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FILE NAME: Abex (ABX) DATE: 1944 Mar DOC#: ABX019 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Report - Industrial Dust-The Pneumoconioses by L.E. Hamlin, Medical Director, American Brake Shoe Company - Reprinted from Medical Journal - Industrial Medicine PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT f AB - 6 7 Industrial Dust --The Pneumoconioses L. E. HAMLIN, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director, American Brake Shoe Company, Chicago V. lit. R eprinted from I ndustrial Medicine, M arch, 1944 SPNY-000227 Industrial Dust -- The Pneumoconioses L. E. HAMLIN, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director, American Brake Shoe Company, Chicago T h e r e l a t io n between dust and certain diseases of toxic and systemic effects, but usually their main con the lungs has been recognized for centuries, but sequence is local or irritant. They do not cause pul only in recent years has it been given the intensivme onary fibrosis, but such things as dermatitis, dental study it deserves. In the fifth century b .c ., Hippocrates lesions, irritations of the nasal mucous membranes, noted symptoms in a metal digger, comparable to those and conjunctivitis are fairly common in workers han observed among present-day miners suffering from dling these materials. Digestive disturbances have silicosis. Since that time, other investigators have been observed. Allergic symptoms may occur in those recorded their impressions and observations on the exposed to pollens, horse hair, furs and wool,, and effects of inhaled dusts and have emphasized the asso various types of wood dust are known to affect suscep ciation of these with tuberculosis. It was not until the tible persons. Bacteria such as the anthrax bacillus latter part of the nineteenth century, however, that are capable of producing cutaneous lesions, or "wool real interest in the subject was manifested. sorters' disease," when inhaled. Sappington2 has listed To South Africa must be given the credit for the over 100 occupations which may produce exposure earliest serious contribution to our knowledge of the resulting in allergy, asthma, or irritation of the skin industrial dust hazard. Here, in 1902, physical exam and upper air passages. inations were made on 3000 rock drillers and for the Fungi, such as mycelia and spores of molds, are apt first time, x-rays of the chest were used in a compre to cause rashes and painful fissures of the skin, while hensive study of 300 cases. Diagnostic standards of cotton weavers develop a form of disease known as disease, safe limits of particle concentration in the air aspergillosis from inhaling spores of a mildew which of working places, and engineering methods for dust occasionally occurs on threads. control were instituted. From 1915 on, Great Britain, The inorganic dusts which have significance in Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, and the United industry are derived mainly from minerals and metals. States made further investigations, but the most note In the process of grinding, crushing, blasting and worthy progress in these countries occurred during drilling these earthy substances, dust particles ranging the last few years. in size from microscopic to visible are liberated and Kronenberg and Morse1 have suggested the follow remain in suspension in the air for varying periods ing classification of industrial dusts: depending on their size and settling velocity. Inhala tion of those particles which contain silica in the T able I. uncombined state produces the type of pulmonary I. Organic Dusts: A. Non-Living: 1. Toxic and (or) Irritant. B. Living: 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi. II. I norganic D usts: A. Toxic and (or) Irritant. B. Fibrosis Producing. C. Non-Fibrosis Pro- ducing. fibrosis known as silicosis. Gardner2 demonstrated the specific action of silica and made it clear that only silica in the "free" state is capable of causing this type of tissue reaction. The toxic inorganic dusts are those of the heavy metals and their salts, such as lead, mercury, man ganese, etc. They are usually considered under the Generally speaking, organic dusts originate from heading of industrial poisons rather than of dusts. plants or animals, but many thousands of these sub stances are made synthetically. They may produce The text of Dr. H am un'8 Lecture i t the Second Post-Graduate Course in Industrial Medicine. Long1 Island College of Medicine. Brooklyn. Friday. November 6. 