter DF 90" has a pre-filter of loosely pressed fibers and an ac cordion filter cf specially prepared filter paper. It has an efficiency faetor of 99.853 when tested against fine stone dust and silica dust. Photomicrographs of dust collected from the air before and after filtration are shown. Photo graphs of the filter ar.d of apparatus for particle size determination art alto giver. 604 THE SILICOSIS PROBLEM AND THE NECESSITY OF RELIABLE METHODS OF DUST MEASUREMENT. G.Hass. Zentrlbl. f. Geverbehyg. 4, 175-7 (1937). (German.) A general paper listing the dust problems still to be solved and noting the need for dust determination ar.d analysis. The various instruments for those purposes are mentioned. 605 ANIKaL EXPERIMENTS ON PATHOLOGIC TISSUE CHANGES FOLLOWING INTRAVENOUS INJECTION 01 VARIOUS DUSTS. X.H.Stoeckel. Arch. f. Hyg. (German) 118, 111-25 (1937). Various dusts, including steel-shot, quartz, lime, Thomas slag, chamotte, quarteite ar.d argillite, were injected in rabbits at intervals. Tissue changes in dif ferent organs are described ar.d illustrated. Different dusts, however, never showed a really characteristic or specific reaction. Lack of information on the composition of some of the dusts ar.d variations in average pertiole size limit ' the value of the results. 606 DUST AND TUBERCULOSIS. EXPERIMENTAL WORK ON IDE EFFECT OF SERICITB AIT) GRINDING WHEEL DUST ON TUBERCULAR GUINEA PIGS. K. Seiter and P. Welland. Arch. f. Gewsrbepath pathol. u. Gewerbehvg. 6, 71-82 (1927). (German.) The authors compared the effects of sericite and of grinding wheel duwt, consist ing of steel ar.d cm.ery dust, by exposing animals infected with virulent and weaker tubercle bacilli, to inhalation of the dusts. They found that sericite is as injurious as the grinding dust. (The abstractor points out that no com parison was ms.de with silica dust, and r.o pneumoconiosis developed, so the exper iments have no teari.'-g on the sericite question.) 03117774 HwBB-0007856 References to Recent Literature - 5 l-S. un no s. 607 ULTRAMICROSCOPIC SILICA in LUNG TISSUE. 0..U. Faber. Staug, no. 3, 372-83 c! (Oct., 19, 1936). German. The author points out some possible sources of error in determining the presences silica in portions of hardened lung by x-ray spectroscopy. The formalin used foj hardening the lung tissue ca.ises some deflection of the x-rays which rust be al-** lowed for. The x-ray spectrum from pieces of lung was present in such exceedingly minute particles (0.1 to 0.01 micron) as to suggest that it was in colloid form. The theory is advanced that silica beccmes converted in the body into the colloid form, in which it is most injurious. It is now necessary to know whether silica is actually inhaled in colloid form in any considerable quantity, or whether the colloid silica found in the lung tissue results from the breaking down and dis solving of large particles. Further investigations are to be made on that point. 608 EXHAUST VENTILATION FOP. DUS? CONTROL IN 7/E? ROCK DRILLING. Theodore Hatch, Div. of Industrial Hygiene, K.Y. State Dept, of Labor, 30 Centre St., New York City. Lnd. Bull. 16, 339-90 (Oct., 1937). Reprints obtainable ?t above address. The author reports a series of tests with 3 types of drills equipped with exhaust devices, in hard, wet rock. Three criteria must be applied to test the capacity of exhaust apparatus to operate under wet conditions: (l) the wet sludge muv> be removed 'without clogging the exhaust hood or hose; (2) the dust collector mu.-t ef fectively handle the material without becoming plugged, and (3) an overflow must be provided that will allow the collected water to drain away when it exceeds a safe level of operation. The first criterion is simply a matter of adequate tranr porting velocity in relation to the density and fluidity of ihe sludge. The equlj ment tested -was entirely satisfactory in that respect, so that there wee practice' ly no dust remaining to clog the filter. The average partied sie of duet oeught on the filter was less than 1 micron, and the moisture on the filter wae that ex pected from condensation alone. The devices were equipped with overflow vstves, fulfilling the third requirement. The objection has been made ttttt exhaust P.ppari tus will not collect and remove cuttings from wet rock or function in the p^ser.ee of water. The tests were limited in scope and duration, and it cannot be coi-- eluded that this type of apparatus will function under all conditione; however, the tests have demonstrated its practicability, and the method is therefore recaumended. 609 NET/ DOCUMENTS ON SILICOSIS. E. Martin. Med. du Travail 9, 149-56 (July, 1937). INQUIRY REGARDING SILICOSIS IN BELGIUM ORGANIZED BY THE INDUSTRIAL MEDICAL SEPVTCr Ibid, 157-64. SILICOSIS: NETT RADIOGRAPHS AND CCMENTS. M. Conrosier and J. Jiagnin. Ibid, 165-209. The entire July issue of La Medecine du Travail is devoted to silicosis. Progrrsv in silicosis prevention in France sr.d Belgium has been retarded by the opposition of a small but powerful group of mining companies and their physicians. The fir;t paper tells the story of the long fight in France and the progress that has been made. The second gives a short review of the Belgian investigation and its re sults. The third presents 23 x-rays and short case histories, on the basis of which they state the view, held by all experts, that silicosis is a separate dis ease fror. tuberculosis. FHYSICS *o:D TECHNIQUE OF AIR SEPARATION. H.'.V.Gocell Chem. App. 24, 193-7 (1937). The author explains the physical principles of separating particles of different sizes of dust and cowdery material by an air current and described the apparatus and its practical application. 03117775 HhBB-0007858 References on Recent Literature - 6 611 LATf OF SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULATE MATERIALS. P.S.Roller. J. Franklin Inst. 223, 609-33 (1937). This is a mathematical treatment of the results obtained with air separator de scribed in our abstract No. 362. A law of size distribution has been discovered which relates the weight percentage and from this the frequency, to size of par ticle. The author deals with finely divided clays, litharge, silica, cement, lime, feldspar, talc, and the like as used in the ceramic industry. It seems probable that the method can be applied to hygienic problems. 612 IMFR0VED METHOD FOR DETERMINING NASAL FILTRATION OF DUST. G. LEHMANN. Arbeitzphysiol. , 569-71 (1937). German.) Time is saved by the use of a photometric method instead of the konimeter, for oounting dust particles. The Zeiss Pulfrich photometer and a special stage are employed. The apparatus must be calibrated for each kind of dust, 613 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NASAL DUST FILTRATION IN ASBESTOSIS. G. Lehmann. Arbeitsphysiol. 9_, 572-3 (1337). (German.) The author determined the nasal filtering efficiency of 73 workers in an asbestos plant. Most of the employees had not worked long, and only 1 medium to sever* case of asbestosis was found, with 17 light and 24 incipient cases. He concludes that nasal filtering efficiency is as significant in asbestosis as it is in silicosis. 614 PATHOLOGICAL Ain? ANATOMICAL QUESTIONS IN CASES OF PNEUMOCONIOSISi SEVERE aIeST0- SIS. 71, di Biasi. Med. \7elt 11, 1234-7 (1937). (German.) ; The author gives a clear discussion of pathological and anatomical changes la the development of pr.eumoconiosis (silicosis) and emphasizes the fact that atrjffeal pneumoconiotic changes have been seen without exposure to quartz. In hundreds of cases in the Ruhr district, he has never seen connective tissue growth in lungs completely blackened by coel di^t unless rock dust was also present. Claims to the contrary have not been confirmed by autopsy findings. In asbeatoais, the growth of diffuse connective tissue is greater in the lower pert of the lung than in the upper. The author attributes this growth to the mechanical action of as bestos . 615 DUST CONTENT OF AN ASBESTOSIS LUNG AND THE N-.TJHE OF ASBESTOSIS BODIES. N. Sundius and A. Bygder.. Arch.f. Gewerbepathol. u. Gewerbehyg. 