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(W (S > 3 fm l'.5 ) :ip l HMBB-*0010065 Vol> 2 FOUNDATION FACTS July, 1940 This newe-letter Is Issued monthly to member companies and trade associations affiliated with Air Hygiene Foundation. Its purpose la to report Foundation news and activities. Air Hygiene Foundation Is a partnership of Industry and science organized to protect the health of the 15 million workmen in heavy industry. No. 7 Industrial Health -- One of "The Ramparts We Watch" The health of workers is just as essential as the health of soldiers in this period when production is indispensable to defense. Health of workers, especially skilled workers, is doubly important now. Meanwhile, increased production tends to increase health hazards and illness. World War I proved that. This is a period when "eternal vigilance" is the price of industrial health. Will your protective equipment, like exhaust systems, carry increased loads? Arc you planning plant expansions? If so, remember the "stitch in time." Protective equipment can bo built into a building with efficiency and economy that can never be achieved by lator "patch work" installations. Sec abstract No. 522 in the attached Digest of Industrial Hygiene for an account of how the Ford Motor Company benefited from such planning. Feel free to discuss the industrial hygiene aspects of new plant construction with the Foundation. But NOW is the time, not after the plant is built. And please bear in mind the Foundation covers the whole field of chemical hygiene. Ask the Foundation The variety of subject matter in the attached Digest shows the scope of the Foundation's interest which ranges the whole field of industrial health and is not restricted to just silicosis, as some unfortunately believe. Member companies are urged to call upon the Foundation for information whether it pertains to chemicals or air-borne infections. For instance, a steel company member writes: "Wo would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for your vory prompt and complete answer to our lettor of March 7 requesting information con cerning the toxic and other offocts likely to be encountered in the use of various chemicals that were itemized in our latter of that date. The information contained has proven very helpful." Dr. Selby Named to Medical Committee Appointment of Dr. C.D. Selby, Medical Consultant, General Motors Corpora tion, to the Medical Committee of Air Hygiene Foundation is announced by Dr. A.J. Lanza, Chairman. Dr. Selby is well known for his contributions to the field of employ ee health. Information on Absenteeism "Audit" A page of instructions was mailed recently to those member companies which havo expressed .direct interest in the Foundation's study of "Sick Absenteeism in Industry." For the information of other members a copy of those instructions is attached to this news letter. Health is the backbone of production and production is tho keystone of defense AIR HYGtENE FOUNDATION 4400 FIFTH AVfNUC PlTTABUftOH. PA. Foundation Facta Z ~ HM8B-0010066 Victorious Washington Crew Names Shell for Dr. Loyal A. Shoudy The shell of the University of Washington crew, which v;on at Poughkeepsie this year, was named the "Loyal Shoudy," The Husky oarsaen named their craft in honoi of Dr. Loyal A. Shoudy, Chief of Medical Service, Bethlehem Steel Company. Dr. Shoudj a graduato of the University of Washington, fetes the Washington crew after the Poughkeepsie races each year. He is a prominent leader in the field of industrial medicine. Henry D. Sayer Named to Compensation Insurance Rating Board Henry D. Sayer, Deputy Executive Director of the New York State Insurance Fund, has been appointed General Manager of the Compensation Insurance Rating Board, Now York. The Governing Committee of the Board announces that Mr. Sayer is to "take office on a date to be agreed upon but in no event later than December 1." Mr. Sayer was formerly with the Association of Casualty & Surety Executives and served on the Foundation's Board of Trustees. A Cut Costs $32 Thirty-two dollars, the insurance director for United Cigar-Wholan Stores Corporation told a meeting of the Greater New York Safety Council, is the average cost for every cut suffered by an employee. -- Dun's Review. A New Member Writes: "May we express our sincere appreciation for the splendid information con tained in the literature sent us? It is by far the finest piece of work we have come in contact with and we certainly can recommend it to all industry." NtffiB-0iOO67 Note to Members Interested In Foundation*s Sick Absenteeism Survey \f) Following up the meeting of companies interested in the Foundation's survey of "Side Absenteeism in Industry," which was held here on iiay 27, Dr. '..llliam Gafafer, Senior Statistician of the U,S. Public Health Service, gives the following summary and instructions: o "The iiay 1940 edition of the manual on a proposed plan to record industrial absenteeism was distributed at the meeting of nay 27,1940, among the rep resentatives of various member companies. It was explained that the plan as presented in the manual was the objective which should be aimed at, and 0 that at the present tine sufficient data be supplied by the companies agree ing to cooperate to make possible the construction of a table on ended dis abilities lasting 8 consecutive calendar days or longer and showing for each color and sex 0 morbidity rates by cause, namely, average annual number of absences per 1,000 