Document 6R232Y6y4xNBnbBnKdY9QvK9

"T; / 0 --*** Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc,, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. January 24, 1933, REFERENCES TO RECENT LITERATURE ON INDUSTRIAL DISEASES (A) Net-is I teas 1 ST.-JJDARDS FOR JLiLYZING DUST CONCENTRATION. Labor Standards, U.S. Dept, of Labor 1, S (November 1338). The American Standards Association has recently authorized its committee on stan dards of permissible atmospheric contamination in v/ork places to develop standards for safe limits of concentration for toxic dusts md gases. This technical com mittee, comprising eminent toxicologists, pathologists ;nd industrial engineers, and set up at tlx request of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, is to review the work of other organizations, to set up specific standards on toxic materials and to furnish physicians and engineers in terested vith information on injurious exposure. Dr. Roy R, Jones of the U. 3. Public Health Service, is to act as technical secretary of the committee. 2 COUNCIL ON INDUSTRIAL HEALTH. J. Am. Med. Assoc. III. 2128 (December 3, 1938). The first Annual Congress on Industrial Health sponsored by the American Medical Association was held January 9 and 10, 1939 at the Palmer House in Chicago. On the program were articles and papers which '.fill be of interest and which will be abstracted in this Bulletin as they are published. 3 NOMENCLATURE IN INDUSTRIAL HEALTH. J. Am. Med. Assoc, m, 117-8 (December 5, 1938). The language of industrial health is at present incapable of full expression with in the strict confines of scientific terminology. Variations in source and deriv ation of the usages and idioms has resulted in wide confusion and there is a need, according to the Council on Industrial Health of the American Medical Association, for a definition of the terms used. To this end the Council proposes to publish a compendium which will define and explain the various terms now in use. 4 SILICOSIS PRIOR TO OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE ^CT. Labor Standards, U.S. Dept, of Labor 1, 6 (Sept.-Oct. 1938), Affirming a decision in 'the circuit court, the Supreme Court of Michigan recently dismissed a damage suit for deaths from silicosis prior to October 29, 1937, when the State occupational disease law went into effect. The suit, involving eight cases of death from silicosis, claimed negligence on the part of the employer in failing to provide proper ventilation and exhaust systems to remove the silica du3t. Both plaintiffs and the defendant were under the State compensation act at the tine the silicosis was contracted, 5 ENFORCING THE SILICA DUST CODE, Labor Standards, U.S, Dept, of Labor, 13 (December 1938). A procedure designed to expedite enforcement of the code for control of silica dust in rock drilling has been authorized by the New York State Industrial Com missioner. Contractors vfill be allowed 10 days to comply with the first order to HHBB-0U09775 HW8B-dQB97?6 References to Recent Literature - 2 provide -..no use dust control equipment. If the contractor fails to comply and to continue compliance './ith the order, the Labor Department will take a sample of the dust at drilling as evidence, and will prohibit further use of the drills in volved, identifying then with a red tag and "ill begin prosecution, Where drill ing contracts are of short duration, arrangements are made for prompt analysis of dust samples. For further details on this code see- Abstract Nc. 19, this bulletin. {&) Paters on Dust. Dust Diseases and General. Industrial Hygiene. 6 IKDUSTEI.l MEDIC I HE ND THE MuTOF aCTURER. D.M, Schafer. Ind. Med. 7, 662-4 (November 1925). In this short article, the author outlines the work being done by the Committee or. Healthful '.Vorkiiag Conditions of the National Association of Manufacturers. Their object is to ^remote better health measures r.ot only in the larger companies where much has already been done but also to disseminate this information to the smaller industries which do not in many cases have access to it. Their plan is one of coorair.ation in which they will gather the essential facts from the scientific side of industrial hygiene and prepare then so that the industrialist can 3ee what they mean -and what they car. do for his factory. 7 DEVELOPMENT OfINDUETRIaL HYGIENE IN THE UNITED STATES. J.J. Bloomfield. Am.J. Pud. Health, 28, 1388-97 (December 1938). Industrial hygiene activities have increased tremendously in the past two or throe years and there are now 26 states having industrial hygiene department#, with 6 others making surveys to determine their needs. The health of industrial employe--s, however, is not entirely one of industrial exposure but is closely bound up with -a comprehensive program, of general adult health. The author sug gests as a health program a strong industrial hygiene department which can guide and coordinate existing public health activities along adult hygiene Hue#. 8 ANNU.A REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES rtKD WORKSHOPS FOR THE YEAR 1937. H.M, Stationery Office, London (1938), (British), The contents of this report, particularly of the chapter on "Health," should be of special interi-st. Under a new act, the hours of employment of young persons is further restricted and it is considered that more frequent periodic physical examinations should be made of the younger employees. The number of cases of load poisoning was the lowest since the disease became notifiable but five cases of mercurial poisoning were recorded and the symptoms arc mentioned in the report because of their dissimilarity from classical signs. There was an increase in th number of cases of epithelioaatous ulceration particularly in tar distilling and cotton mule spinning. In the section dealing with dust, it is noted that the sub stitution of non-siliceous abrasive for sand continues to increase. In the steel industry, because of recently increased production, there was an increased risk af silicosis to men who break down and rebuild Siemea's furnaces. In some plants permanent gangs of men do such work, where exhaust ventilation is difficult to apply, and, because of the heat, respirators are inconvenient to wear. It would appear that the only applicable preventive measure would be in the substitution of some harmless material for the silica. 9 REDUCING COST CF hORKMEN'S COMPENSATION IN INDUSTRY. D. Harrington. U.8. Bur. Mines, Inf. Circ. No. 7020 (June 1938). Obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Wash ington, D. C, In many states the cost of workmen's compensation has risen during the past year and proposals to increase benefits to employees are before the legislatures of many states, which will cause further sharp rises. Also, occupational disease ^<Ts -~?y References tc Recent Literature - 3 compensation will probably soon be accorded practically ns wide recognition as accident compensation. Industry, therefore, is confronted with the problem of materially higher compensation rates than those of the poBt or present. Although present day compensation laws are not ideal from the standpoint of -j.il concerned, the relation between employer and injured employee is far more satisfactory than in the past. The only feasible method open to industrialists tc combat this trend appears to be a rigorous program of accident control. Differential rates favoring employers with low accident records arc endorsed as is an administration of the lavs to enable employees to receive practically all of the premiums paid. 10 MECHaNISED SaFcIY. S. w'alton-Brcwn. Tnns. Instn, Min. Engrs, (London) 95, 202-300 (June 1338). The progress of machine raining during the periods 1924-29, 1930-34 and 1935-36 is shown by the percentages of coal cut by machine during those periods (23,59, and 53 per cent respectively) and by the percentages conveyed during those periods t), 26 and 45 per cent respectively). Based on tons of coal mined, there has been a reduction of accidents from 1924-29 to 1935-36, but based on man-shifts the figures show an increase of accident rate. More coal is mined with less men, but the accident rate is higher. 