8, 26-70 (1957) (German.) This long paper reports careful chemical experiments on the asbestos in the lung and asbestosis bodies. Although much more serpentine asbestos than hornblende is used in industry, the latter was found exclusively in the lungs examined. The asbestosis body sheaths are formed not.only around asbestos but also around sim ilar crystals of other substances. No support has been found for the belief that asbestos causes a chemical decomposition in the lung. The gel substance of the sheath consists of iron oxide, phosphoric acid and a protein. This gel substance originates entirely from, the body fluids and since the iron content is high (40# as oxide), the most plausible suggestion is the blood. The cause of the sheath formation is not related to the chemical nature but to the rigid and sharp needle form. The authors believe that the fibrosis can also be attributed to this. 03117776  c> si /T>\ -5H References to Recent Literature - 7 616 TEE RAILROAD) SURGEON'S HELLION TO 0CCUP..TI0SAL DISEASE. Oliver G. Browne, General Claims Agent, New York Central Railroad System, New York. Ind. Med. 6, 544-7 (Oct., 1937). Reprints obtainable from author. " There are 2 conceptions of the term "occupational disease." One includes any dis ease or ailment that may have its inception in the course of the occupation and. may be sa'id to have had a contribution to its cause by some exposure of the em ployment, however slight. The other view is that a disease to be classed as oc cupational must be one that is "peculiar to end characteristic of" the occupation. Only under the second viewpoint can we determine what constitutes a disease dis ability that is fairly chargeable to industry. However, the first view has been advocated in addresses on occupational diseases ar.d in the courts and is the basis of "blanket coverage" in the laws of several states. If this 'view is accepted, she employer car. be saddled with a form of health compensation which he cannot prevent even by ar. extreme of precaution, and which is far worse in its possibil ities t:*an any reasonable scheme of health insurance so far proposed. In the rai] road industry, admittedly there are true cases of occupational disease, but sever al claims are cited in -hich it was shown on investigation that the injury was not a result of the occupation. Each case must be scientifically determined on the facts developed, so that employment may not be charged with every man's physical breakdown. In the field of silicosis, the work of Dr. McCann on determination of disability, supported by Rochester nenufacturers, is cited and conclusion are quoted. Proper diagnosis is difficult, and often conclusions based upon Inad equate examination and uncertain history are accerted by the courts. The medical profession has important functions in the field of determination of industrial disease claims, ar.d should lead thought in channels founded on common sense and not follow those whose thinking is more social than scientific. 617 THE `AIDER ISSUES OF HEALTH: LEGISLATION IN INDUSTRY. L.P.Lockhart, R.E.Lane and E.levin. Brit. Med. J. 2, 605-12 (Sept. 25, 1937). Three addresses are devoted to discussion of what may evolve in industrial med icine from the new British Factory Act. . _ 13 A STUDY OF CHRONIC CHEST DISEASES IN SKGTTS, SCOTLAND. J.A.Moore Hall. J. Ind. Kyg. IS, 506-9 (Nov., 1937). Sixty-four miners, suffering from chronic chest diseases, were examined, 59$ be ing totally incapacitated. Dyspnea, cyanosis, clubbing of the fingers and barrel shaped chests were noticed in many of the cases. Cardiac vascular disease was absent, but evidence of myocardial decompensation was observed, fcieumoconioeis occurred in 42$ of the cases, most of which had chronic bronchitis also. Pul monary tuberculosis, mostly of low grade, occurred in 17$. The blood sedimentationreaction was normal or subnormal, except in the presence of active pulmonary tuberculosis or secondary infection. Unfortunately the test did not help in dif ferentiating between these two conditions. The incidence of pulmonary affeotiors in the families of the incapacitated miners was found to be much greater than in . the families of healthy miners. The employment of men who have tf familial dia thesis to respiratory disease is suggested as a means of minimizing chest affec tions ir. the coal mining industry. - From the author's summary. 619 INDUSTRLX HYGIENE - ITS HISTORIC,X DEVELOPMENT .XX) THE MOIERN CAMPAIGN. Milton K. Kror.er.fcerg, ID., Chief, Division of Industrial Hygiene, Illinois State Dept, of Health, Chicago, 111. 111. Med. J, (July, 1937). Reprints obtainable from author. This is a general paper, first briefly reviewing the history of industrial hy giene, ar.d its necessity which arose with the progress of the machine age. 03117777 HH68-0007859 y--V CN 0 References to Recer.t Literature - 3 s oo The author then pleads for fuller recognition of preventive medicine in industrM> better training of physicians in industrial hygiene, employment of trained an- is gineers, cooperation of compensation boards, strong and unbiased legislation, and the establishment of industrial hygiene laboratories. oo ca 620 EMPLOYEE EXAMINATIONS. Kart E. Fisher. Ir.d. Med. 6, 503-6 (Sept., 1937). The author advocates pre-employment and periodical or non-periodical medical ex aminations of employees, net merely in connection with occupational diseases but as a general health measure benefiting both employer and employee. The advan tages to both are presented in chart form. 621 A i'EDICAL CONTROL FLAN FOR THE PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE. Robert C. Page. Ir.d. Med. , 491-6 (Sept., 193"). A medical control plan necessitates an exact understanding among the various parties involved, inclv. iir.r the employer, the. employee, the examining physicians ar.d rhe insurance carrier, with respect to the part each plays in the program. A proposed plan is presented in tabular form, including a schedule of departments operations, exposures ar.d physical examinations, and forms for various physical examinations. The responsibilities of the employer, the examination, the insur ance company ar.d its engineering department are discussed. 622 ADDAL REPORT OF TEE CHIEF* INSPECTOR OF FAC TONIES AID V/ORNSHOFS FOR THE Y*8R 1936. H.11. Stationery Office, London, 1337. Obtair.ac-e from British Library of Informa tion, 270 Madison Ave., New York, price about 50 cents. The number of industrial accidents in Great Britain showed an increase in 1986, but the number of persons employed also increased. Statistical analysis has show that ~he curve of accident rates is roughly parallel to the employment ourve. How. ever, the rate fer fatal and presumably other serious accidents shows a tendency to decline. One means of reducing accidents that should receive more attention is the safeguarding of new mchir.ery as soon as it .is installed. The accident rate for persons under 13 is higher than for mature workers, but it is declining,-- and special care of youne workers is urged. In the section on occupational diseases, progress in prevention is noted in many lines. No general adverse effects on health have been attributed to the use of speedir.g-up systems. Lead poisoning, dermatitis from handling tar and pitch, and cutaneous cancer among cotton mule spinners have shown encouraging decreases. Ac investigation of cancer of the nose and lung among nickel refiners is being pur sued, ar.d although the cause has not been determined, dust and fume suppression i urged as a preventive measure. In sandblasting, several firms who have lately substituted steel gri-1- ar.d shot for sand and flint have now reverted to their for mer practice, and reg Nations controlling the use of sand are advocated. The nur. ber of voluntarily reported cases of dermatitis is increasing, but suitable means for protection are becoming more widely known. Acne from the use of chlorinated waxes is being studied. 523 "PEEMINAL Tf" AID CALC "DI-CHLORIDE TREATMENT OF HAULAGE-ROADS. E. Price. Trans. Instn. Mir.. Er.grs., London, 9, 252-60 (June, 1937). The paper describes the treatment of haulage roads with the wetting agent "Psrmic. Or. adequately stone-dusted roads treatment with water alone is satisfactory over a limited period, but has r.o effect on v.ater deposited afterward; treatment with calcium chloride is satisfactory, lasts longer, and a portion of the dust subsequently deposited is taken up. On roads of this type treatment with calcium chloride alone is as effective as when Perr.ir.al is also used. 03117778 HJfffi-0007 References to Recent Literature - 9 r-< 624 DISABLING ILLNESS AMONG THE' INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES IN 1936 AS COMPARED WITH EARLIEiS TEARS. D.K.3rundage. TJ.S.Public Health Repts. 52, 1297-1303 (Sept. 17, 1937). Reprints obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Washington, D.C., for 6 cents, cash The siclaiess and nonindustrial injury rate for males in 1936 was 90.3 per 1000, the highest since 1932, and the rate for sickness exclusive of influenza 63.7 pe 1000, the highest for 6 years. Tuberculosis of the respiratory tract has decrea ed from 1.9 ir. 1921 to 0.2 ir. 1936. The rates for women are 160$ higher than for men. 625 AIR c::Di::oyi:;G FOR THE VENTILATION OF THE BO'TTE A.S.Richardson, Min. Cong. J. 23, 43-5, 55 (Oct., 1937). The paper describes the air conditioning system in use at the Butte mine of the Anaconda Copper Co. The process consists in transferring the heat from the air to -water in copper pipes, which is then raised to the surface and cooled by the .