1948. - SPNY 000228 IN DISCUSSING hazardous particles, the distinction between dust, fumes, smoke and mist is frequently overlooked. Drinker and Hatch* slate that dust is formed by reducing earthy materials to small-sized portions, sub-micro3Copic to the visible', the composit*on of the particles being the same as that of the parent material. Common examples are the mineral dusts derived from the disintegration of rock and the organic dusts like wheat and flour. Fumes are formed by processes like combustion, sublimation and condensation. The particle size is generally below 1 micron. Smoke is generally of organic origin and is char acterized by a particle size below 0.5 microns. Mists or fogs are formed by the condensation of water vapor upon suitable nuclei. The particle or drop let size varies widely, depending on the condition prevailing. The significance of these distinctions becomes ap parent when evaluating the exposure in an individual manifesting signs or symptoms of pneumoconiosis. Since men working in dusty atmospheres are fre quently exposed to a combination of these factors, the actual cause of fibrosis may be obscured, a fact which has considerable importance in cases involving Iitiga- tion. Like "rheumatism," the term "pneumoconiosis" covers a variety of conditions. It has been defined as a "chronic pulmonary fibrosis due to the inhalation of irritating dusts which produce a proliferative reac tion" (Johnson5), or a condition due to "the effects upon the lungs of the inhalation of excessive quantities of dust, manifested by structural changes in the lung tissue and entirely distinct from the action of poison ous dust such as lead or mercury, in which case the lungs act merely as the point of entrance into the body without definite local influence" (Pancoast). Perhaps the simplest way of stating it would be to say that the term refers to a condition of the lung3 resulting from the prolonged inhalation of dust whether harmful or inert. Pneumoconiosis includes such specific diseases as anthracosis, asbestosis, siderosis, silicosis, etc. Ijq RECENT years few diseases have received more a t tention and publicity than those due to dust. The work of the United States Bureau of Mines in the Tri-State Lead and Zinc Mining districts (1924-1927) and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company7 di rected attention to other industries where disabling pulmonary diseases were known to exist. Other inves tigations were made by the U. S. Public Health Service, and in 1933 Gardner and Cummings, of the Saranac Laboratory, began extensive studies in the iron ranges of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Since that time, many industries, here and abroad, have established clinics and laboratories for further research and control of the hazard. The pathology of these diseases was definitely estab lished by Dr. Leroy U. Gardner,8 Director of the Sara nac Laboratory, in 1934. He demonstrated the effects of various dusts on the lungs of laboratory animals and studied the part played by tuberculosis in the progress of the disease. The etiology, physical signs and symp toms, x-ray and laboratory findings were fully de scribed and many other details of a technical nature determined. During this period also, concentration codes, representing "safe" limits of air borne dust, were recommended. These vary in different locations but, generally speaking, the following table, set up by the Committee on "Prevention of Silicosis Through Medical Control" of the National Silicosis Conference, offers a fair standard. > T able II. P ermissible Dust Concentrations in Various I ndustries Induwtry Farecatafe SUiea ia tha Dust Parmlaaibla D ust ConoentntioB wiihaw par Cubic Toot South Africa*.......... ......... .................. 80 0at*Ho Gold M b * ............ Australia Sandstone*-- . . . narr Gradfce*..................... .................. 81 to 88 Pennsylvania Antlirmdle Coal Mine**. 86 18 8 Broken HiU, Australia*........ W 00 to 0 8 to 10 10 to 18 80 14 *B*m4 upon oficieefia* practice. _____ upon clinic! tadie. Of the dusts studied up to the present time, only silk? and asbestos produce definite pulmonary fibrosis. All the other types of pneumoconiosis exhibit the same gsr.eral kind of tissue change with a similar pattern of shadows on the roentgenogram. Gardner states that the pattern in this instance consists of a mere accen tuation of the normal branching, tree-like shadows cast chiefly by the pulmonary blood vessels. It represents a simple benign type of linear fibrosis and is difficult to distinguish from the mild accentuation of linear mark ings sometimes seen in x-rays of individuals with no known history of dust exposure. Various terms are used to indicate special types of pneumoconiosis. For instance, "anthracosis" desig nates a condition of the lungs found among coal miners due to the inhalation of coal dust. "Siderosis" de scribes the tissue reaction occurring in some iron ore miners, and such terms as "byssinosis," and "tobacosis" refer to the pulmonary changes resulting