11 WORKING IN THE OaEK. barren A. Cook. Nat, O'afety flaws 24-5 (January 1939). Toxic concentrations of nearly all hazardous gases, dusts and vapors are unde tectable without the use of some specific metnod of determination, A brief out line is given cf the latest methods in use on the determination of the various impurities cf the atmosphere which are hazardous and it i3 urged, in cases of doubt as to the concentration, that accurate methods be used to measure them, 12 PROCEDURE IN MAKING A SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF DUST INJURY, L. Teleky. Folia med. 23, 23-4 (1937), (Italian). The investigation must always be token up from the clinical and industrial hygien point cf view. In dust studies it is necessary tc, examine thoroughly all the employees, including x-rays whore possible. There arc a number of methods of detecting quartz in lung tissue and also for the analysis of dusts for free sili ca. Dust counts should be made with the recognized instruments. In allergic dust studios it is necessary to list the materials used and the conditions of their application, 13 AIR CONDITIONING AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH.. L.D, Bristol. J.An.Med. Assoc. ^10r 2142-3 (1958). In a comparison of collected data on diagnosed illnesses, lasting seven days or more, among 1000 women working ir. air conditioned rooms, it was found that the average monthly incidence was slightly higher than that in a control group work ing in mechanically ventilated rooms. The average days' duration per case was also slightly higher in the air conditioned rooms, . 14 DISABLING SICKNESS aMOJUG MALE INDUSTRIAL FMPLOYEES DURING THE SECOND QUARTER AND THE FIRST HALF OF 1938. W.M, Gafafor and E.S. Frasier. U.S. Public Health Re ports .53, 1910-11 (October 20, 1938). Reports from sick-benefit organizations including 168,233 male employees showed that rates for illnesses lasting more than a week were 28% lower in the first half cf 1938 than in the same period of 1937 and 13% below the same periods of the years 1930-7, Ncn-industrial injuries remained about the- some. All respir atory disease rates were far lower except that new cases of tuberculosis showed a slight gain. ntfBB-0009777 References to Recent Literature - 4 8ZZ6BH0-R8.HH (tDw:iua]'))@:i(p i i j)gj) 15 REGARDING THE BOOK "LUNG FIBROSIS OF MINERS" BjT L. CRCZIER, E. VaRTIN AND A, POLICARD. Magnin, Med. du travail 10. 97-118 (1938). (French), The three authors who collaborated on the book belong to a group of French phy sicians who hold that silicosis can be diagnosed roentgenologieally only with "'J great difficulty and that it can only develop on a preexistent tuberculosis. In France it has still not been included as a compensable disease. Magnin, in an open letter, criticises the book and says it only serves to strengthen the '/laws of experts in all other countries. It is stated that the authors have done vio lence- to their own facts to strengthen their own views, and it is e-mphasized hew beneficially the recognition of silicosis a3 an industrial disease in other coun tries h:s effected prevention itself as is shown by the record in the South African aines. 16 SILICOSIS; THE PATIENTS, M, Conrozior and I. Magnin, Med- iu travail, 10. 173-248 (1936). (French). The authors h-ve observed patients, of whom they have 300 x-rays. They pub lish numerous case histories and only a few in the group have been complicated by tuberculosis. They present very exact reports and excellent descriptions, all to prove that silicosis is a separate disease entity caused fcy dust, 7,-hich is not necessarily complicated with tuberculosis. Such an argument is necessary in France, v/hore certain physicians (see. proceeding abstract) oppose this view which is accepted elsewhere throughout the world. 17 THE cILICOb'IS RISK IN THE POTTER? INDUSTRY. D.F.SV. Bishop. Ceramic Age 2, 146-7 (November 1938), (Reprinted from an article in a British publication.) The author umphasir.ae tee importance of the silicosis risk in the pottery indus try and says that although it has only recently been made a compensable disease (England, 1929) it has bc-rn well known in the past as "potter's asthma" and "potter's rot." He discusses the results of trials in the chinaware section in replacing flint by alumina as a bedding material, and reports that one firm found definite advantages. It has been shown that workers exposed to alumina dust, in some cases for as long as 39 years, experienced no lung changes. The author re views ten items to be stressed in maintaining good dust control and makes a plea for observance of the rules in spirit as well as in the letter. 18 SILICOSIS IN THE MONUMENT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN VIRGINIA. Bureau of Indus trial Hygiene, Virginia State Department of Health Bulletin, 23 pp. (1938). Following a preliminary survey of dusty trades in Virginia, a more detailed 3tudy of the monument industry was conducted. This industry in Virginia consists in a small number of plants which process granite monuments, mostly in open-air plant; The survey included the determination of dust concentrations and the examination cf about one-half of the workers by X-ray. The dust concentrations found dis pelled the idea that out-of-doors work involved no hazard, as they were well above the limits in nearly all cases. The total dust exposures of the workers was difficult to estimate however, because of the irregularity of their duties and variability of the types of work. The X-ray examinations disclosed that about 25 per cent of the 45 workers examined had involvement of the lungs from the silica dust; 8 of the men ware diagnosed as having silicosis and 3 as having silicosis complicated with infection. On the basis of these findings, recommen dations (which art- listed in the bulletin) were made to the industry on control measures to reduce the dust concentrations to safe limits. 19 SILICA DUET EXPOSURE OF ROCK DRILLERS IN NEW YORK QUARRIES. L.Greenburg, C.B. Ford, iV.J. Eurke and B.H. Dolin. Ind. Eull. 575-7 (December 1938), Under the IIc.v York rock drilling codes, the rock formations are divided into two classes with regulations as follows: Class I--rock with less than 10% free sili ca, and Class II--rock with mere than 10% free silica. Maximum allowable dust HwBh-0 uu9??9 References to Recent Litoroture - 5 concentrations are: Class I--up to 100 million particles per cu. ft.; Class II-- 10 million particles per cu. ft. Because ,,f wide variation in limits for the tv;o classes, careful representative s r-pling of the rock r.-ust bo made by the w Department, In numerous dust counts made in the industry in both Class I and Class II rocks, the average dust concentrations found were below 100 million par ticles per cu. ft. and above 10 million. From this it is concluded that dust control methods are unnecessary in Class I rock, but are required, according to the cede, in Class II rock formations. 