employees, average annual number of days per employee, and days per absence. This table v/ould cover the first and second halves of the year and the whole year. The corresponding indexes for all report ing companies would be included in the table for purposes of comparison. "Thus for the time being rates by age, occupation and department are being reserved for the future, and only disabilities of 8 consecutive calendar days and longer are included. To calculate the rates referred to above the filling in of Fonas A and B will not be necessary. However for the calculation of the rate6, at least the msnber of employees under observa tion, the non-absent as well as the absent, are required by sex and color; if the age distribution, by color and sex, is conveniently ascertainable, it should be made available since such knowledge would be helpful In any attempt to account for rate differences among companies. It is suggested, however, that age be filled in on the punch card; if a company finds It con venient to fill in occupation and department consistently, it is recommended that this also be done. "It was indicated at the meeting that some of the companies have the facili ties to perform their own tabulating. Such companies are encouraged to do so end for the sake of uniformity a blank table and other instructions will be sent to such companies. "Those companies that are at present reporting to the United States Public Health Service are urged to continue this activity, and where possible their data v/ill be used to supplement the reports from the new companies." In order that we may plan accordingly, 7.111 you please advise us at this time of the number of male and female employees you desire to report on? Also, to facilitate comparisons of absentee rates of different companies it is necessary to know something of the disability plans companies have in force. YJill you, there fore, tend us a copy of any pamphlet or other material that may have been issued by your sick benefit association, relief plan or insurance company which covers such subjects as requirements for membership, waiting period, benefit period, classes of membership, etc. As soon as this information is received from companies desiring to participate we '.Till be able to proceed with the punch card and v/e will communicate with you regarding the number desired, cost (they are about 'A.OO per thousand}, etc. Reduction of sick absenteeism is doubly important not/ when production is the keystone of defense. ~. ! '1 !0 m July, 1940 Air Hygiene Foundation, 4400 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. DIGEST OF INDUSTRIAL HTOIFNE Literature--News--Developnents News Items 490 New Problems of the Defense Program. Another urgent task involves the protection and promotion of the health of industrial workers. With the vast expansion of the war industries, many new industrial hazards appear and familiar ones are intensified. When new factories are designed, expert industrial hygiene advice is required for proper installa tion of power exhausts of chemical gases. Records of present performance show the need of extended industrial hygiene measures to control and prevent special health hazards. In the recruitment and training of workers, thorough physical examinations are necessary on employment and periodically thereafter. It is wasteful for industry to train a highly skilled employee over long months, only to have him break down suddenly with tuberculosis, mental disease or seme other crippling condition. The expansion of war industries will bring acute problems of housing, medical care and health protection for workers and their families. Our Industrial machines are the most efficient in the world. The men and women who man the machines must have a comparable efficiency...." Address by Thomas Parran, Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service. 491 Electron Microscope. The Germans are now using the electron microscope (magnifying power 100,000 diameters) to analyze dust in mines and factories, so that better hygienic condi tions can be established. Dust particles only five-millionths of a millimeter in diameter can be detected. Hew York Times, July 14, 1940. 492 Can Music Increase Production? American Business, 10, 28 June, 1940. By using lively music to counteract industrial fatigue American industry can save millions of dollars every year, step up production from 10 to 20 per cent, and re duce errors and wasted effort to a minimum. Numerous plants and offices have al ready discovered this, and many others are preparing to put rhytta to work for bigger profits. In addition to making possible substantial savings, music in Industry has become one of the most modern and successful ways of cementing mutually beneficial employee relations, having won the cemendation of both labor and industrial chiefs. In one company the bonus, a comparatively expensive method of stimulating output, was able to add only 20 per cent, while music, cost ing much less, added 25 per cent. Because of that the bonus has been discontinued but the music remains a permanent part of production routine and has worked satis factorily over a period of several years. During the Christmas rush in the Minneapolis post office, phonographs were installed. Fifty-five clerks were affected. One day when no music was played they made 420 errors, talked and joked a great deal, and used 50 hours of work time. When music was played, they made HU68-0O13Q69 w'-' (2^ 0 ___ : == ---- Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 2. only 366 errors, a decrease of 12.86 per cent, and finished in 43 hours. Be sides its use in offices, music is also widely employed in factories to offset in dustrial noises and to counteract the fatigue curve. It has been found that after the third hour of work, fatigue reaches its peak and the worker's efficirnc begins to decline rapidly. Music used at that point will not only offset that decline but will actually turn the curve up once more and increase the output. Music is so effective in stimulating output, that for centuries it has been used almost unconsciously to accompany work. Songs of the yo-heave-ho variety have grown spontaneously, and the reason for thair growth and continued use lies in the physiological reactions which rhythm produces. Many firms use indus trial music continuously throughout the day; others only during regular rest per iods timed to coincide with the peak of the fatigue curve, when work begins to slow down. In most cases, records are played on a centrally located machine and the music is sent throughout the plant by a loud-speaker system. 493 Tri-State Health Meeting. Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, called a meeting over which she presided at Joplin, Mo., April 23, 1940. Represented were U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Bureau of Mines, U.S. Housing Project, State Health Departments, C.I.O. Labor Unions from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, State Medical Assoc., mine operators, members of the Workmen's Compensation Commissions, and social and religious organ izations. The group accompanied Miss Perkins on her visit to parts of each of these states and inspected the working conditions in a mine at Pichar, Oklahoma. Dr. Alice Hamilton, who also accompanied Miss Perkins, remained in the territory to make dust counts and other experiments. 494 Weil's Disease in Industry. Lancet No, 6081, p 518 (March 16, 1940), Weil's disease has been added to the schedule of industrial diseases in Great Britain. The prevalence of this disease in certain occupations, notably coal mining, fish cleaning and sewer work, has been long known. The disease is due to contact with urine of an infected rat. 495 Vat Kills Two. Safety Engineering, 7926 (June, 1940). A workman was assigned to dean a vinegar vat containing some 18 Inches of wet waste which had formed carbon dioxide gas. His instructions were to descend into the tank, and, if upon lighting a match the flame was extinguished, to climb out right away. He fell dead before he could strike a match. Another men, upon attempting to save him, fell unconscious to the floor of the tank and also died before he could be gotten out. Two men died because someone saw fit to use human lives for air and fume testing devices. Investigations disclosed the com plete absence of safety measures and equipment which would have prevented this tragic accident. Legal Developments 496 Workmen' a Compensation Acts: Reemployment of Injured Workmen at Light Work Constitutes Treatment. If to improve his health an injured workman, on the recommendation of a physician employed by his employer's insurance carrier, is reenployed at lighter work at the same wages, such reemployment, said the Supreme Court of Kansas, is not a medicine but does constitute "treatment" within the meaning of that ten, as it is used in the Workmen's compensation act of Kansas. Rupp v. Jacobs et al. (Kan.) 88 P. (2d) 1102.. (J.A.M.A.) HWB&-00'l00/0 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 3. HWBil-8010071 497 Workmen* s Compensation Acts? Death frcaa Perforation of Gastric Ulcer Induced by Worry Compensable* J.Am.Med.Assoc*, 114, 1955 (1940)T the claimant, wife of the deceased employee, filed a claim for compensation unde the workmen's compensation act of Michigan for the death of her husband. The de partment of labor and industry awarded compensation and the employer appealed to the Supreme Court of Michigan. For some time prior to Dec, 23, 1935, the employee had suffered from "stomach trouble." On the date mentioned he sustained a hernia in the course of his employment, for which he underwent an operation in Fobruary 1936. For this injury, the employee was paid compensation. A few da-s after the operation, pleurisy developed, but this seemed to clear up and he re turned to work about eight weeks after being discharged from the hospital. Thou* continuing at work, the employee steadily lost weight, complained of pain in t'.u? abdomen and was always tired and his appetite was impaired. On Jan. 25, 1937, th. employee underwent another operation and it was than discovered that a gastric ulcer had perforated the stomach. He died five days later from general periton itis. There was medical testimony to the effect that the treatment of a gastric ulcer consists essentially of rest, freedom from worry and generally building up the body vitality; that "worry is one of the prime causes of increas ing the acidity of the stomach juice, which is a prime cause in speeding up the cause of ulcer, if not causing it"; that if the employee failed to regain his health following the injury "we have all of the factors which would have activated a pro-existing ulcer or speeding its course whenever it developed," and that, therefore, the perforation of the ulcer was directly connected with the indus trial injury suffered by the employee. Although, said the Supreme Court, the testimony of the medical experts relied on by the department may not seem convinc ing, a court is not at liberty to weigh it or pass on the preponderance, Rickard v. Bridgeman-Russell Co. et al. (Mich.) 284 N.W. 689. 