from exposure to dust from cotton and tobacco. While such distinctions do not add much to our knowledge of dis eases due to dust, nevertheless it is desirable to have a general conception of the important physical and roentgenological features of each for the sake of diag nosis. In this connection it is advisable to mention the status of the silicates. The term "silicatosis" has been used from time to time to describe changes observed in the chest x-ray of persons exposed to dust from such substances as talc, soap stone, mica, feldspar, garnet, etc.; but the exact role played by these silicates in the production of pulmonary change has not yet been definitely established. They constitute a group of numerous minerals which find widespread use in in dustry, but with the exception of asbestos, their capacity to produce fibrosis has not been demonstrated. Petrologists warn against the potential Hazard from silicates but experiments so far have produced no evi dence of connective tissue proliferation as a resulf of their use. On the other hand, it should not be assumed that lack of such evidence indicates absolute i>xrtness. The changes observed in the chest x-rays oi persons, exposed to silicate dust have been theoreU sally ex plained as a mild silicosis arising from silica left after the body fluids have leached the "bases out of the sili cotic molecule. A representative group of 24 silicates used in industry, listed by Gardner, appears in Lanza's book, "Silicosis and Asbestosis." The inert dusts, which include most of the silicates, are relatively un important because of their non-disabling character. A few of these materials are limestone, marble, talc, chalk, calcined magnesium for insulation, furnace lin ings, carbon dust, iron dust, tobacco dust, cement, cotton, molds, fungi, etc. Anthraco-silicosis results from excessive exposure to coal dust which contains amounts of free silica. Since carbon is one of the inert dusts, it seems reasonable SPNY 000229 to assume that the fibrosis is simply the result of the action of free silica which is present in sufficient con centration to induce proliferative cell reaction. Be cause it occurs chiefly in hard coal miners, it has been known for many years as "miner's asthma." The cardinal symptom is shortness of breath, fre quently associated with productive cough. More ad vanced cases complain of weakness, chest pain, gastric disturbs: ces and hemoptysis. Sayers9 states that in a U. S. Public Health Survey of anthracite miners in Pennsylvania in 1933, fever and night sweats were seldom mentioned. (This is true of silicosis cases in iron ore miners.) He notes such physical signs as dyspnea, prolonged expiration, change in contour of the chest, decreased chest expansion, clubbing of the fingers, change in breath sounds, altered fremitus and impaired resonance. Where infection complicated the picture, the symptoms were more marked and included cyanosis and loss of weight and strength. The pathology of anthraco-silicosis is characterized by accumulations of coal dust in the lungs associated with varying degrees of pulmonary fibrosis. The lungs are gray and firm and may show dark colored markings on the pleural surfaces. On section, areas of black pigmentation appear scattered throughout the lung fields. Coalescence of the nodules produces larger areas, particularly in the hilar regions, but many large discrete nodules appear throughout the parenchyma. Fibrous hyperplasia can be seen along the lym phatics. Microscopic section reveals deeply pigmented areas of fibrous connective tissue with dust laden macrophages around the outer .border of the nodule. The earliest x-ray evidence of anthraco-silicosis con sists of exaggeration of the linear markings which increases with continued exposure, until the general pattern is obscured and replaced by definite nodulation. Further progress of the disease will be evidenced by more massive conglomerate shadows which may be complicated by the presence of infection. Asbestosis as an occupational disease has been rec ognized only in recent years. Forty-one deaths were reported from this cause in England up to 1934. In this country it has been estimated by Lanza that approximately 10,000 persons are exposed to asbestos dust. In a study by Dressen, Edwards and Miller10 of the U. S. Public Health Service, 541 asbestos workers were examined. No cases of asbestosis were found among workers exposed to dust concentrations below 2,500,000 particles per cubic foot of air. 