20 5ILIC05I5 Id A NORWEGIAN STEEL FOUNDRY. K. Evnng. Word, "vied, Tid. 16, 1035-92 (1953), (Norwegian), The author examined 29 employees who had worked in a small foundry for more than three years. Of them, 13 showed definite radiological evidence of silicosis and in two others it was suspected. The cases were distributed throughout the foun dry in all of the occupations. The author points cut that the results are in deed alarming and 'warrant studies in other similar foundries. 21 FINDINGS OF A MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF A GF.0UP OF FETTLERS. J.Chalmagne. Arch. Med. Sec. ot Hyg. 1, 527-32 (1938). (Belgian). Fettiers are those who use pneumatic tools to clean sand from castings before they are sent to the sandblast. Fifty-one of these men from four foundries were examined. The results are not reported clearly, and although x-rays were taken on 12, no reports are given of them. Most prominent symptoms found were dyspnea on exertion, cough, and pulmonary trouble which were more noticeable in the old er men. 22 THE RESPIRATORY .did CIRCULATORY ADAPTATION TO aCUTE ANOXIA IN SILICOSIS AND 0r.RDIOVASCiiLAR DISEASE, M.H. Seevers, Ncrbert Enzer, and T.J. Becker. J.Ind. Eyg, h Toxicol 20, 595-654 (December 1938). In spite of adTjac-.s made in the past in reducing exposures to dust concentra tions which rapidly produce the disabling pulmonary lesions, most workers will, sJ over long periods of time, inhale enough dust to produce a detectable degree of pulmonary fibrosis. It is important then to know whether these minimal fibre tic changes cause any appreciable or measurable pulmonary disfunction. That the <changes can cause a disfunction in terms of maximum capacity is granted but the 3 important question is to know whether they can reduce his capacity to perform ordinary daily tasks. At the present time, no satisfactory methods are availabl which can rate the individual's ability or capacity to perform a given task and therefore rate his degree of disability. All depend on his cooperation which in many cases i3 unreliable. In the tests here reported the authors examined patients subjected to atmospheres of reduced oxygen content to study their re actions, Comparatively little has been dune on this type of experiment, partic ularly in the older age groups, and many more tests are necessary in order to correlate results. Although the experiments serve as a method of studying the sensitivity of those mechanisms (heart, circulatory system, etc.) that comconsat for the stress of reduced oxygen, it was found that there was no evidence of latent cardiac incompetence, over and above that occurring with age, in individ uals with varying degrees of pulmonary fibrosis until the fibrosis was quite far advanced. THE HEART IN PNEUMOCONIOSIS. C.B. Coggin, D.S. Griggs and W.L. Stilson. Am. Heart J. ^6, 411 (1938). The basis for this work is the study of 205 cases of pneumoconiosis over a per iod of 20 years. Of these cases 102 cane to post mortem while 103 provided only clinical studies; 146 were classified as third stage and 55 as second stage pneumoconiosis. Cardiac enlargement was detected by clinical examination in C. ! 0 0 0) References tw Recent Literature - 6 f.5.6?, Accentuation of the pulmonic second sound and the presence of marked cyanosis suggest cardiac involvement in pneumoconiosis. In 43 cases examined by electro-cardiograms, 37.2 per cent shewed right axis deviation which paralleled the autopsy evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy. Ccnjestiva heart failure was a ccmr.en' cause of death in third stage silicotics, acre common in this series of cases than tuberculosis, -and th findings are in disagreement with the popular concept. . 24 SILICOSIS AND SILICO-TUEERCULOSIS. F. Dcmer.ici, Fclia med. 24, 289-305 (1938), (Italian). The author presents the clinical picture ana autopsy findings of a powder factory .verker wuo died of silicc-tuberculesis. On the basis of the literature he con cludes that silicosis and tuberculosis arc separate diseases but that they appear together quite frequently. 25 THE ENVIRONMENT FACTOR IN RELATION TO HIGH NEGRO TUBERCULOSIS RATES. R.E. Roth. Am. Rev. Tuberc, 3, 137-204 (August 1938). The author reviews the difference in mortality rates between whites and negroes and discusses the views of several authors on the- explanation. It is held by some that environment and mental attitude are the determinative factors while others have the opposite view that negroes are more susceptible to the disease. In this discussion, the author presents a study of groups of negroes and whites living in comparable conditions in American enlisted forces. He believes that the environmental factors are minimized because moat of the whites come from the lower economic brackets and the medical entrance examinations are the same. A great disparity in rates was found: 0.24 per 1000 for whites and 0,99 per 1000 for negroes or about 1 to 4, which he says, could not be explained except by differences in susceptibility. At the same time, he does not wish to minimize the environmental factor. 26 INCIDENCE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN MINERS, J. Am. Med. Assoc. (Paris Letter 111. 1482 (1938). Two doctors report on a study of tuberculosis among coal minors from 1923-37. Among patients in a coal mine company-owned hospital, often one-half of the patients were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. In the years 1923-37, 23.6 per cent of the hospital deaths were caused by this disease compared to 16,5 per cent for a group of controls of the same age. The 1936 mortality rate for the same district for all non-mining males was 2.4 per 1000 and for coal miners was 3.4 per 1000. 27 TUBERCULOSIS IN RELATION TO THE PNEUMOCONIOSES. J.V. Sparks. J. Roy. Inst. Publ. Health & Hyg. i, 790-7 (October 1938).. (British). The paper discusses the radiological aspects of the subject. It is nearly im possible to recognize with certainty the ante-primary stage of silicosis without the aid of the preliminary film of the same patient. It is difficult to express an opinion on the question of superimposed tuberculosis in the pneumoconioses fre radiologic studies. The new method of tomography may yield further help to the clinician in defining the presence and extent of modulation in silicosis. 28 THE CONTROL AND CALIBRATION OF ROENIGENOGRAPKIC APPARATUS. Charles Weyl, S. Reiu Warren, Jr., and D.B. O'Neill. Am. J. Roentg. & Rad, Thar. 741-58 (November 1938). The problem of standardizing roontgenogrsphic technique involves the accurate specification and reproduction of technique. Methods for the fulfillment of these requirements arc: (1) Precise control of apparatus and procedure, (2) accurate calibration of technical factors, and (3) use of an aluminum ladder to O8Z60BO-8SHM nWBij-0009781 Raftrencoi to Recent Literature - 7 obtain exact reproduction of density and contrast, and all arc described in this paper in some detail, 9 BASIC FACTORS IK INDUSTRIAL SSSPIDUTORI PROTECTION. L. Telcky. d'.Uteil. Vclksgeaur.d.ieitsunt. Ncs. 1-3, pp. 3-7, DC--i, 7-34 (1938), (Austrian). The author thinks of industrial respiratory protection as including .core than simply exhaust systems and respirators. Often the most effective means of pro tection is provided by abandoning the use of dangerous substances or by changing the process and methods to eliminate a hazardous gas or dust. In preventive work a prompt recognition cf the danger is imperative. Dust preventive measures are described, such as enclosure of dusty processes, wet methods, etc., together with their effects and limitations, 30 RESPIRATOR FOR USE IN DUST-LaDEN ATMOSPHERES. THE MARK 17 DUST RESPIRATOR. S.A. Sadc, H.L. Green, G. Davies, U.S, Nicholson, A.S.G, Hill and H.H. li'atson. Chem. (53) & Ind. 57_, 781-91 (August 0, 1938). (British). The requirements for a dust respirator are stated and the development of a new respirator is given in detail. The filter material of the latter is made of 20 a per cent by weight cf chrysotile asbestos fibers and 80 per cent merino wool and they are held in place much the sane as in several American models. Most of the testa for filtration efficiency were made with carbonaceous smoko cf 0.16 micron size, although some tests were made with a fine flint dust. Tho authors feel that its efficiency exceeds that required by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, whose methods of tasting are somewhat different. 