--i atmosphere. Only in the summer is it necessary to use artificial means of cod ing. That is accomplished by a special system involving sprays and cooling coils. The water delivered to the line is then cooled to 50F. In the experimental plant, the air was often cooled by 20, and the average mine air is expected to be reduced to 75F. About 46$ of the dust in the air is removed on the average, and greater comfort and efficiency has been attained. 626 AIR CONDITIONING OF THE MAGMA MINE. William Koernes and C.B.Foraker. Mining Cong. J. 23, 21-3 (Nov., 1937). REMARKS ON AIR CONDITIONING FOR MINES. J.*. Kooistra. Ibid., 23-5 These papers were contributed to the discussion to the preceding one. The general manager and the ventilating engineer of the Magma Copper Co. describe the recent instali?tion of air conditioning in the I/agma mine at Superior, Arlz, where a more severe problem had to be solved. The temperature at the 3,400 foot level isl34F, ar.d 140 at the lowest level, 4,000 feet, deviously it was necessary to allow about 3 years of cooling by ordinary ventilation in a new low level before stope development could be carried on. A water circulation system is used here also, but cooling of the water by refrigeration is neoessary. The - refrigerant is monofluor-trichloromethane, a liquid at ordinary temperature, non toxic and non-combustible. The problems of sufficient water supply, temperature of the underground water and the distance from its source to its place of use and how they were solved, are discussed. All the water produced in the mine is used, and an additional shaft was necessary to bring it to the surface. No data can be given as yet on economics of operation, as the system has been in operation only a few weeks, but the early results are gratifying, and as the rock on the lower levels is cooled, the cooling effect will be available for parts more dis tant from the plant. The cost of the system to date is $95,000. The paper by . Kooistra, of the Carrier Corporation, presents some general considerations of air conditioning. Its success in mines has been demonstrated in South Africa, and the lowering of temperature already achieved in the Magna mine is sufficient to increase materially the efficiency of workers. A chart shows the temperature and humidity conditions necessary to secure conditions within the "comfort gone." 627 HYGIENIC AIR NEEDS IN THE VENTILATION OF WORK PLACES. W. Lisse. Gesundh. lag. 60, no. 24, 374-80 (1937). (German.) The entire number of periodical is devoted to stressing the signifieaaee of good* air in work places, the subject of a drive undertaken by the German "Work Front." The paper mentioned serves as introduction to the series. The author defines good air as that free from dust, odor and toxic materials and absorbing the exoess heat of the human body. He lists the basic principles set dcwo by American in dustrial hygienists. Papers follow dealing with various measurements and stand ards relating to air conditioning. 03117779 6307862 References tc Recent Literature - 10 62S PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF AIR CCTDITIOKING. II C.F.Yaglou. J.A 109, 945-50 (Sept., 18, 1937). The general objectives of air conditioning for summer and winter are outlined, experiments on summer cooling show that the shock from overcooling experienced sensitive persons can be avoided and at the same tire all occupants can be cam fortable. Additional experiments on drafts and their effects are mentioned. : 629 VSNTILnllON NCMOC-RAl'S. R. McAdam. Colliery Guardian 154, 735-6 (April 16, 1937). '( | J* Cher., Met. win. Soc. So. Africa, 38_, 50-2 (July, 1937). ' V Four nomographs are presented, furnishing a ready means of automatically solving - several common ventilating formulae, including the 6 most involved formulae used ^ in the "Standard Specifications for the Testing of Mine Fans" adopted by all min ing engineers ir. England. (C) Papers or. Industrial Poisons, Cancer, Dermatitis, etc. 63C THE GREAT PROBLEMS OF MODERN INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY. ?. Flury. Arbeitsschutz, 199-200 (1937). (German.) A brief discussion of the chief problems in toxicology is presented. New chemical; are offered daily whose names give no hint of their contents; declaration of con tents should be compulsory. There are also complicated injuries, not only from the combined action of different toxic agents, but also from the combination of poisons and alcoholic drinks. Other difficulties lie in the increasing chemical treatment of foods and the misuse of medicines. The study of these problem# must include refinement of methods, ascertainment of norms, and discovery of-the ef fect of poisons on the young, and of the relation between poisonips and Inherit ance. Purification of air must be sought not only for workplaces but also in the streets. 631 PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES IM THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY. V. Defelice. Semana Ned. (Spanish) 44, 1689-91 (1937). The most common occupational diseases in the petroleum industry are skin disor ders; and there are cases of gastric symptoms and blood conditions associated : with hemolysis. Prevention comprises regular medical inspection of the workers, careful personal hygiene, use ol protective gloves, and application of glycerin. 632 CLINICAL ASFECTS OF LEAD FOISONING. Thomas A. Johnson.. Penna iled. J. 40 741-4 / (1937). Studies in a lead coating plant led to the detection of 94 cases of lead poison ing in 755 employees, of whom 282 v/ere exposed constantly and 273 intermittently to lead fumes. The blood studies led to the conclusion that a safe critical level is 4;: of reticulocytes of G.2* of stippled cells, or ^oth. . 633 COMPARISON OF PUNCTATE EASOPHILIA .I'D RATIO OF LARGE TO SMALL LYMPHOCYTES IN THE DIAGNOSIS ..ND PREVENTION OF LEAD POISONING. D.O.Shiela. Med. J. Australia, 1^, 535-45 (Apr. 10, 1937). The author has made a thorough study of laboratory procedure in the diagnosis of lead poisoning. The stippled cell count often used is shown to give false im pressions of the clinical condition, and may even rise as the patient improves. The ratio of large to small lymphocytes is more closely correlated with the clinical condition than is stippling. Correlation of a vast amount of data shows that it is inadvisable to adjudge the severity of cases by laboratory standards alone. Evidence of lead poisoning -with disability is to be expected when the laboratory data show: (a) total stippled count 25,000; (b) coarsely stippled cell count 1,000; (c) ratio of large to small lymphoid cells, less than 1.5; (d) concentration of lead in urine, 0.15 mg. per liter and over; (e) coarsely stippled cell count divided by the ratio of large to small lymphocytes, 800* 03117780 ) r\ (z*\ References to Recent Literature - 11 534 PATHOLOGY AND THERAPY OF IEAD ANEMIA. R. KLima and H. Seyfried. Folia hematol. (German) 57, 283-95 (1937). Lead anemia in chronically poisoned guinea pigs and rabbits was studied by ex amining the blood and investigating the bone marrow by biopsy, and in a few case by sternal puncture. Erythropoises is greatly increased, and a lively action o the bone marrow is observed in a few days. The erythropoiesis remains high for a few v/eeks and then falls gradually at which point exhaustion begins. Finally red marrow is converted into a kind of gelatinous or fatty marrow. Temporarily stippled cells are present, but not in all cases. Probably the lead in the blood stream acts on the erythrocytes so that they are decomposed in the spleen and other organs that remove old or damaged cells. The marrow responds to the first hemolysis with increased erythropoiesis. There is a basic difference between the results of lead poisoning and pernicious anemia, although there are many similarities. Liver treatment in chronic lead poisoning does no good, although it may be of same value in acute cases. 635 SPINAL INJURIES FROM LEAD AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPINAL FLUID LEAD DETERMINATION IN RECOGNIZING LE.O DAMAGE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. F. Duensing. Deutsch Ztschs. f. Nervenheilk, 143, 297-305 (1937). a case of le8d poisoning resulting from lead in drinking water, and resembling tubes is described. The lead in the spinal fluid was 220 micrograms per 100 ec. but only 72.2 in the blood, indicating spinal lead injury. In another ease* that of a painter, the amount in the spinal fluid was 493 micrograms per 100 oc. Other cases in the literature are mentioned, and all point to the necessity of determining leed in the spinal fluid. ' 636 SULFUR THERAPY OF CHRONIC LEAD POISONING AND URINARY LEAD ELIMINATION. 