'T'HE greatest occupational hazard exists in mining, handling and crushing crude asbestos, making in sulation and the carding and weaving of asbestos. In other industries such as the compounding of mate rials for automobile brake linings, the hazard is recog nized but the disease is uncommon. Asbestos is a hydrated magnesium silicate. It is the one silicate which does produce a fibrosis, but this differs pathologically and roentgenologically from the nodular reaction of silica. Industrial asbestos dust is comprised of very small fibres. Only the larger ones, over 2 microns in length, are thought to be capable of producing fibrosis. Gardner11 is of the opinion that inhaled asbestos fibres are irritating not because they are silicates, but because they are stiff fibres which mechanically irritate the lungs. When the fibres used in animal experiments were finely ground (under 2 microns), the irritating property of asbestos practi cally disappeared. Unlike the free silicas, these miner als will not stimulate fibroblasts in any part of the body other than the lungs. While the action of free silica is chemical, that of asbestos is mechanical. The typical lesions, observed microscopically, show large macrophages in the distal portions of the bronchial tree, the formation of the asbestos giant cell, and the generalized fibrosis surrounding the bronchioles, alve oli, air sacs and blood vessels. This results ip oblitera tion of the lung structure. The alveoli have literally become plugged, and the function of the lung impaired mechanically. Merewether and Price12 examined 868 workers ex posed to practically pure asbestos dust in factories in Great Britain. The following table indicates their find ings as regards exposure and fibrosis. T able III. Y ean t l Work Case* Examined Showing Fibroait Per Cent 0 to 4 ............. ........... 89 ........... ........... 0 ................... &to 9 ............ ........... 141 ........... ........... S$ ..................... 10 to 14 ........... ........... 8 4 ........... ........... 27 ..................... 16 to 19 ........... ........... 28 ........... ........... 16 ...................... 20 end over___ ........... 21 ........... ........... 17 ................... . . . . 90.9 As in cases of fibrosis produced by other dusts, there is no typical symptom of asbestosis. Dyspnea is the most striking feature of the disease. The onset is grad ual, and the symptoms increase as the condition ad vances. Cough, expectoration, cyanosis, loss of weight, and emaciation are late occurrences probably associ ated with infection. A feature of asbestosis is the occurrence of -socalled asbestos bodies. Cook13 states that "the `curious bodies' so characteristic of pulmonary asbestosis are found in the alveoli and bronchioles and in the fibrous and necrotic areas. They measure 20 to 100 microns in length. One or both ends are bulbous, giving a clubbed or dumb-bell appearance. The shafts are either homogeneous or segmented crosswise. They are golden yellow to brownish in color. They do not stain but give a Prussian blue reaction to iron. From a diagnostic standpoint, it is generally agreed that the `curious bodies' signify exposure to asbestos dust but cannot be depended upon for a diagnosis of asbestosis." Ap parently the asbestos body is formed from the original fibre by a tissue reaction, the nature of which is .still obscure. The fact that segmented figures are not found in crude asbestos or asbestos dust indicates that they are formed only after the fibres have come in contact with living tissue. Another interesting skin lesion found in this dis ease is the "asbestos corn" due to the penetration of fibres into the superficial layers of the skin. To establish a diagnosis, a history of exposure to asbestos dust is essential. The length of this Exposure is important and should be correlated with the chest roentgenogram in which the "ground glass appear ance" is characteristic. The lesions are limited to the lower halves of the lungs and there is hyperventilation in the upper portions. The cardiac outline becomes blurred and the domes of the diaphragm obliterated. The appearance of the heart and lower chest may sug gest cardiac disease which should be definitely ruled out in a worker in an asbestos plant before diagnosing his condition as asbestosis. The diagnosis of asbestosis from the x-ray is not an easy matter, but the follow ing features are fairly characteristic: 1. Lesions basal in character. 2. Hyperventilation in upper lobes. 3. Blurred cardiac outline. 4. Obliteration of the diaphragm. 5. No nodulation. 6. "Ground glass" appearance. 