498 Workmen's Compensation Acts: Compensability of Death Following Mental Orarexer- tion. J.Am.Med.Assoc.. 114, 1955-1956 (1940). The employee was a timekeeper for the defendant company. During the latter part of July, 1934, at a time when the temperature ranged from 87 to 90 F., he worked steadily for twenty-three hours in an effort to locate an error in the payroll records. Just as the error was discovered he slumped in his seat and died. The industrial board awarded compensation to the employee's widow and children on a finding that "twenty-three hours of continuous work constituted extraordinary exertion and that this extraordinary exertion is indirectly and causally connect ed with and responsible for the death of the decedent, said exertion and great mental effort, coupled with the fact that the decedent suffered from arterio sclerosis, resulting in his death from a cerebral hemorrhage." The court of common pleas, Montgomery County, Pa., affirmed the award and the employer appealed to the superior court of Pennsylvania. In sustaining the judgment of the trial court, the superior court said: "The novel feature of this case is that the overexertion relied upon was more mental than muscular. We see no reason for holding that the overexertion which may make an injury or death resulting there from compensable must bo solely physical in character. Authoritative definitions of 'exertion' do not confine its use to muscular effort .... As expressed by the court below, there is no fundamental difference in law or principle between an injury or death caused by the cutting or crushing of a blood vessel in the brain through the application of external violence and the breaking of one through in creased internal pressure due to the putting forth of an unusual or abnormal mental effort." The employer appealed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Of the five medical oxperts called, the court pointed out, four testified unequivocally that it was impossible definitely to establish any relationship be tween the extra hours of work end the death. The one physician who attempted to establish such a connection succeeded only in showing that overexertion could have Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 4. HMBB-0B10672 brought about the death. To say, therefore, that death resulted from long hours of work, the court concluded, was at most a pure guess. The judgment of the superior court for the claimant was therefore reversed and judgment entered for the employer. Monahan v. Seeds k Durham et al. (Pc..), 3 A. (2d) 998; 6A. (2d) 889. 499 Workmen's Compensation Acts: Disability Resulting from Inhalation of Paint Fumes Not an Occupational Disease. J.Am.Med.Assoc., 114, 1956 (1940). During the last four months of his employment as a motal worker and upholsterer the workman was exposed about four times a week for short periodscf time to paint fumes discharged from a spray gun used by a fellow worker. On several of these occasions he became ill. After such an exposure on Oct. 9, 1937, he was forced to quit work and procure medical attention. In proceedings which he subsequently instituted under the workmon's compensation act of Oklahoma, based on an allega tion that he had sustained an accidental injury as a result of the exposure to paint fines, the two physicians who attended testified that he "had a vas omotor disturbance" brought on oy the exposure to paint fumes. Medical evidence offered on behalf of his employer and the insurance carrier, according to the reported decision, "definitely excluded any claim that respondent (the workman) might be suffering from an occupational disease." The industrial commission awarded him compensation and the employer and his insurance carrier obtained a review of the award in the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. It was contended, among other things, that the disability of the workman was due to an occupational disease and not to an accidental injury and that a finding by the industrial commission that that disability had resulted from the inhalation of paint fiaes established as a matter of law that an occupational disease was the cause of the disability. While it is settled in Oklahoma, said the Supreme Court, that com pensation may not be awarded for a disability which results from an occupational disease, that prinicple is not here applicable, since the medioal evidence adduced by the employer and the insurance carrier definitely eliminated from consideration any contention that the workman might be suffering from an occupational disease. It is likewise a settled doctrine in Oklahoma that the benefits of the workmen's compensation act are not confined to cases of traumatic Injury and that inhalation of vapors, gas or dust may constitute an accidental injury within the meaning of the compensation ect. The Supreme Court believed, accordingly, that there was competent evidence before the industrial commission to sustain a finding of acci dental injury. The award in favor of the workman, however, was vacated on other grounds not here material. Ross v. Ross (Okla.), 89 P. (2d) 336. 