0, fcbatine, F. V.olfino and M. Mazzantini. Med. del Lav. (Italian) 28, 129*38 (1937). The authors claim as a result of an investigation that intramuscular injection of various sulfur preparations in cases of chronic lead poisoning is followed by a decrease in urinary lead and diuresis and that the patients show a rapid improvement in general condition and a progressive diaidiiticn in clinioal symptoms. 637 LEAD MOBILIZATION aND MINERAL METABOLISM IN LEAD POISONED PERSONS. F. Schmitt and H. Teeger. Ztschr. f. exp. Med. 10, 21-41 (1937) (German). The authors studied variations in daily lead elimination and lead in blood in two lead poisoned persons, in order to determine fixation or mobilisation of lead during various methods of treatment. In agreement with other workers, they found increased lead elimination or mobilization following acid diet with am monium chloride, calcium poor diet, or the use of sodium carbonate, potassium iodide, elytyran or parathormore. In disagreement with others, they obtained the same results with an alkaline vegetable diet and by oral or intravenous administration of calcium, and conclude that the effect is oaused by a sudden diet change or sudden administration of large calcium doses. They recommend the use of gradually increasing doses of eelcium, phosphate and gluconate. (This conclusion is questioned by the abstractor on the ground that a larger number of cases should be studied.) 638 vri.T LEAD CONTENT IN CHEMIA.L BLOOD EXAMIN.TIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PATH OLOGIC? *7. Ehrhardt. Ztschr. f. aertyl. Fortbild. (German) 34, 436 (1937)* Lead contents of 0.005 to 0*01 mg. per 100 cc. of blood are Tovmd in normal per sons, while ir. lead poisoning they are 0.07 to 1 mg. The evaluation of blood lead must be considered in relation to other findings. 03117781 HWffB-0007863 ffW8ff>-6007864 '0 -0: References to Recent Literature - 12 639 OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS ON MERCURY POISONING IN THE LABORATORY. E. Hohwi Christensen, K. Erogh and M. Nielsen Skand. Arch. f, Physiol. 76, 273-8 (1937). (German). Also brief account in Nature 139, 626-7 (1937). In the course of experiments on the effect of increased carbon dioxide content o inspired air, the subjects in one test experienced more serious symptoms than usual. The trouble was traced to droplets of mercury which had fallen from a re ceptacleto the table and floor. The conditions of the experiment contributed to the maximum effect of the small amount of mercury. Similar effects -were found in animal experiments. This occurrence calls attention to the care needed in breath ing experiments. 640 ACUTE MERCURIAL POISONING. Jarrett E. Williams and C.F.N. Schram. Ind. Med. 6 490-1 (Sept., 1937). " A few workmen were engaged for several davs in removing mercury seals from stills. In the course of several years, small quantities of mercury had been spilled from time to time upon the lids of the stills and some of it had been painted over. Roles were cut through the lids by means of an acetylene torch, and although the visible mercury had been removed, and only the odor of paint fumes could be de tected, several men developed cases of acute mercury poisoning. Apparently all the trouble arose during the first day's work, when the ventilation was insuffi cient. Symptoms are described. All the patients recovered, but the occurrence is reported to shew the necessity of extreme care in situations in which mercury vapor may be present. 641 ZINC FEVER. PROPHYLACTIC RESULTS. H.S.Natvig Fidsskr. f. d. Norake Laegeforen- ir.g (Norwegian) 57, 456-65 (1937). . Cases of zinc fever, often recurrent, were observed in over 100 woricera in brass foundries and other 'workshops where zinc is fused with copper. The diaeaae is transitory and comparatively harmless but disagreeable. It is caused by the in halation of very fine particles of zinc oxide formed from the zinc vapor which is given off in large quantities when molten zinc and copper are mixed. The parti cles are sufficiently small to enter the alveoli. No fixed ventilation system or respirator was found adequate. A movable device was contrived, equipped with a funnel-shaped opening and forced draft for removing the zinc vapor at its point of generation. No case of zinc fever has been found where it was in use. 642 CHRONIC ARSENIC POISONING AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE, NOT AN OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT. J.A.J.A. (medicolegal abstracts) 109, 386 (July 31, 1937. The Oregon state supreme court ruled that a case of arsenic poisoning of the hand from peeling sprayed fruits was an occupational disease, which is not compensable, and not an accident. 643 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF ARSENIC ON THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. D. Bertschinger. Folia hematol. 157, 194-205 (1937) (German). A daily dose of 1 cc. of 1% solution of arsenic acid, given a rabbit for 38 days, produced a fall in leucocytes after each dose, rising to almost normal before the next injection. A slew steady decrease was also noted. "*ith greater doses a rap; lymphopenia set ir. Another experiment indicated that the cause is not injury to lymph tissue but rather destruction of lymphocytes outside the lymphatic tissue. 03117782 References to Recent Literature - 13 LPi 'O 644 CHRONIC ARSINE POISONING. M. Kiese. Arch. f. exp. Pathol. u.Fharaakol. 186. 337* 76 (1937) (German). ------ g Animals were subjected one hour daily, over a period of several weeks to quanti ties of arsine of 4 to 50 micrograr.s of arsine per liter of air. Twice the r.a* imuni quantity produced subacute poisoning in a week. As in acute poisoning, th blood was most affected, especially in fall of erythrocyte count and hemoglobin^ Active regeneration was seen at first, but it disappeared later and a stationary state of anemia was reached. V.'hen exposure ceased, blood recovery took place more slowly than that of the general condition. In autopsies, much iron pigment ar*i the largest quantities of arsenic were found in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. At about 20-25 micrograms per liter is a range below 'which the accumulation of poison ar.d injury does not reach its maximum. A real habituation seems to devdop. 645 USE 0? PROTECTOR LIQUIDS IN CHROMIUM PLATING. P. I. Verkhovskaia. Gigiena truda no. 2, 33-6 (1937) (Russian.) A layer of kerosene 10 mm thick over the plating solution was found adequate to prevent escape of vapors, and to prevent abnormal changes in the mucous membrane of the nose and at the case of the larynx, which occurred before the protector liquid was used. 646 PROTECTOR LIQUID IN ELECTROLYTIC CHROMIUM PLATING. E. I. Shaverdova. Gigiena truda, no. 1, 89-91 (1937). fuecion). The plating solution was covered by a layer, 20 mm. thick, of petroleum, to which had been added 125 cc. of sulfuric acid, 10 g. of bichromate and 250 cc- of water per liter of petroleum. Practically no vapor escaped from the vats and the proc ess was not disturbed. 647 NEW DATA ON THE TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR. E. Eohn-Abrest. Rev. ohla. ind. (French) 46, 2-14, 40-45, 66-70 (1937). A general pacer describing the determination of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonaceous gases, alkyl halogens, hydrogen sulfide, arsine, phosphine, hyd'cgcc cyanide, nitrogen oxides, benzene and solid and finely divided liquid particles * 648 THE DETERMINATION OF ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS. I. ORGANIG HAOLGEN COMPOUNDS. : Hervey 3. Elkins, Amos K. Hobby and James E. Fuller, Division of Occupational Hygiene, Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries, Boston, Mass. J. Ind. Hyg. LS, 474-85 (Nov., 1937) Reprints obtainable from senior author. The paper describes a chemical method for the determination of organic halogen vapors ar.d dusts in the atmosphere. The vapors of volatile liquids are absorbed in a suitable solvent in a special absorber, and the solvent is burned in a mod ified sulfur lamp apparatus. The products of combustion, are absorbed in dilute sodium, hydroxide solution and the halogen present is determined, after neutrali zation, by a Mohr titration. Trial and consideration of the properties of sol vents led to the selection of amyl acetate as the most suitable. The absorber consisted of 5 inclined tubes ir. one piece. The method was shown to be satis factory for 8 chlorine compounds of industrial Importance. It is shown theoret ically that the volume of air that can be sampled successfully is inversely pro portional to the vapor cressure of the substance absorbed. The method cannot be used for extremely volatile substances such as methyl chloride, and cooling with ice is desirable for chloroform and ethyl bromide, also for low concentrations of carbon tetrachloride. Comparison with the activated charcoal method showed that the absorption method is somewhat more accurate for low concentrations. A few comparisons v.