7. May be unilateral. The occupational hazard of asbestos is not par ticularly significant. Its recognition as a clinical entity SPNY 000230 in industrial medicine is important, but judging from the comparatively small number of persons exposed in this country, the actual amount of disability re sulting from the disease is not great. In one of our plants where considerable asbestos is used in the manufacture of automobile brake linings, a recent survey of 189 employees exposed to variable amounts of dust, revealed no actual cases of fibrosis. A few men's films showed haxiness which suggested evidence of the disease, but they were not sufficiently typical to warrant a diagnosis of asbestosis. However, it should be stated that the hazard in this particular plant is well controlled by adequate exhaust ventila tion. FROM the mass of evidence accumulated during the past 25 years, it now seems definitely established that silica is the public enemy No. 1 of those engaged in dusty occupations. By itself and in combination with other dusts, it offers a harmful exposure to a conservatively estimated 500,000 workers in the United States alone. In spite of this fact, most ob servers are now of the opinion that silicosis, uncom plicated by infection, is not a disabling disease. How ever, the fertile field it affords for the development of tuberculosis makes it imperative to disregard its be nign characteristics and view it with suspicion until otherwise proven innocent. ' The Committee on Pneumoconiosis of the Industrial Hygiene Section of the American Public Health As sociation defines silicosis as "a disease due to breath ing air containing silica (Si Os), characterized an atomically by generalized fibrotic changes and the de velopment of military nodulation in both lungs, and clinically by shortness of breath, decreased chest ex pansion, lessened capacity for work, absence of fever, increased susceptibility to tuberculosis (some or all of which symptoms may be present) and by character istic x-ray findings." . Gardner14 points out that an objection to this definition is that it recites symptoms which are not always present except in advanced cases. He suggests the following as being more simple and adequate: "Silicosis means a disease of the lungs due to breathing air containing uncombined silicon dioxide (Si 0 2) dust, characterized anatomically by general ized nodular fibrotic changes throughout both lungs which are demonstrable by x-ray examination and by autopsy and resulting from any process of occupation involving inhalation of silicon dioxide dust." The disease has been known as a clinical entity since the year 1871, but not until recent years was it recog nized in industries other than hard rock mining. Silica is a most abundant constituent of rocks and minerals. With its compounds, it makes up 65% of the earth's crust. It occurs in two forms, free and combined. The combined forms are known as silicates (previously referred to). Probably no other mineral is more widely used than silica and its compounds. Some of the more common occupations providing exposure are mining, tunneling, processing ores, quarrying, stone cutting and polish ing, manufacture of abrasives, sand blasting, and grinding. For a complete list of the uses to which silica may be put see the table "Occupational Environment" by LaDoo, To appreciate the pathological changes occurring in silicosis, it is well to recall the natural mechanism of defense in the respiratory tract itself. Nature has provided a barrier to dust and foreign particles at the point of entry into the body. The fine hairs of the nostrils and the mechanical arrangement of the upper respiratory tract offer considerable resistance to large particles and provide a very effective means of pro tection against all but the very fine dusts. Probably the greater part of the inhaled particles are eliminated by the upward current created by the ciliated epi thelium of the trachea and bronchi. Beyond this point, the alveolar phagocyte or "dust cell" provides further elimination by transporting particles to the point where the cilia become effective. It is believed that the particles from 0.5 to 3 microns in size are the only ones capable of producing pulmonary fibrosis. Those above 3 microns are elim inated by the upper respiratory tract while few of those below 0.5 micron actually remain in the alveoli. In the actual production of fibrosis, the phagocytes, which probably originate from the inner surface of the air sac or the lining of the capillary blood vessels, pick up the fine dust and pass to the lymph spaces to be transported to more distant points by the lymph ves sels along the normal course of drainage towards the hilum of the lung. In this process, particles become deposited in the interlobular tissue and rodes along the vessels. Here, it is thought, the body fluids produce a slow chemical reaction which results in the death of the dust cells and necrosis of the surrounding tissue. This stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts and the ensuing scar inhibits the further removal of dust. The interference with the flow of lymph causes a spread of the phagocytes toward the pleura, and fibrosis appears in the interlobular septa and along the lymphatics which accompany the blood vessels. As