31 GRANITE WORKERS' NASAL RESISTANCE IN BREATHING. E.C.J. Urban. J. Ind. Hyg. & Toxicol. 20, 635-40 (December 1938). The filtering or protective action of the ncse is considered important enough by some to justify selection of workers on the basis of nasal condition and by others as net of sufficient magnitude to act as an efficient filter. The author describes a scries of tests on 139 Vermont granite workers, selected at random, in which the nasal resistance was measured with a special type of apparatus that pulled varying amounts of air outward through the nose. The results showed that nasal resistances do vary for different individuals but that the variation is slight, and would be apparent only over a period of yeare. At best, it is onlyone of the factors in silicosis and because of the possible tuberculous infec tion, other factors as personal habits, physical condition, and infection con tacts, are more important, 32 DUST: ITS HAZARD, CONTROL, AND COLLECTION WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO SURFACE PLANTS. G.E. Lynch, Min. & Metall. ii, 516-20 (December 1958). The author summarizes the dust hazard from the plant engineers' standpoint and discusses in some detail certain principles of dust control. Dangerous dusts ar*thosu almost invisible particles below 10 microns in size, as particles above that size rarely reach the lungsj it is the particles below 10 microns which do net settle out of the atmosphere rapidly according to the laws of free settling. After particles cf these small sizes are dispersed into the air it is almost in possible to collect or control them, so it is obvious that control must be appli' at the source of the dispersion. A discussion is then given of the principal methods cf control and collection which are available to engineers in their pro blems. The costs are described as being comparatively low and there is a poaaibl salvage value in collected dusts, in addition to the other benefits. 8888-0009782 References to Recent Literature - 8 33 THE COMPARATIVE RESISTANCE TO VENTILATION OF MINE RGADSVATS, INCLUDING THE FORKING FACE. R. Clive. Trans. Instr,. Min, Engrs. (London) 95, 225-33 (July 1938). (British), The coefficient of friction for a straight and ania'cm arched-girder roadway, lined with brickwork to the springline of the arch, is low and approaches that for a smooth-lined airway, A slight variation from the straight appreciably in creases resistance, as dce3 variation in cross-sectional area, The resistance caused by tubs (or cars) is considerable and may increase the coefficient for a particular roadway by ns much as 100 per cent. The resistance along the working face is very high compared with that for a normal rordv/oy. 34 SOME NOTES ON NATURAL VENTILATION. B.R, Lr.wton, J. Chen. Metal. Mir., Soc, Sc. Africa 34, 61-4 (August 1938). Sane interesting observations were made on the seasonal v?.riation of natural ven tilation in a cine abcut 2,200 ft. deep at the pit bottoms and approximately 3,500 ft. deep at the workings. Airflow by gravity varied from a maximum of 150,000 c.f.m. in February, when the surface air temperature was 31^F, to a minimum of "?,000 c.f.m. in August with a surface temperature of 57. This in herent variability of airflow, and. the difficulty in ventilating new development ends are held to be a drawback to general adoption of natural ventilation. Never theless, every effort snculd be made in planning out workings so aa to take full advantage of the gravity effect. THE DETERMINATION OF THE SPECIFIC SURFACE OF POWDERS. P.C. Carman. Jour. Soc. Chen. Ind. 5V, 225-34 (July 1938). (British). a new method is suggested for obtaining the specific surface of sands and of fine powders. Briefly the procedure is to measure the permeability of a snail sample to a liquid of known viscosity and, fron this, to calculate the specific surface, using an equation given in the paper. The equation has been tested over a wide range of conditions and results are accurate even if the particle size distribu tion is irregular, so the new method night well have application in an industrial laboratory. (C) Paoers_-QU Industrial Poisons, Cancer, Dermatitis^ etc. 36 Hazards FROM G.aSES IN METAL MINES AND PROTECTIONS .iGaINST THEM. E.H. Denny. Mining TqcL. Tech, Paper No, 984, 10 pp. (November 1938). In the past few years a number of men have been asphyxiated in mines, tunnels an wells where these occurrences might have been prevented by a few relatively sianlu precautions. The author gives typical examples taken from the files of the Bureau of Mines. Probably most accidents occur in oxygen deficient atmospheres, in locations where ventilation i3 poor and where nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases issue from the rock formations. A common mistake is to forget that gas masks cannot make up oxygen deficiency and that special oxygen-breathing appar atus is necessary. Other causes of asphyxiation are nitrogen fumes from dyna mite; the highly poisonous hydrogen sulfide gases which are present in many unde ground operations, chiefly tunnel and caisscn work; and carbon monoxide. Good ventilation is the best precaution and should be supplemented with the proper respiratory equipment properly used. 37 FLUE GaSEE LAUNDERED TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION. R.V. Kleinschmitt. Power Plant Eng. 42, 393-6 (1938). A scrubber is described that combines atomized spray with centrifugal separation and removes oust as well as sulfur dioxide gases, I i is thought that gas elimin ation as well as dust removal should be considered in air conditioning. pal Sj ei e -^ Reference's to Recent Literature - 3 38 C.iIRSOM DISE-.fcE -- CLIRICAL *ND 8IRiI5TICL STUDY, G, Puncher!. Med. del. Lavoro 19, 193-211 (1938). {Itali_n). The -author reports on a series of cases of caisson disease. In the first of two series recorded there- were 45 cases during 70,500 work hours end in the second series, during which there was more stringent regulation of the tine of decom pression, there wore 33 cases in 153,000 work hours. This value is still quite high for w_Ii regulated diving operations :.nd was due possibly tc the fact tn.it there w-.s nc safety apparatus which enforced longer decompression periods, 33 CUi.iNEOUE -I.Z.S2S IN THE FUR INDUSTRY. G.L. Levin and H.T. Behrman. Ind. Med. 7, 673-- (Uovc-mcer 1933). The health hazards in the fur industry together with :: brief description of the processes .me nteriils used arc presented. 