-ere also made against the direct combustion method, and the relative advantages of the two methods are discussed. To some extent high-boil ing and low-boiling compounds in mixtures can be determined separately by the absorption method. 03117783 crt\ 5$: References to Recent Literature - 14 649 NOTE ON TEE STUDY OF DECOMPOSITION 5Y HEAT OF HYDROCARBONS , ESPECIALLY CHLORINA HYDROCARBONS, MIXED YflTH AIR. E. Xohn-Abrest and Mafi. Ann. d'Hyg., pub. 15 373-84 (1937) (French.) The authors describe a process by which quantities of chloroform, trichlorethyl carbon tetrachloride and tetrachlorethar.e, far below the danger limit, can be d tected. In. combustion, free chlorine and carbon dioxide develop only if more than 4 to 12 mg. per liter of the chlorinated hydrocarbons are present, depending upon the substance. In concentrations up to IOC mg. per 1, the production of phosgene cannot be detected. Detection of these substances in organs is also described. 650 CAUSATIVE INFLUENCES AND CLINICAL TYPES OF POISONING BY CARSON TETRACHLORIDE. THE I.EDICO-LEGAL VIET'fPOINT. Dervillee. J. Med. de Bordeaux 114, 557-82 (1937) (French' The properties and uses of carbon tetrachloride are first described. The results of poisoning are variable, as individual susceptibilities vary greatly. It may affect the brain, the liver and kidneys, the kidneys alone, the lungs or the skin Details are given of cases falling under these headings. The after-effects of ex posure are as variable as the symptoms; some persons are attacked fatally and sue cumb to uremia or acute pulmonary edema, others recover completely, and others present various sequelae. Treatment must depend upon the manifestations. Preven tion is important and easy to ensure. Adequate ventilation and avoidance of close areas and high temperatures are the principal precautions. Its use in therapeu tics ar.d in hair lotions should be avoided entirely. Workers injured by its in dustrial use should receive compensation. 651 ARTERIAL AND VENOUS LIFEUIA IN EXKRIMENTAL CARBON TETRACHLORIDE POISONING. G.G. Zolezza. Med. del Lav. 28_, 138-47 (1937) (Italian.) The action of carbon tetrachloride in producing arterial and venous lipemia ms traced by animal experiments to the lipoid and fat solvent action on the tissue substance. 652 A CASE OF PHOSGENE POISONING DUE TO INHALATION PRODUCTS OF TRICHLOHETHYLENE. 7.m. D. McNally. Ind. Ned. 6, 539-44 (Oct., 1937). The paper is devoted mainly to the toxicity of trichlorethylene itself. It is quit stable at ordinary temperatures and the commercial product does not decompose to yield hydrochloric acid, because a small quantity of alkali is added as a stabi lizer. However, when it ccm.es in contact with heated metal, gas flames or burnin tobacco, it decomposes with formation of hydrochloric acid and phosgene, which is best known from its use as a war gas. Trichlorethylene is used in many industries as an oil and grease solvent, and most of the cases of poisoning result from ths . inhalation of the vapor. It is somewhat less toxic than most of the other chlo rinated hydrocarbons, and does not cause fatty degeneration as do many ofthe others. However, acute poisoning cases result in anesthesia of the nerve dis tributed over the face and mouth and atrophy of the optic nerve, leading to loss of sight. The work of a number of experimenters on animals and reports of human cases are reviewed, showing lung damage, blindness, and poisoning of a number of organs. Diagnosis is complicated by the identity of many of the symptoms with those from other causes, which must be considered by careful examination and knowledge of case history. Preventive measures include removal of the vapors by down-draft ventilation, use of a closed system if possible, avoiding contact with flames and heating surfaces and prohibition of smoking. 653 NERVE INJURIES (NEURITIS ISCHIATICA, TRAUMATIC EPILEPSY) AFTER ACUTE BENZINE POIS OKINC-. H.H.Jansen. Deutsch. Ztschr. f. Nervenheilk. 144, 68-80 (1937) (German.) The author reports 3 cases in which nerve injury appeared after severe acute ben zine poisoning, with description of symptoms. The injuries cannot be definitely attributed to the benzine alone, as the exact composition of the gases was unknor 03117784 fiifeii-0iii)7866 M N B B -B W n? References to Recent Literature - 15 654 A STUDY OF BENZOL POISONING. Carlos E. Fallon. Ind. Med. 6, 560-2 (Oct., 1937). The symptoms and progress of 3 fatal cases of benzol poisoning in a leather fac tory under the author's observation are given detail, as are also the results o blood counts on a number of employees. The method of urine sulfate determinati and the decrease in the number of white blood cells are good indications of ear stages of poisoning. 655 ACUTE POISONING 171TH A !JF.V MOTOR FUEL (LIQUID PROPANE GAS). CLINICAL INVESTIGA TIONS aND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS. H.J.'Volf and F.ileme. Arch. f exp. Pathol, u. Phamakol. (German) 186, 78-68 (1S37). This gas contains mainly propane, with some butane and olefine. A driver who had inhaled some of the gas developed symptoms which can be divided into 2 groups: narcosis and a symptom complex caused by very marked irritation of the para sympathetic system. The authors produced the same symptoms in rabbits, and after severing the vagus and depressor nerves, the blood pressure, which had decreased markedly, recovered. However, a second sample-of the gas did not produce the same effects. The authors assume that this vagus irritant is to be found in the ole fines, whereas the other symptoms are caused by the propane. Doubtless the ole fine content of the gas varies widely. 656 THE DETERMINATION OF CARBON DISULFIDE IN BLOOD. J. Roberts Harrower and Frank H. Tfiley, Haskell Lab. of Industrial Toxicology, Tfilmington, Del. J. Ind. Hyg., 19, 486-90 (Nov., 1937). Reprints probably obtainable at that address. A micro-apparatus is described which permits the determination of carbon disulfide in minute amounts through its conversion to the potassium ethyl xanthate by the action of alcoholic potassium hydroxide and the subsequent oxidation of the xantl ate to dixanthate by titration with iodine. Carbon disulfide has been estimated with a fair degree of accuracy by this procedure in a 10 cc. sample of blood con taining as little as 0.05 mg. of this substance per 100 cc. - From the author's summary. 657 THE SYMPTOHATCLOGY OF CHRONIC POISONING YflTH OXIDES OF NITROGEN. N.A.Vigdortschi) and others. J. Ind. Hyg., 19, 469-73 (Nov., 1937). No reprints. An investigation was made of the effect of continued exposure to oxides of nitro^gen in low concentrations on 127 workers in sulfuric acid plants and etchers in printing shops. The nitrogen dioxide concentration was in almost all cases below 0.005 mg. per liter (about 1.5 parts per million) - a figure that is generally considered safe - and periods of exposure varied from 3 to 5 years. A large num ber of tests was made, and the findings were compared with those in a control group of unexposed persons of the same ages and living under approximately sim ilar conditions. The results were compared according to approved statistical methods and are presented in a table under the headings of authentic symptoms and probable symptoms according to the degree of correlation obtained. The authentic symptoms include wearing down of teeth, inflamed mucosa of the gvsns, emphysema of the lungs, tuberculosis, hypotonia, bradycardia, and in the blood, high hemoglobin content, large numbers of erythrocytes, increased vital granula tion, marked basophilic granulation, increase in maximum resistance of erythro cytes, accelerated agglutination of blood, reduced catalase index, reduced re serve alkalinity, decreased sugar content, and lability of the sugar curve* The probable symptoms include carious decay of teeth, disturbed gastric secretion, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular neurosis, and in the blood, moderate leucopenia, moderate lymphocytosis, increase in minimum resistance of erythrocytes, d I -.yed reaction to their precipitation and increased content of bilirubin.* The re lation of these symptoms to the poisoning is discussed; some follow indirectly a the result of other symptcsns. The results were checked by a study of 5 men who had left the hazardous occupations; in all cases a definite tendency of the blooc to return to its normal composition was observed. The necessity of further work is emphasized. 03117785 References to Recent Literature - 16 Hti6B- f<M*B7S68 58 SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF SOME POISONINGS. 