the process goes on, small nodules of fibrous tissue become scat tered throughout the lung giving, rise to the so-called noduar condition typical of silicosis. These nodules may increase in size and eventually coalesce, forming massive fibrotic areas which destroy the air sacs and result in compensatory enlargement of neighboring alveoli, or in other words, emphysema. Microscopically, the typical nodule of mature form consists of concentric whorls of dense hyaline collagen SPNY 000231 fibres. The border is sharply defined with no exudate in the adjacent air spaces. The nodule may contain black pigment distributed either about the periphery or in focal collections in the interior. Symptoms in silicosis depend largely upon whether the disease is complicated by infection (tuberculosis) or not. In simple or uncomplicated silicosis, they are absent or very few. In a great many instances people with well developed nodulation are entirely unaware that anything is wrong with their lungs. The com monest symptom is "shortness of breath," but fre quently this complaint has to be elicited from the indi vidual, and then he will often qualify it by stating that "he is not as young as he used to be." In some cases the actual dyspnea as observed by exercise tests, is less than the amount complained of. These discrepan cies demonstrate the need of looking for causes of shortness of breath other than silicosis. Fever, cough, expectoration and rales are rarely encountered. If they are met with in moderate pulmonary fibrosis, they are probably due to an acute respiratory infection. Some silicotics tolerate colds and even pneumonia with sur prising resistance. Physical signs are usually lacking. When the disease progresses, however, and if the individual does show evidence of his condition, the symptoms and signs can be more definite. The short ness of breath is practically constant and is often associated with palpitation of the heart. The appear ance of dry cough, sputum, loss of appetite, and in creased fatigue should arouse suspicion of infection. "Complicated silicosis" in the vast majority of cases means silico-tuberculosis. It is what the older men knew as "miners' complaint" or miners' consumption. which may come rather suddenly and easily. I have The susceptibility of silicotics to tuberculosis is well seen such individuals and talked with them shortly known, but the reason for it is still obscure. The fatal before their demise and have anticipated no sudden outcome in practically all cases of death from silicosis termination of existence. is usually due to tuberculosis. Not so many years ago Progression of silicosis is extremely slow. Some it was believed that persons with silicosis and tuber times even in the presence of infection, it does not culosis would inevitably die. There is now reason to appear to advance very rapidly, but in certain in believe that this is not necessarily true. In my own stances the disease proceeds with astounding Bpeed. experience, I have seen cases with well marked nodu Silicosis takes time to develop. Experience in South lation develop infection and show a positive sputum Africa indicates that approximately eight years are which later became negative after a period of hospi required for the condition to progress from a pre talization. A survey of practically any group of hard silicotic stage to a silicotic one. rock miners will show a considerable number with Because of the lack of physical signs and symptoms, evidence of healed tuberculosis. However, the fact a classification of the stages of silicosis is only practi remains that once tuberculosis becomes superimposed cal when based on x-ray findings. Various observers on silicosis, the prognosis is extremely serious. have made their own tabulations, but the one worked In chronic silico-tuberculosis the lungs, on gross out by Sampson16 affords a practical and satisfactory appearance, are leathery or rubber-like in consistency, grouping: pigmented, and show areas of fibrous pleurisy where the lesions extend to the surface. The nodular fibrosis _____________________ T able IV.____________________ which is the characteristic feature can be felt imme A. U ncomplicated Silicosis: diately beneath the pleura. On section, the cut surface N --Normal chest. I is rough and gritty, and the normal lung tissue has Pi--Stage of peritruncal exaggeration. been practically replaced by extensive fibrosis or large P--Stage of marked peritruncal exaggeration. masses of very dense, heavily pigmented scar tissue. ' (Pre-Silicosis) The pleura is thickened and adherent. Emphysema is present. In active silico-tuberculosis, caseation and pneumonia of tuberculous origin may be present. On microscopic section this can be seen about the nodule. Infection may be active or "fresh," healed or "old," and indeterminate. Symptoms will vary according to the stage of the disease. As the condition advances, the patient may exhibit the characteristic phthisic symptoms and signs, such as cough, loss of weight, Si--First degree nodulation-- (Linear mark ings obliterated and nodules up to 2 mm. in diameter present.) Si--Second degree nodulation (Nodules 2 to 4 mm. in diameter.) S,--Third degree nodulation (Nodules over 4 mm.) B. Complicated Silico sis: 1. Silicosis with fresh infection. 