3y far the most common hazard is dermatitis ".l;ruu<;h 'tu:r diseases that arc encountered are anthrax, catarrh and isth-iu. Th,, rise .sec arc caused by contact with the shins themselves, with the acids and othor cl.er.ic tis used, ana with tno numerous synthetic and organic dyes. The action ,,f oi t...: substances is a purely chemical one butin many cases it is an'p.-.ylaotoid, i hers the individual is allergic tc the materiel. Prevention is bust acc'T.iplishud by personal cleanliness and by good sanitary measure Tith ing the plant. 4C BURNS FRO.,. aCEIYLENE WELDING. J. ,1m. Med. Assoc. (Queries and minor notes) 111. 469 (Ls38). L doctor writes that many cases of burns from acetylene welding become infected although immediate treatment is provided. It is probably not the flu* that causes the infection but more likely the dust and small metal particles present on tnc shin. For this reason very thorough cleansing of the wound is necessary, 41 LEAD If? THE PRINTING INDUSTRY. J.M. Ropier, P.F, Resin and R.iV. Colina, J.Ind, Hyg, & Toxicol, 20, 641-5 (December 1938). Evidences obtained in- a preliminary survey of the printing industry in Michigan, by the Euroau of Industrial Hygiene, indicated, contrary to contention, that sufficient lead fumes were present in the air to constitute a hazard. They then made tests in 14 representative printing establishments to determine the actual concentrations present. Most of the previous work on load in printing shops had been done before exact methods of lead determination were in use and were thought to be inaccurate in many cases. The results of the present tests indicate that the former contentions are entirely unfounded and that considerable lead fumes can be given off from the lead melting pots when heated above the melting point even though the metal is not agitated. They found that lead fumes are more im portant than lead dust and that the film of oxide on the surfaces of the melting pots had no appreciable effect on the concentrations of the fumes. 42 HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN BOOK PRINTING PLANTS IN NaPLES. R. Tecce and C. Bessero. Folia med. 117-33 (1938). (Italian). In an investigation of the hygienic conditions in 15 Neapolitan printing shops, measurements were made cf the height and cubic content of rooms, dust concentra tion and temperature and humidity of the working spaces. The plants were divide- into goud ones having 15.7-70.0 cubic motors per worker, 150-190 particles per c (Ov/ons counter) 5.4-6.0 dry kata value and 14.7-17.2 wet; the medium and poor plants had 4.3-42,6 cu.m, per worker, 270-300 particles per cc. and. dry and wet K.'.ta values of 4.0-4,7 -and 12.3-15.3. The lighting was poor in most shops. The lead content of deposited dust varied from 5.5 tc 15 per cent. Examination cf workers showed 80 per cent to hive lead lines and 23 per cent to have stippled erythrocytes. tiwBB-uUiJ9783 (3 'g Q a r a References to Recent Literature - 10 42 LEAD POISONING, SECTION II. 51 FATAL CASES OF SUSPECTED LEAD POISONING; AND 46 CF NCN-FAIAL LEAD POISONING; DIAGNOSIS; TREaTMLNT; SUMMARY. V.A. Gant. lad. Med. 2, 679-99 (November 1938). For Section I see abstract No. 845, November 1938 bulletin. In the 3econa section of his paper the author devotes considerable space to case histories of patients which are classified as lead poisoning among children, as chronic industrial cases, as doubtful and unjustified cases, and as acute cases, with discussions in each instance. In the concluding sections of the paper, the author repeats that since there are no symptoms pathognomonic of lead alone, diagnosis without chemical findings (determination of lead in blood or urine) is incomplete. Disodium phosphate is proposed as the best therapeutic agent in the treatment and should be used in conjunction with .a normal calcium diet, 44 SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THE EXAMINATION OF MEN EXPOSED TO A LEAD HAZARD AT MOUNT ISA, INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL METHOD FOR THE EXAMINATION OF BLOOD FOR POLYCHROMASIA. L.A, iVindsor-McLean. Med. J. Australia 2,, 367 (September 3, 1938). (Australian). During 1937, only 6 of the 1231 men employed in all departments of the Mount Isa Minos in Australia were adjudged to be incapacitated by plumbism. In connection with his awn examinations of 115 of these workers for lead poisoning, the author found only 1 worker suffaring from the positive symptoms, the remainder of the workers presenting various symptoms not attributable to any action of lead. A conclusion is drawn that, hemoglobin percentage provides no indication of lead absorption and that the ratio between the large and small lymphocytes is of littlt or no value. The technic for estimating the number of polychromatophilic cells per million erythrocytes is explained in detail but no conclusion is drawn as to the significance of the results, 45 DETECTION OF LEAD POISONING IN A MOTOR CAR FACTORY. P.Molitor, M. Amoldaon and G, Ha '.'er. Arch,Mai,Profes. i, 124-8 (1938). (French). A sci-.r containing 30 per cent lead was used on assembled automobile parts in a French factory. When two workers who came under notice were found to have lead poisoning, the remaining workers were examined. It was found that 10 out of 39 men examined had clear cases of lead poisoning with an additional 4 classed aB doubtful. The men were employed in smoothing and rubbing down soldered parts. In another factory this work was being done in separate compartments where the men wore respirators, rubber gloves and impermeable clothing and upon examination no cases of poisoning were found in this group. 46 STABILITY OF aNHMIC CONDITIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL LEAD POISONING. Loureau, G.S. doSacy and A. Arthus. Compt. rend. Soc, de biol. 128. 512-4 (1938), (French). In some tests on rabbits subjected to experimental lead poisoning, variations in individual susceptibility to the poisoning and response to treatment were found to be a predominant factor. Marked differences wore noted in red cell blood count and in power of recovery of the animals. DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD IN THE CAT AFTER INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF A COLLOIDAL LEAD PREPARATION, ND THE EFFECT OF IRRADIATION ON THIS DISTRIBUTION, B.L, Crawford, H.L. Stewart, C.F. Willoughby and F.L, Smith, Am.J,Cancer $5,, 401-22 (1938). Cats receiving i:.:ravonous injections of a colloidal lead preparation generally remained in good clinical condition without loss of weight or anemia, and the organs of these animals showed slight, if any, structural changes. When, however roentgen irradiation was given in addition, toxic manifestations ensued and pro nounced structural changes in the ergons occurred. These were of the same nature os were observed in animals treated by irradiation alone, but were more marked and are attributed to the combined toxic effects of the two agents. The lead in jection brought about significant increase in the lead concentration of most HWiiB-Buu978*i *7 / e References to Recent Literature - 11 organs and tissues examined. The lead distribution in animals treated with both lead and roentgen ray was essentially the s_me as that following the administra tion of lead only, although changes in lead concentration were found in certain organs. 48 EFFECT CF 8-n/DhIL IN LEAD POISONING, F. Schr.itt and H. Lossic. Arch. f. klin. ;!. 181, 100-3 (1953). (German). A report is givar. of one case of lead poisoning which was treated with S-Hydril (stabilize.', sodium thiosulphate) given intravenously. After giving 2 ampoules uaily (it is not stated for how long) the clinical symptoms receded. After 8 days there was a significant decrease in blood lead raid after 14 days the values were normal. 