0. Roth. Schweizer. med. Vfchnschr. ^6^, 593-6 (1937). (German.) cs The author reports cases of poisoning in which there were some peculiar reactio / In one apparently light nitrous gas poisoning the patient developed an attack o cramps which returned repeatedly in the following years. The cramps were found to follow hyperventilation or dyspnea, and the nitrous poisoning seemed to have cleared the way for this reflex. Another case was that of asthmatic outbreaks caused by welding, and in another bror.ethyl possibly contributed to development of polyvalent bronchial asthrra. 659 CLINICAL ASPECTS OF NITRONS GAS POISONING. G. Holland. Med. Klin. (German) 33 93C-2 (1937). -- The author reports a case of moderately severe poisoning. In 15 hours after ex posure, an x-ray showed both lung fields covered with countless mottled shadows of various sizes which were confluent in the basal region. In 8 days the shadows ,--A had disappeared, as did also the pains. Eight months later there was an increase ir. erythrocytes and in the hemoglobin. Similar changes have been found in other cases. 660 NOTE ON THE DECREE OF THE .REICH'S MINISTER OF LABOR ON THE GENERATION OF NITROUS OXIDE IN AUTOGENOUS WELDING. P. Kissinger. Aertzl. Sachverstaend. - Ztg. 43, 122 (1937). (German). -- A case of lunr edema in autogenous welding presented great difficulty to the authorities, ar.d was finally decided as being a fatal accident from "phosphorous and hydrogen sulfide and irreparable gases." 661 TOXICITY OF TARNISH FOR BEER BARRELS. J.A.K.A. 109, 454 (Aug. 7, 1937). In reply to a letter reporting a case of poisoning of a workman varnishing beer barrels ar.d inquiring whether the use of pure grain alcohol instead of denatured alcohol as a solvent would have prevented poisoning, the editor replies that a number of constituents of typical varnishes are toxic, as are also the blow torch fumes, and that the injury probably aros-e from those sources rather than from any. constituent of the alcohol. He advocates the use of a positive pressure helmet for work in enclosed spaces. 662 EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON INTOXICATION WITH ACETONE. U. Baasi and G. Ghetti. Med. lavora (Italian) 27, 225-49 (1936). Rabbits v/ere intoxicated progressively by acetone-. Loss in weight took plaoe, in some cases to or.e-third the original weight. Some subjects showed habituation, especially vrith smaller doses. Symptoms included irritation, disturbance* of the central nervous system, decrease in the red cell and hemoglobin content of the blood, hyperglucemia and increase in the urobilin in the urine. 663 PROTECTION AGAINST MINE GASES. J.J.Forbes ar.d G.7;.Grove. Miners' Circular No. 35 U.S.Bureau of Mines, 1937. 52 pp. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, . Washington, D.C., for 10 cents, cash. This publication is an up-to-date revision of Part III of a series of-eiroulars on advanced mine rescue training, originally published in 1929. The general pre cautions against fire and explosion dangers include adequate ventilation and the use only permissible explosives, but this circular is concerned mainly with means of protection when a fire or an explosion has occurred. They include: (l) erec tion of barricades; (2) the carbon monoxide self-rescue respirator? (3) gas masks for protection against gases, smokes and vapors; (4) self-contained oxygen breath ing apparatus, and (5) hose masks. The discussion of barricades includes recom mendations for their construction, quantity of air necessary to sustain life, and appraisal of their value, illustrated by a table of mine accidents in which they were used. Many types of the various protective devices are described 03117786 References to Recent Literature - 17 in detail, A chapter on treatment for gas poisoning or asphyxiation concludes t pacer. The recommended forms of treatment include several annual methods of ar tificial respiration and oxygen breathing apparatus. Mechanical devices such a the pulmotor are not recommended for use by laymen. 664 LOSS 0? MEMORY FROM GAS POISONING: A .'-AN "'I7K0UT THE I-ZMORU. G. Stoerring. Ctschr.. f* d. ges. Neurol, u. Psychiat. _158, 420-1 (1937) (German.) A sound film illustrates a case of loss of memory caused by severe gas poisoning at an over.. The man was able to remember experiences for about one second. CHRONIC AUTOMOBILE EXHAUST GAS FOISOHING. INVESTIGATIONS A'lTK A DIESEL MOTOR. M. Schnidtmanr.. Arch, f. Geverbep&thol u. Gewerbehyg. 1-13 (1S37) (Genian). Experiments on rabbit-: showed that ar.thracosis results from inhalation of ex haust gases from Diesel motors. T-.vo remarkable observations are that lymph in filtration and increase of connective tissue are found and that the anthracosis is caused by much sm.alier quantities of soot than those ordinarily required. The author explains both by the small quantities of unburned oil with which the soot is mixed. A Diesel motor generally uses the part of petroleum or the heavy oil of coal or pyrolusite tar boiling at around 300C. 666 BLOOD PRESSURE RESPONSES TO ACUTE CARBON MONOXIDE-POISONING. 77. R. Brewer. Am. J. Physiol. 120, 91-9 (Sept. 1, 1537). Animals given mixtures of carbon monoxide and oxygen do not respond by a rise in blood press-ore, which is an invariable result of nitrogen administration. This absence of rise is not due to any lack of -capacity of the carotid sinus and aortic depressor nerve endings to receive stimuli. 667 CKROi.'OSMON STUDIES. I. ACTION OF EMTHYLENE BLUE-GLUCOSE ( CHROMOSMOl) ON CARBCN MONOXIDE POISONING IN ANIMAL RESEARCH. A. Strum, and H. Wohlfahat. Arch. f. exp. Pathol, u. Pharmakol. (German) 186, 294-302 (1937). II. ACTION OF METHYLENE BLUi GLUCOSE (CHROMCSNOU) ON ANIMALS POISONED EXfERMENTALLY HITH CYANIDE. A. Strum and X. Panser. Ibid. 303-5. III. C.'.N 1STHYIENE BLUE (CHROMOSHOM) FOfM 1ETHEM0- GLOBIN IN THE LIVING ORGANISM. A. Strum and 77. Frank*. Ibid., 306-12. The results of three series of experiments reported indicate that chromosmom is a specific antidote against cyanide poisoning and non-specific although effective in carbon monoxide poisoning. It causes no noteworthy increase in emthemoglobin ar.d tissue respiration is definitely not endangered by its use. 663 FIRST INTERNATIONAL SESSION ON THE PATHOLOGY AND ORGANIZATION OF `.TORE, PARIS. JUNE 2-6, 1937. Ann. d' Hyg. pub. (French) IS, 413-24 (1937); also in J.A.M.A. (Paris Letter) 109, 722-3 (Aug. 23, 1337). A short report on this session includes brief notes on a few papers, one by Kohn-Abrest, who showed that paradoxically the carbon monoxide in acute poison ing is washed out of the blood in a few hours, whereas in chronic poisoning traces are detectible for months. 669 DISCUSSION OF THE EFFECTS OF ASPHYXIATING GASES ON THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. S. Blackmore and others. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. 30., 1033-8 (July, 1937). This is a general discussion of the effects of war gases - phosgene, chlorine and mustard gas - and includes etiology, pathology and treatment. In anoxemia oxygen should be administered as soon as possible and maintained until the pa tient car. do without it for 5 minutes without clinical retrogression. Bleeding is an accessory treatment of great value. There is much difference of opinion or. the value of infusion c-f saline, glucose, etc. 03117787 ./T^\ 0 0 References to Recent Literature - 15 370 FIXATION OF SULFUR FROM SMELTER SMOKE. R.S.Dean. U.S.Bur* Mines, Rept. Investig tions no* 3339 (May, 1937). Obtainable from Division of Information, U.S.Bureau of Mines, V/ashingtcn, D.C. ' The problem of prevention of damage to plant and animal life by sulfur dioxide the vicinity of smelters has been met in 2 -ways: (l) dilution of effluent gases by using high stacks and high gas temperatures, and (2) by converting the sulfu dioxide to a disposable liquid or solid compound. The first method seems likely J to remain the most generally applicable ar.d satisfactory for many years. The second awaits development of an economically practical method ofrecovering el ementary sulfur. The present report includes a study of the progress made in thi direction here and abroad, and includes progress reports on laboratory studies at the Bureau of Mines on the following processes: (l) absorption of sulfur dioxide by ammonium sulfite solution; (2) addition of ammonia and water vapor to smelter gases to precipitate ammonium sulfite particles and (3) absorption of sulfur di oxide by agneous diethylene triamine solutions. 