2. Silicosis with old infection. dyspnea, chest pain, night sweats, tubercle bacilli 3. Silicosis with indeterminate infection. in the sputum, and haemorrhage. He dies a charac teristic tuberculous death. This is not always the case, In silicosis the x-ray appearance of the chest differs however. Many individuals with far advanced silico- considerably from that of abestosis. In the accom tuberculosis show surprising resistance and may be panying table the more characteristic features of each comparatively active up till a few hours before death, are tabulated as an aid in differential diagnosis: SPNY 000232 If 1 SA. i ASBESTOS silicosis X-rays dem onstrating shadow in asbestosis an d advanced tilicssls . T able V. X -R ay A ppea r a n c e a sb e sto sis SILICOSIS Diffuse lesions lim ited to lower halves s N odular lesions d istrib u ted m ore in of lungs--H yperventilation in upper upper so d m id-lung fields o r general By the same token, extreme care should be taken to eliminate contact with tuberculosis from these work ers. This can only be accomplished by repeated chest x-rays of all those exposed to hazardous dust and removal of the ones showing evidence of infection. portions. ised-em physem a in lo v er halves. O bliteration of th e diaphragm . N o nodulation. Shortening; of long d iam eter of chest w ith adhesions and testin g of dia phragm . M arked nodulation. Bibliography 1. Kronenberc and Mouse: H ealth H azards of Occupational E n vironments. Department of Public Health Circular--1st. 2. SArntroroN, C. Q .: Essentials of Industrial Health. Lippincott, " G round glass" appearance. D isc re te n o d u la tio n to m a ssiv e co n 1943. p p . 186-187, glom erate shadows. 3. Gardner, L. U -: Pathology of Silicosis. Second Symposium on M ay be unilateral. B ilateral. Silicosis, Saranac Lake, New York, 1936. 4. Drinker and H atch : Industrial Dust. McGraw-HHI Book Com pany. Inc., H e York. 19S6. p. 2. Certain other conditions such as fungus infections, 5. J ohnstone. R. T . : Occupational Diseases. W. B. Saunders, Phila miliary tuberculosis, miliary calcification and miliary carcinoma produce shadows in the roentgenogram which may be confused with those of silicosis. In these instances careful study of the film and previous occu pational history will usually be sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis. As in all diseases due to dust, treatment is an en delphia, 1942, p. 204. 6. P anooast, H . K .: Silicosis and Asbestos!--Introduction, Lanza. Oxford Medical Publications, 1938. 7. L anza. A. J . : Silicosis and Asbestos!*, Oxford Medical Publica tions, 1938. 8. Gardner. L. U .; Symposium on Silicosis, Saranac Lake, 1934. 9. Sayers, E. K -: Reaction to Mixed D usts: Atmospheric and Clin ical Findings in H ard Coat Mining. Fourth Saranac Laboratory Sym posium on Silicosis, 1939, 10. Diucssen, W . G,, Dallavalle, J . M., Edwards. T, I., Miller, J . I gineering problem rather than a medical one. Once W,, Savers. R. R .: A Study of Asbestosis in the Asbestos Textile In fibrosis is established in the lungs, it is permanent. dustry. United States Public Health Bulletin--241, MSB. 11. Gardner. L. U .: Recent Development* in Relation to Silicosis. Progression of the disease is very slow and chronic, Industrial Medicine. 9 :46, February, 1940. except in some instances where infection occurs. Con 12. Mkrewether. E . R. A., and Price. C. W .: Report on Effect* of Asbestos Dust on the Lungs and Dust Suppression in the Asbestos In tinued exposure to hazardous dust appears to be the dustry. H. M. S tat. Office. London, 1930. i bdiugsgteisst kfeapcttoart ainsathfee caodnvcaenncteramtieonnt ionf thfiebraoisriso. f Wwohrekn Pu11l4m5.. oGCnoaaorrykd,nAeWrs,b,eLsEt.o.U:sisA..:sbSBearsrtiaotinssahDc uMLsaet kdaiecn,adNl eJthwoeurY"nCoarluk.r,i2o:Pu6es7r8sB,oon1da9ile2s9C'*. omFomuunndician i ing places, there is no good reason why a person with tion. 1943. . uncomplicated silicosis cannot continue his occupation. 16. Sampson, H. L .: Third Symposium on Silicosis. Saranac Lake. New York, 1937. SPNY 000233 3 3 Chest Conditions Simulating Silicosis L. E. HAMLIN, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director, American Brake Shoe Company, Chicago , r1. - \ Ju JCUtJu - c. Reprinted from Industrial Medicine, 15 ; 6, 376 - 381, June, 1946 SPNY 000234