49 MICRQCHFMICAL DEFECTION ND DETERMINATION GF LaD. N.D. Costeanu. Mikrochim. acta Z, 36-8 (1938). (Austrian). A drop of hydrogen iodide solution, prepared by introducing hydrogen sulfide into fi mixture of iodine and .;atar, is placed on filter paper which has been drenched with the solution to be tested and dried in -n even. The resulting yellow spot of leal iouide is compared with spots similarly obtained with known concentration! cf leal solution. The method applied to the analysis of 0.4 g. of brass showed the probable presence of 0.025 per cent cf load. 50 QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF LEaD IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL: MODIFIED DITKIZOBB METHOD. F, Schr.itt and Basse. Arch, f, exp, Path. u. Pharmokol. 189. 169-71 (1938), (Goman). A description is given of \ modification of Seelkopf and Taeger's dithizone method. The hyar^gen sulfide precipitation is eliminated from the process. In stead, tile ash residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid and the iron is removed from the hydrochloric acid solution by shaking with ether. 51 MlCROCiiEMIC.-i METHODS FOR DETERMINATING LEAD ELECTROLYTIC ALLY AND BY MEANS OF DITHIZONE. li, Muller. Z. Anal. Chen. JJL3, 161-82 (1938), (German). Numerous experiments are described in a review of 22 papers published since 1928, in which thv electrolytic and dithizone methods were subjected to vigorous test ing. Both require cleanliness in apparatus and purity of reagents. The weakness of the dithizone method lies in the reactivity of the dithizone with other catior and the fact that the reagent is expensive and docs not keep well. Although the electrolytic method also has its drawbacks it 3eens best for lead determination in organic materials. Full details for both determination axo described. 52 EXPERIMENTS ON THE EFFECT ON THE THYROID OF CARBON MONOXIDE INHALATION. H. Reploh, Arch. f. Hyg. 120. 244-57 (1938). (German). In experiments on guinea pigs and rabbits, the author induced acute, "sub-acute" (repeated) and chronic poisonings, the latter by small amounts daily for several hours, for ns long ns 12 months. The effect on the thyroid was most marked in the chronically poisoned -animals. The experiments support the view that there i. a chronic carbon ;;.onuxiGe poisoning, and tend to dispute the theory that the poi soning is .only i nutter of anoxemia. 53 A CaHE OF OCULaR TToTURE.GJCE CAUSED BY Gj.8 FROM A MOTOR. B. Koslowski. Klin. Ocznn 16, 176 (1958). (Polish). The driver of a closed meter car was asphyxiated by products of combustion which hud no exit tc the outside. Vhan ho regained consciousness 9 hours later, he could not see and upon examination after 6 days he was found to have a left homonymous hemianopsia which touched the fixation points. He recovered spontan eously within 2 wicks. The carbon monoxide may have produced an angiospasm, or hemorrhage which compressed the visual pathways. fiHii(j-00Q9785 Hh B8-U 0U 9/S o References to Recent Literature - 12 54 THE TRAVELERS CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR. Travelers Standard 26, 164-6 (September 1933). Va carbon monoxide detector which is inexpensive and easily assembled has been developed by the Travelers Insurance Company, The method consists in converting the carbon monoxide in the sample to carbon dioxide by means of a cigsr lighter coil and absorbing the converted carbon dioxide in a strontium hydroxide solution. ,,_ft The sample is first cleared of carbon dioxide and any hydrocarbons by passing it through calcium oxide and silica gel,. A 10 inch bicycle pump is used as the source of suction. 5 ACUTE LEUCOSIS FROM BENZENE, M. Perrin, ?, Kissel and L. Pierquin, Paris med. 28. 523-6 (1958), (French), The authors report in detail the case of a shoe factory worker, a 44 year old woman, who had repeatedly suffered symptoms of acute rheumatism of the joints then fell ill with fever, very severe anemic condition, skin hemorrhages, dyspnea and weakness. The blood count showed 1.56 million red cells, 1800 white cells, 16 per cent polynuclear cell3, 16 per cent polynuclear neutrophiles, 1 per cent polynuclear basophilic cells, 9 per cent large mononuclears, 17 per cent leucoblasts and many streptococci in the blood. At autopsy the bone marrow was seen to bo in marked proliferation but the white blood cells of the myelogram were ex clusively leucoblasts. It was an acute leucemia which was hidden by a hypogranulocytcsis and there thus existed not a true aplasia of the bone marrow but a metaplastic proliferation. Benzene poisoning, which in its classic form causes an aplastic myelosis, is under certain conditions (according to exposure and sen sitivity) also an irritant of the hemopoetic tissues, causing a leucemic symptom complex, acute or chronic. This latter would be seen more often, no doubt, if systematic myelograms wore made. 56 BENZENE PCISOWING IN PREGNANT WOMAN. J. Leronge. Progres. med. , 901 (1938) (French), A woman rubber worker suffered fatigue and anemia (2.1 million red cells, 11,000 white cells) from benzene poisoning. After a few weeks away from her work the red cell count roso to 3.6 million. The delivery of her child was normal but the child weighed only 2.8 kilograms (6,2 lbs.) 57 MERCURY POISONING IN MINING. J,Am.Med.Assoc, (Queries and minor notes) 467 (1958). The inquiry concerns the possibility of being acutely poisoned by mercury vapor in a day's work in a gold mine, and the determination of mercury or lead poison ing several months later. The reply states that, with high concentrations, mer cury poisoning con take- place in a few hours, although hard rock mining seldom offers a hazard. Stomatitis is the chief symptom in acute poisoning from the compounds. In poisoning from the vapor, the symptoms are titter, central nervous system signs, diarrhea andmusea; and some of the muscular and nervous symptoms may persist. Mercury does not always appear in the urine of poisoned persons. References are made to methods of determination in urine and in air. A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MERCURY IN URINE. A.O. Gettler and R.A. Lehman. Am. J. Clin. Path. Tech. Supplement , 161-4 (1938). A 50 cc. portion cf the urine is ashed in a 500 cc. KjoJ.dahl by means of potas sium permanganate and sulfuric acid. The mercury is #tariiincd by means of the color conpared with that of known standards. The ordinary chemically pure re agents were found to be satisfactory. The time required for a series of five determinations is about three hours. The procedure is more rapid than the Wink ler method and equally accurate. HiJB6-auu9787 References to Recent Literature - 13 59 Caution IN THE USE OF aRSENIGUB CORROSIVES VtITH LIGHT METALS. E. Beintker. Arbeitsschutz, pp. 150 (1938). (German). A short description Is given of two cases of illness caused by pickling metal plates in a corrosive consisting of 33 per cent hydrochloric acid and f: oer cent arsenic, 60 UVEITIS CAUSED BY ARSENIC POISONING. B.S. Brodskii. Viestnik Opht. 11, e98 (1938). (Gentian). A bilateral chronic riidocyclitis (an inflammation of the middle coating of the eye) ueveloped in a farmer from careless handling of an arsenic disinfectant. The diagnosis was made by finding traces of arsenic in the aqueous humor (eye fluid). 