71 INVESTIGATION OF atmospheric pollution, report on observations in the year ended MARCH 31, 1S36. Dept. Scientific and Industrial Research, H.M.Stationery Office.. London, 1937. Price 6 s. Obtainable from British Library of Information, 270 Madison Ave., New York. A review of observations in Great Britain for the past 20 years indicates that the smoke abatement movement has had a real effect in reducing smoke pollution. A simpler and less expensive photometer has been devised for measurement of day light. Earlier experiments to obtain records of sulfur dioxide pollution from different rind directions have led to the development of an apparatus which re cords the frequency of winds from each of eight sectors and exposes a correspond ing sector of a lead peroxide fabric. In subsequent analysis of the sectors of fabric, the sulfur pollution associated with the different v/ind directions can be estimated. The appendix of the report contains a discussion of observations on the intensity of ultraviolet and visible rays at Rochdale, with graphic anal :*sis. 672 THE EFFECT OF WELDING ON THE EYE. D.M.Natanson and D.P. Vinogorow. Viestnik ' Opnt. 1^0, pt. 2, 28C (1937). (Russian). A study of 244 welders shows that no serious or permanent ocular inflammations or deleterious effect on visual acuity or visual fields are produoed by welding. However, chronic electric opthalmias are frequent, and corneal sensitivity is considerably reduced. The probable causes are light, flying particlet of metal and chemical vapors. Lenticular opacities are not attributable to this occupation 673 EXPERIMENTS ON A PHYSICAL QUALIFICATION TEST FDR WORK WITH X-RAYS. M. Sgalitzer and E. Ur.gpir* Strahlentherap. (German) 5, 701-9 (1937). There are great individual differences in radiation sensitivity of the blood forming organs, and physical tests should be made to determine sensitivity. The leucocytes should be counted before exposure and on the Ilth and 14th days after exposure. 674 INDUSTRIAL RADIUM DAMAGE. L. Teleky. Wien. kiln. rchnschr. (German) 50, 613-23 (1937). A review of industrial injury from radium, as observed in clinics, in industries producing and using radium preparations, and in mines. The results of exposure include skin affections, damage to bones and blood, all occurring after a rela tively short exposure, ar.d tumors after long exposure or latent period. Bron chial cancer results from inhalatior., arri bone sarccme from absorption from the digestive tract. 03117788 i/ ^=f] S'. References to Recent Literature - 19 675 CLINICAL ASH3CTS AND THERAPY OF INDUSTRIAL X-RAY DAMaGE. F.F.Freund. Strahlenther- ap.(Proc. 1st Congress of the Austrian X-ray Society in Vienna) (German) 56, is* 694-6 (1937). Vfe have no information on this taper except that it is a general review. cs 676 MEASUREMENTS OF RADIATION PROTECTION. K.G. Zimmer. Strahlentherapie 59, 671-9 (I9gg X-rays and gamma rays cause cell injury which is transmitted to the next genera-a tion of cells, making any establishment of a tolerance dose impossible, since jj that depends on restitution ability. Exposure of persons to radiation, therefore, must be reduced as much as possible, and measurements of radiation must be made by equipping workers ;vith automatically registering apparatus. Condensation icnozation chambers are best for this purpose. One such chamber put on the hand and one at the head of a nurse employed in the preparation of radium applicators showed that the accepted tolerance threshold of 0.2 r. per day was always exceeded at the back of the hand, and often at the head. Working conditions, therefore, must be improved. 677 PROTECTION IN THE USE OF ROENTGEN RAYS. A. Brandt. Fortschr. a.d. Geb. d. Roent- genstrahl. 55, 25-3 (1937). The author suggests that the radiation hazard is much greater in technical than in medical occupations. There are longer exposures and greater amounts of ra diation in the former, and persons exposed are engineers not medieally or hygien ically trained. Therefore the suggested tolerance dose of O.OOOOlrper seo. i# not applicable. The author recommends compulsory reporting on the jart of fdo- tories, measurement of radiation and medical supervision of workers, inciting total and differential white blood corpuscle counts at intervals. * 678 EXPOSURE TO X-RAY IN INDUSTRY. REPORT OF A CASE. M.K. Kroaenberg and Halter Shriner. Ind. Med. 6, 532-3 (Oct., 1937). A fluoroscope was used in the examination of packaged goods. It was guaranteed ray-proof by the manufacturer, however, dental films attached to the wrist, front of the chest, and cap of the operator were found fogged in a week, while one on the back was not. The machine was then more completely ray-proofed and suitable eye shields were provided. The occurrence is given as an illustration of the care an employer must use to protect himself from possible suits. 679 MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION OF PERSONNEL IN RADIOLOGIC WORK AND PROTECTIVE MEASURE MENT AGAINST GAMMA RAYS. A. Feller and Langer. Acta Radiol. 18, 546-51 (Aug. 31, 1937) (Swedish). A case in which a surgeon and his staff were found affected by radiation is re ported. The measured quantity of radiation showed it to be fir above the toler ance dose, and the greatest amount was found to be received in the manipulation of moulages. After a movable protection wall had been set up and tha manner of ' handling the moulages had been improved, radiation on the body fell well below the tolerance dose. 680 AN ATTEMPT TO INHIBIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAR-CARCINOMA IN MICE. J.R.Davidson. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 37, 434-40 (Nov., 1937). As the result of 6 years' observation of over 600 mice, it seems to be farily well demonstrated that the trnor threshold of the mouse can be lowered by tar-irrita tion, and raised or maintained at a constant level by breeding and diet, with varying dosages of vitamins in the diet, especially A,B, and E. Completion of the series will require another year, and will show whether the high vitamin diet now used will ce sufficient or will have to be increased with age, and will permit determination of the tumor threshold in the animals with low vitamin diet. 03117789 References to Recent Literature - 20 681 CANCER OF THE LUNGt A CRITICAL SURVEY OF 100 CASES. C.Harvey. Med. J. Australia^ 1_, 565-72 (1936). Abstracted in Am. J. Cancer. <w A survey of 100 cases of cancer from 1910 to 1935 seems to indicate that there Kgj been some real increase in the incidence of the disease. Over half occurred be tween the ages of 41 and 60. An occupational influence is suggested by the large* percentage of patients (38$) exposed to noxious inhalatory stimuli and of thosela engaged in out-of-door pursuits (25$). 5* 682 INDUSTRIAL DERMATITIS AND ITS PREVENTION. Louis Schwartz, MD, Medical Director, Dermatoses Investigations, U.S.Public Health Service. Nat. Safety News 36, 34-6 (Nov., 1937); Safety Eng* JA, 7-10 (Nov., 1937). o_. This paper is a brief review of the subject of industrial dermatitis. There are at least 20,000 cases of occupational skin diseases annually in the United States, *3 of sufficient severity to lose time from work, and about 65$ are dermatoses. The total number in all degrees of severity is probably about 250,000 cases yearly Factors involved in the cause of dermatitis include individual susceptibility, diet, age, presence of other skin diseases and lack of cleanliness. The chief causes are alkalies, oils and greases, solvents, acids, corrosive chemicals and 53 plants. Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are discussed briefly, but emphasia is is laid on prevention* including cleanliness, the use of carefully selected pro* tective ointments as a temporary measure, and pre-employment examinations. Treat ment without cessation of work is recommended v/hen the case is not too severe. Proper legislation is advocated, and factory inspection by insurance carriers, in addition to complete reports of all cases is urged. (Reprints 4re probably not obtainable, but the two Bulletins next mentioned are recommended for a fuller knowledge of the subject.) 683 SKIN HAZARDS IN AKERTCAN INDUSTRY. Fart I. Louis Schwartz, U.S.PublU Health Bull no. 215/ Obtainable from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. for 15 cents, cash. This bulletin was originally issued in 1934, but has been reprinted and is now A available. Each of a number of industries is considered in a separate section, including causes, symptoms with illustrations, treatment and prevention. The ' following industries are included: rubber, oil refining, syflihetlc dye manufac ture, candy making, silk, linseed oil, manufacturing, perfume and inseoticides. 684 SKIN HAZARDS IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY. Fart II. Louis Schwartz. U.S.Public Health Bull. no. 229 (1936). Obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Washington, D.C. for 15 cents, cash. This Bulletin is similar in plan to the preceding, and includes the following industries: manufacture of synthetic resins and waxes, leather manufacture, fur industry, manufacture of artificial silks, fabric dyeing, wearing and handling dyed fabrics, and manufacture and use of insecticides and fungicides, alkalis, calcium cyanflmide, chronic acid and zinc chloride. 