61 DANGERS FROM GALVANIZING SHEET METAL. J, Am. Med. Assoc, (Queries and minor notes) 111, 865 (1938). The question concerns pulmonary disease from fumes and acids in galvanizing metal: The reply discusses metal fume fever and then sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide and zinc sulfate. Although severed, occupational hazards may be present in this Indus trial operation, "involvement of the respiratory tract does not stand out a3 pre eminent." 62 POISONING SY MaNGaNESE. E.tf. Bander. Arch. Mai. Profes. 1, 104-8 (1938). (french). - Cases of manganese poisoning by those inhaling its dust are comparatively rare, only about 130 having been reported in the literature, with a possibility that some have passed unrecognized. Some predisposition to the poisoning seems to be necessary and the symptoms appear generally during the first two years of expo sure. The illness begins rapidly and progresses in a few months to a typical and incurable condition. Symptoms usually aret the patient is easily tired and falls to sleep easily; unsteady gait; difficulty in ascending a slope; little control over facial muscles or expression; both speech and writing are protracted and slurred; swallowing may be difficult; and there are sometimes violent pains with cramps in the muscles. 63 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH INTO THE TOXICOLOGY OF MANGANESE. A.C. Lemos. Arch. Mai. Profes. i, 119-23 (1938). (French). Experiments are described on rabbits exposed to doses of manganese administered subcutaneously, in their food, by stomach tube, and by inhalation of dust over long periods. The metal, when administered in large doses proved rapidly fatal, but no immediate effects followed upon inhalation, although details of the lattei are not given. The metal was found in all organs of the body, particularly in the brain. A high concentration in the bile indicated its path of elimination. An analytical method to determine manganese in the tissues is also described. CHRONIC NICKEL POISONING AND PRODUCTIVE MILIARY TUBERCULOSIS. REPORT OF A CASE, R. Pomeranz. Am. Rev. Tubcrc. 252-61 (August 1938). The toxic effects of nickel, although they occur rarely, have been definitely recognized, A case is reported here with autopsy findings, which was attributed to nickel poisoning and productive miliary tuberculosis. The patient was a male age 22, who had been 'working as an industrial chemist 6 years and whose work in cluded exposure to nickel and carbon tetrachloride solutions. Symptoms of short ness of breath, loss of weight and appetite, nonproductive cough, and transient pains in the chest first appeared and roentgen findings at that time showed fine nodular lesions, millet in size, throughout both lungs but for 8 months they wei undiagnosed. Because the lesion was thought to be a 3y zphoblastoma, the patient received 13 x-ray treatments and hi3 symptoms at first improved, but later they became worse and he finally died. The autopsy disclosed evidences of nickel in References to Recent Literature - 14 HW8B-0009788 the lungs together with the tubercular lesions, mu the author hypothecated that the chemical irritant had reactivated a latent tuberculosas. This night be a good warning to chemists and those who work with irritant substances to have yearly roentgen examinations of the che3t. 65 INJURIES TO HEALTH CAUSED BY ALUMINUM AND ?.-d!7ICULRLY THE EFFECT OF .i/JMINUM LUST ON THE LUNGS. M. Doese, Arch, Gewertepath. u. Gcwerbehyg. 8, 501-30 (1938), (German). Ir. .an investigation to decide whether aluminum dust caused a characteristic dis ease of the lungs, data was collected from examinations of 96 aluminum smelter workers. It nas found that silicosis did net occur among the men, which agreed vd.tr. the British investigations. It was found, however, that there was damage to the upper respiratory tract in the form of catarrh, irritation or atrophy of the nasal mucus membrane and perforation of the septum, Whether these were due to the aluminum specifically or to a general effect of dust was net concluded because of the snail number examined. The comparative hamlessness of aluminum in the stages of production is in marked contrast to the dangers of spraying with aluminum paint, as in the latter case it seems there is a noticeable effect on the lungs which is regarded as specific. THALLIUM POISONING. F. Kunkele. Chem, Ztg. 62, 49-51 (1938), (German), The author gives a short history of thallium poisoning and describes the detec tion and determination of the substance in parts of the body at autopsy. He re ports on 2 cases of death from thallium which he had examined. 67 FLUORINE POISONING. J. Am. Med, Assoc, (Queries and minor notes) 111. 273 (1938) Pulmonary edema is the outstanding characteristic of acute fluorine poisoning and as little- as 0.2 r.ig, per kilogram of body weight may cause trouble when in haled. In chronic casts overgrowth of bene, calcification of ligaments and bone fragility -are common, but tend to disappear when exposure is stopped. In acute cases, oxygen inhalation, bronchial sedatives and antispasmcdics, and intravenous calcium gluconate- are suggested. Ton references are cited. 68 A PORTABLE INSTRUMENT FOR THE ANALYSIS OF HYDROCYANIC ACID GAS-AIR MIXTURES. R.J. tiilmot and T.JT. Gautier. J. Agr. Research 33-90 (1938), r.n instrument is described which analyzes hydrogen cyanide gas-air mixtures by physical apparatus. The sample is drawn, by means of a small motor driven pump contained in the instrument, over a hot platinum filament. The change in resis tance of the filament is then measured by means of a Wheatstone bridge and is translate! into percentage of hydrogen cyanide by volume. It is accurate to within 0.02 per cent. 69 PRINTERS' SPRAY AND METHYL ALCOHOL* J.Am.Med,Assoc. (Queries and minor notes) 111, 95 (1938). A spray used widely in printing contains methyl alcohol, gum arable and gum tragacanth. One printer is known to have developed asthma which was traced to the gum nrifcic and which was overcome by substituting starch. Most of the com plaints concerned not the spray but the dust left when the alcohol evaporates. Exhaust ventilation may be suggested and methyl alcohol should not be used. 70 EFFECT OF SULFUR. CHLORIDES ON EYES. J. An.Med. assoc. (Queries and minor notes) 111. 1492 (1958). Sulfur chloride is thought to be non-toxic by Hamilton and Lehmann. Since it is frequently used along with carbon disulfide, any injury is thought to be caused by the latter substance. Kober and Hayhurst consider the decomposition products to be harmful and Adler-Herzmark has reported general poisoning by sulfur-moncchloride in the absence of carbon disulfide. Injury to the eye would probably Be accompanied by other, more characteristic, injuries. U9 nti8-0iiO9789 i/,T*\i 0 & () References to Recent Literature - 15 71 SIMPLIFIED COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IS THE .-JR. S.M. Chumanov and M,B, Aksel'rod, J. Applied Cher:., 11, 720 (1938), (Russian), A small amount of dilute potassium ferricyanide solution added to a solution of tri-volent iron can be used as an indicator for the determination of sulfur di oxide in tho absence of other reducing agents. The blue coloration is intensive enough to detect 0,02 mg. of sulfur dioxide in a liter of air. 72 DETERMINATION OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF METHYL BROMIDE IN ;JR. R.L. Busbey and N.L. Drake. Inci, & Eng. Chen, Anal. Ed. 390-2 (July 15, 1938), A method is prooosed for the determination of methyl bromide in the air of fumi gated spaces. The procedure involves saponification of the methyl bromide by alcoholic potassium hydroxide, removal of the alcohol, oxidation of the bromide to bromatt.- by sodium hypochlorite, and iodimetric titration of the bromate. Re sults aru reported of analyses of 13 sonples ranging from 0.0480 to 0.0065 g. The average error is plus or minus 1.7%; the greatest, plus or minus 3,5%. 73 carcinogenic activity, structure, ,,nd chemical reactivity of polynuclear aromatic HYDROCiJEONS. L.F. Fieser. Am. J. Cancer 54. 37-124 (September 1938). The author presents a long review of the subject which includes: (l) a critical evaluation and comparison of the methods for determining carcinogenic activity; (") information concerning the preparation and purification and the commercial sources of the carcinogenic hydrocarbons; (3) a summary of the work on corrolatio: of chemical structure and carcinogenic activity, and (4) a summary of investiga tions on the metabolic fate of various active hydrocarbons. A very extensive bibliography is included. 74 THE PRODUCTION OF EXPERIMENTAL C.iNCER OF THE LUNG IN MICE. M.G. Seelig and E.L. Benignus. Am. J. Cancer 33, 549-555 (August 1938), Although there is no thoroughly satisfactory method of applying tar to the lungs in experimental work, the method here described by the authors is simple. The bottoms of the cages were covered with fluffy coal soot or tar-free lamp black to which known carcinogenic hydrocarbons were added. Tho movements of the animals raise sufficient dust to cause black particles in the smaller intrapulnonary bronchi! within 6 days and in 5 weeks' time these arc widespread throughout the lungs. 75 SENSITIZATION TO JUTE. F.A. Stevens and L. Jordan!. J. Allergy 9, 610-2 (Septem ber 1938). Jute, a vegetable fiber grown in India, is widely used in the form of burlap for packing and transporting articles of merchandise. Because it is cheap, it is used also in place of more expensive and durable fibers in inexpensive upholster ed furniture and in cheaper domestic rugs and carpets. Inasmuch as its use is so common, contact with jute is almost universal not only industrial but domestic as 7/ell. Five case histories arc given demonstrating conclusively the allergenic properties of jute. 76 DANGERS OF P.-JiAFFIN, J. Am, Med. Assoc. (Queries and minor notes) 110. 2102 (1938). Paraffin, when melted and sprayed under pressure, cones out as a powder. The worker wears a mask but it is not satisfactory. Is there a health hazard? Answer; Pur, paraffin should be harmless, but paraffin oil3 and petroleum deri vatives night cause acne, and possibly tar cancer. The best solution is a good exhaust syster... Ordinary respirators are not suitable and a supplied-air mask is necessary. - Xl References to Rcccr.t Literature - 16 77 THE EMPLOYMENT OF DIABETICS. R.D. Lawrence and K. Madders. Brit. Med. J, pp. 1076-7 (November 26, 1938). (British). An appeal from diabetics and the Diabetic Association that there was a prejudice against them by employers because of their diabetes led the authors to believe that this prejudice was unfair, unjust end a survival of the pre-insulin period, and they began a survey of the tine-lost record of diabetic patients. Their re port covers the record of 100 employed diabetics, selected at random, who were taking regular insulin treatments. The number interviewed was too small to draw definite conclusions, but the authors form the opinion that most treated diabetic, arc good employees from the health point of view, and hope that the widespread prejudice against their employment may be removed. 78 nlR JET VENTILATION IN HOT WEATHER. T.C. .argue. Heat. & Vent. Eng. 12, 2-5 (July 1936). (Lritish). The jot fan consists of a small centrifugal fan (l/2 h.p. to 1-3/4 h.p.) deliver ing through a jet tube sc as to discharge a horizontal, flat, wide stream just above head level. Although the main air current passes overhead, the high velo city (up to 4000 f.p.m, at the jet) induc&3 secondary air currents, and the re sult is that in the- neighborhood influenced by the jet fan, .air currents are var iable instead of monotonous, and thu3 are more refreshing, air velocities as high as 160 f.p.ra. hove been recorded at shoulder level 60 ft. or so from the jet. In shops there hot processes are carried on, or in hot weather, such air movement is most welcome. Jet fans have been used to dissipate local clouds of disagreeable fumes or vap*rs to reduce their concentrations to negligible levels. They will not solve oil summer factory ventilation problems, but along with good natural or simple exhaust ventilation they will form a useful and cheap auxiliar; 79 METcoBOLISui OF MAN .-iT WORK WIDER DIFFERENT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 0. Ehrismann. Ztschr. f. Hyg, u. Infektionskr, 120. 319-40 (1938), (German), At higher temperatures and humidities the increase in metabolism accompanying work is approximately the same as under ordinary conditbns. The recovery time nay be delayed and in some cases the respiratory quotient is lowered. The bodyweight nay increase in spite of the less favorable conditions. No evidence was forthcoming that nitrogenous metabolism is disturbed when work is done in envir onments of lower cooling power. 80 HEAT REGULATION AND HUSCULnR WORK. W. Liberson. Trav. humain 6, 41-51 (1938). (French). The author discusses the effect of temperatures on the energy yield of muscular work, about which there arc various views. He states that the energy yield re mains practically constant in temperatures between 9-40C, but the technical yield (mechanical efficiency) of work rises with a decrease in temperature, at least between 9--45C. 81 THE INFLUENCE OF CLOTHING ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS OF THE HDHaN BODY TO VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES. A.P. Gagge, C.E.A. Winslow and L.P. Herring ton. to, J. Physiol. 124. 30-50 (October 1938), The partition of heat loss from a normally cbthed subject shows that he is able to tolerate a difference of 8C between skin and environmental temperatures be fore cooling sets in at 25C (as compared with 9C for the- nude subject.) Be tween 25"C and 29C, thermal equilibrium of the clothed body is maintained by vasomotor regulation. Above 29C evaporation regulation sets in. It was shown, by plotting various physiological factors against caloric demand, that the gross physiological responses of the body are about the same nude as when clothed ex cept fer the temperature at which the response takas place. HHBB-GG0979G References to Recent Literature - 17 82 HZaT STROKS; CLIUIOJL AND CHLMICU. ObSERV^TIONS ON 44 C.AES. E.S. Ferris, Jr., M.A.. Bl-nkenhorn, H.W, Robinson and G.E. Cullen. J.Clir..Ir.ves*. 1/7, 743-62 (1938). The incidence of heat stroke was relatively higher among white men than colored. Physical exertion was not o factor. There was a characteristically high body temperature, a moderate acidosis and hcno-concentration but no consistent change in the chloride of blood serum. The most effective treatment was ice-ymcer tub bing with massage. e> 83 hXPLRIfdu.'T.d, INVESTIGATIONS (HISTOLOGIC, s^TGLOGIC, HISTCCHEUICAL) Of DS .r; FROM .EYPERTLERfl A (HEAT STROKE). G. Lacroix. Folia mod. 24, 21-50 (1938) (Italian). 0 A report cf seme heat stroke experiments cn guinea gigs. autopsy, macrcsccpie and microscopic evidences of congestion were -.'redcninnnt, In a study of the cell 5) metabolism, according to Liyschitz's method, the dehydrogenizing ability was significantly lowered in the brain, liver and skin$ less so in other organs. The -/> sugar content of the liver was decreased. a ?=3 a -zu Go HUBB-tiG09773