685 DERMATITIS AMONG A GROUP OF OFFICE WORKERS FOUND NOT TO BE OF OCCUPATIONAL ORIGIN Louis Schwartz and Marion 3. Sulzberger. U.S.Public Health Repts., 62, 1441-7 (Oct* 15, 1937). Obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Washington, D77., for 5 cents, cash* A supposed outbreak of occupational dermatitis among a group of 750 office workers was investigated, and from a study of the cases and of the work processes and from the results of patch tests performed with the materials handled it was foual that the skir. diseases were of various kinds and were not of occupational _ origin. 03117790 References to Recent Literature - 21 0907873 In an investigation of 12 kinds of carbon papers and of a factory where carbco papers, typewriter ribbons, hectograph ribbons and hectograph inks are nade no cases of occupational denmtoses were found. Before a diagnosis of occupations dermatitis is made in an office worker, the physician should obtain an accurate clinical history, should study at first hand the actual work performed, and shoUfcC make patch tests with the substances handled by the worker. If he neglects to this, he may cause unjustified alarm among the workers and unneeessarily disrupt the business of the office. Proved cases of occupational dermatitis from carbon paper and carbon copies are exceedingly rate. - From the author's sumrary. 686 TORCH OIL DERMATITIS. Adolph G. Karnner and Richard H. Callahan. J.A.M.A. 109, 1511-7 (Nov. 6, 1937). A number of workers handling torch oil developed dermatitis of the hands. An ex tensive investigation disclosed that there is probably an interrelationship be tween contact with torch oil and the existence of a focus of superficial fungous disease. The fungus did not come from the torch oil, and no case of dermatitis was seen in workers who did not also have interdigital epidennomycosis of the feet. The therapeutic measures usually applied to fungous infections were success ful. The demonstration of a focus of fungous disease is not enough to warrant the incrimination of that infection in the development of an industrial deraatoaia. Such foci probably exist almost universally among workers at the present time. 687 INFECTIVE WARTS IN WORKERS USING BONE-GLUE. A.I.G.McLaughlin and J.W.Bdiagton. Lancet 233, 685-6 (Sept. 18, 1937). T An outbreak of warts, mainly on the back of the hands and fingers, ocourrdll among workers in a cardboard-box & ctory. All those affected came in contact wife "bone* glue. The warts were of an infective variety, but the glue was found frM team. the virus, and was also heated above the lethal temperature for the viruf* How ever, the glue was used after cooling, and the fingers and knuckles ware constant ly covered by the glue. It developed that the infection was originally introduce' by some girl who had become infected outside the factory, and the infection spreac through contact with the glue pots. The outbreak ceased on elimination of the infection. 688 STUDIES ON THE SENSITIZATION OF ANIMALS WITH SIMPLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS. IV. AN APHYLAXIS INDUCED BY PICRYL CHORIDE AND 2:4 DINITROCHLORBENZENE. K. Landsteiner and M/A.Chase. J. Exp. Med. 66, 337-51 (Sept., 1937). These substances produce contact dermatitis in man, and it is possible to induce true anaphylactic sensitisation in guinea pigs by intravenous injection of protei.' conjugates and by the Dale technic. This furnishes strong evidence for the forma tion of antigenic conjugates following application of substances of simple chem ical constitution. Since the anaphylactic state is induced by the same methods that cause cutaneous sensitivity, it seems evident that the formation of con jugated antigens offers an explanation of the skin effects also. 689 METHOD OF QUICK AND EXACT MEASUREMENT OF VERY SHALL AMOUNTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE HEMOGLOBIN IN BLOOD. I. May. Arch. f. Gewerbepathol u. Gewerbehyg. 21-5 (1937) (German). The method involves the use of the Pulfrich photometer with mercury vapor light and a passing filter. Carbon monoxide hemoglobin quantities of about 2% can be measured and gradations of 0.5^ are recognizable. Only 0*1 cc. of blood is necessary, and only 8 minus's are required* 03117791 H9iJ8-000787i< References to Recent Literature - 22 690 TURJENTINE ECZEMA IN SWEDISH PAINH5RS, E. Thrysin. Hygei* (Swedish) 99, 268-87 (1537). -- In order to solve the problem of turpentine eczema in painters it is first nec essary to determine what constituent of turpentine is responsible, ar.d the auth analyzed a number of preparations sold as oil of turpentine. There are 5 class of "turpentine": (l) true balsam oil of turpentine, obtained by tapping certain trees; (2) sulfate oil of turpentine, a by-product of sulfate cellulose produc tion; (3) charcoal oil of turpentine, produced by dry distillation of wood; (4) mixtures of true turpentine with mineral oils, and (5) "animal oil of turpentine" which contains mineral oils only. Some in the fourth class are fradulently labeled, also in the last class if sold as turpentine. Tests and standards in use in various countries are described. A process of purification by frac tional distillation is described with diagrams. Standards for purity should be imposed. 691 SKIN DISEASE IN A VARNISHING PLANT AND ITS INVESTIGATION WITH SFECIAL REGARD TO SKIN TESTS. G. Munkwitz. Arch. f. Gewerbepathol. u. Gewerbehyg., 8, 83-112 (1937). (German). An attempt was made to determine by skin tests which of the materials used in a varnishing plant caused eczema. He concluded that a combined factor was involve* the solvent paved the way for the Injurious priming dye. No results were ob tained on constitutional influences, on account of the small number of cases of eczema - 30 out of 240 persons examined. ' 692 SKIN INJURY FROM OCCUPATION, SPORT, ACCORDING TO SEASON AND FROM COSMETICS, IN CLUDING A SUPPLEMENT OF FIRST AID IN SUDDEN SXIN INJURY. W. Oppesheim. lien, med. \7chnschr. 87, Nos. 11, 12, 20, 24, 27, 30, 31 (1937), The series consists of description of skin injuries having various external causes. The first four are concerned with industrial skin disease* and fuller information will be available later. 693 THE ANTHRAX HAZARD. John N. McDowell, Div. of Industrial Hygiene, N.Y; State -- Dept, of Labor. Ind. Bull. 1, 393 (Oct., 1937). Cases of anthrax occur occasionally, and may become fatal if proper precautions are not taken. The possibility of anthrax exists in all industries in which an imal skins and hair are handled* Precautions include cleanliness and reporting all cases of cuts, accidents, pimples, sores or abrasions of the skin or any illness, no matter how harmless they may seem. 694 ACTION OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID ON THE SKIN. H. Scheuermann. Dermatol, tfchnschr. 104, 661-7 (1937). (German.) A case of action of hydrofluoric acid on the skin is reported in which a 2-minute exposure to the vapor caused severe disturbance of the cutaneous and subcutaneous cell tissue with affection of the bone. No effect was seen a few hours after ex posure, but the disease reached its crisis on the Sth to 6th days. 695 BLOOD VESSEL DAMAGE FROM PROLONGED VIBRATION OF COMPRESSED AIR TOOLS AS AN IN DUSTRIAL DISEASE. K. Junghans. Arch. f. klin. Chir. (German) 188, 466-79 (1937). Little nodules found on the forearm of a castings polisher showed changes that resembled those seen in Buerger*s thrombangitis obliterans, and produced by pro longed vibration. The author suggests compensation of this as *n industrial disease. 03117792 References to Recent Literature - 23 696 JOINT INJURY FROM WORK WITH PNEUMATIC TOOLS. Rostock. Fortschr. a. d. Geb. d. Roentgenstrahl (German) 55., 21-3 (1937). Continued work with compressed air tools causes osteochondritis in the hands, el bow or shoulder, depending upon which joint is affected most *y the vibration. They can also be caused by other hard work. The author gives some idea of the relative freq<*ency of the condition. 697 MIMIMUM-WAGE LEGISLATION IN TrE UNITED STATES AS OF JULY 1, 1937. U.S.Monthly Labor Rev. 5. 301-93 (Aug., 1537). Minimum 'wage laws are now in effect in 22 States. An impetus to such legislation was given this year by the United States Supreme Court, in effect reversing an earlier decision that had declared the minimum-wage law of the District of Columbit unconstitutional. As a result of that decision, several jurisdictions have re vived their minimum 'wage laws, considered dormant since 1523. Nww in addition to the 22 States, minimum-vage laws are also in efiect in Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The article includes the principal provisions of all the minimum-wage laws in effect in 1537. 03117793