500 Heat Exhaustion. Whether Baployee Must Be Exposed to a Risk in Access of that to Which Other Manual Laborers are Exposed Because of Hot Weather. The trial court held that, if the injury resulted from hoat exhaustion "in the course of the employment," and would not have occurred but for the rntployment at manual labor on a hot day, "it arose out of the employment." Such are not the terms of the Workmen* s Compensation Law, nor the construction given it by this court. This court has followed the line of cases holding that, where death en sues from heat exhaustion, it does not arise out of the employment merely because it resulted from manual labor not involving unusual strain or overexertion in the employment. The employment must expose the employee to a risk in excess of that to which other manual laborers are exposed because of hot weather. (Gulf States Steel Co. v. Christlson, 228 Ala. 622, 154 So. 565.) Judgaent below reversed and cause remanded. Ex Parte Pullman-Standard Car Mfg. Co. Ala. Supreme Ct. Decided June 6, 1940. (CCH). Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 5 HW8B-UU10u73 501 Blindness Resulting from Monoxide Poisoning. Testing Motors in Poorly Ventilated Room, Claimant has an award for permanent total disability arising from blindness in both eyes. The evidence sustains the finding that the blindness resulted from monoxide poisoning contracted while testing a large number of automobile motors each day in an illy ventilated room. Award affirmed. Rosky v. Cadillac Motor w Co. et al. N. Y. App. Div., 3rd Dept. (Memorandum Decision) Decided March 15, I940I TCCH). 502 Load Poisoning. Whether an Injury Accidentally Suffered Within Coverage of G_- Policy. The policy indemnified the insured against liability resulting from personal in juries accidentally suffered, or alleged to have been suffered by reason of acci dent, by any of insured* s employees. One Knowles was employed by the insured to scrape the lead sheathing of certain underground cables in Florida. Knowles and ^] his helper perforated this work in underground manholes in which the ventilation was very poor. No electricity was available to propel the blowers in this par ticular series of manholes and, equipped only with ineffective masks, the men worked for almost three weeks in atmosphero laden with lead. Each suffered sever al attacks of acute lead poisoning, and was taken to the hospital in a serious condition before the work was completed. The insurer declined to meke any investigation or to defend the subsequently filed suit, on the ground that the injuries sustained were not indemnified. Thereafter, the insured settled the claim and filed this suit on the insurance contract to enforce reimbursement. The insurer contends that the lead poisoning is an occupational disease, and, if not on occupational disease, still it was not accidentally caused. It offered no evidence on the trial below. This court agrees with the insured that the lead poisoning, so contracted, was sot an occupational disease. These were the first cases of load poisoning among the insured*s employees, although the lead conduits required scraping at regular intervals. During a period of three years, these workmen suffered no ill effects from the perfonnanco of their duties in manholes where proper working conditions prevailed, and there is no evidence to show that such duties, so perfomed, normally result in lead poisoning. The chain of causation here began with the performance of the work in the dangerous a'toosphere of the unventilated manholes. The cause of the malady was the failure of the company to use reasonable care to provide a reasonably safe place in which to pursue the occupation, or reasonably safe appliances with which to work. A disease which is not tho ordinary result of an employee* s work, not reasonably to be anticipated as a consequence of pursuing same, but contracted by reaon of unusual circumstances connected therewith, is an accidental injury. Also, it is an accidental injury if it occurs unexpectedly, not in the course of natural events, and is capable of being traced to a definite time, place, and cause. In the cose at bar the only reasonable inference that can fairly be drawn frem the evidence is that the disease resulted from an injury accidentally suffered within the coverage of the policy. The peremptory Instruction requested by the insured should have boen granted. Judgment for the insurer reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings. Florida Power & Light Co. v. United States Guarantee Co. U.S.C.C.A., 5th Cir. (Fla.) Decided June 7, 1940. (CCH). 503 Silicosis. Partial Disability. Whether Common Law Action Maintainable. Tho court below hold that plaintiff's rasedy was under the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1915, P.L. 736, os supplemented by tho Occupational Disease Compensation Act of July 2, 1937, P.L. 2714, which became effective January 1, 1938. De fendant contends that the Wortoen* s Compensation Acts provide the only remedy now available and relieve defendant from all liability in any other fom of action HHBB-I0010074 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 6. for all disability resulting from silicosis. Plaintiff replies that the Acts provide compensation only for total disability from silicosis and do not take away his common law remedy for partial disability. It is held that, by accept ing the provisions of the compensation acts, an employee agreed to lock solely to the Act for compensation and to give up any remedy he might otherwise have had. By coming under the Act, plaintiff surrendered his right, in tho words of tho Act, "to any method of determination thereof, other than as provided in Article three.." He gave up his right to sue in tort for the absolute certainty provided by the Act of receiving compensation on bringing himself within its compensatory clauses. Plaintiff argues that, even if the above construction is accepted, he would have surrendered his right to sue in trespass only for injury occurring after the effective date of the act, January 1, 1938, but not for so much of the injury, if any, as was negligently inflicted before that. But section 3 provides that "The date when the disability occurs from occupational disease shall be deemed to be the date of injury or accident." Plaintiff's disability occurred on March 8, 1938, when he quit work. The Act of 1937 was then in effect. Judgment affiraed. Moffett v. Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. Penna. Supreme Ct., West. Dist* r~ Is* Decided June 24, 1940. (CCH). 504 Pneumoconiosis. When Existence of Disease was Ascertainable. Statute of Limi e> tations. This suit was instituted by plaintiff on July 18, 1934. Plaintiff worked for the defendant company from 1922 to 1926. Ho claims that he contracted pneumoconiosis, but that this fact was not ascertainable until 1934. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for $8000. Plaintiff remitted $500. From the resulting $7500 verdict and judgment, defendant filed a motion for new trial, which was sustained. Plaintiff has appealed. The vital question raised here on appeal is whether or not plaintiff's action, as a matter of law, was barred by the five years' statute of limitations (sec. 862, Rev. St. Mo. 1929). But under the provisions of Section 860, Rev. St. Mo. 1929, plaintiff's "cause of action shall not be deemed to accrue whon the wrong is done or the technical breach of *** duty occurs, but when the damage resulting therefrom is sustained and is cap able of ascertainment, and, if more than one item of damage, then the last item, so that all resulting damage may be recovered, and full and complete relief obtained." Plaintiff testified that he worked for the defendant company from August 9, 1922 to May 5, 1926; that his work was that of grinding, chipping and filing metals; that there was some one grinding all the time and a constant cloud of dust pervaded the room; that tho fan never operated very well; that it was out of repair most of the time; that no signs were posted and that he was net warned of the danger of inhalation of dust; that no medical examination was made of him at the time he began to work or thereafter; that no respirators were furnished him. Plaintiff's testimony was corroborated by three witnesses, each of whem had worked for the defendant during part of the time that plaintiff was working for defendant. In 1926 plaintiff left his employment with the defendant company be cause his "health was getting bad." Thereafter plaintiff did not engage in any kind of dust work. Dr. Young testified that he had had a great deal of exper ience in dust diseases; that from X-ray pictures taken of plaintiff in 1934 he found that plaintiff was suffering from pneumoconiosis; that he had examined all of the X-ray pictures taken of plaintiff from 1929 to 1933 in the several hospi tals in St. Louis and that he found nothing in those pictures that would warrant a diagnosis that plaintiff then had pnevmoconiosis; that he found that plaintiff was suffering with said disease only from the X-ray pictures which had been taken of plaintiff in April, 1934, and that, therefore, in his opinion, the fact that plaintiff was suffering with pneunoconiosis was not ascertainable until sometime between October 3, 1933, and April 4, 1934. Dr. Young testified also that, from his experience and the reading which he had done upon the subject, it was his HHBB-0010075 Digest of Industrial Efygiene - 7. opinion that it takes from five to twenty years to develop a condition of the character which he found in plaintiff, working under conditions such as had been outlined to him; that in arriving at a diagnosis in a case of this kind "the character of the dust, the kind of dust, the amount of dust, and the physical condition of the patient must be token into consideration;" that "there is no question but the condition could have been produced by the dust that the man inhaled,.... taking into consideration all of the facts, I would havo to be of the opinion that it was." The trial court granted dofondant a now trial, holding that it should have sustained defendants demurror offored at the close of the case on the ground that plaintiff*s cause of action was barred by the five years* statute of limitations. It is held that the trial court erred in grantingdefen dant a new trial. Upon the record before this court reasonable minds might reach different conclusions as to whother or not plaintiff was suffering with pneumocon iosis, and if so when that fact was ascertainable. The record presents substantial f! testimony sufficient to make the question as to when plaintiff*8 cause of action accrued a question for the jury. The order granting a new trial is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to reenter judgment for plaintiff for $7500. Clohesy v. Century Electric Co. St. Louis Ct. of Appeals, - Ho Decided July 2, 1940. (CCH). Papers on Dust, Fume. Gases and General Industrial, 505 Industrial Health in War -- Emergency Report No. 1. Industrial Health Research Board, H.U. Stationery Office, London. Abstr. freo Iron and Coal frades Review, 140. 570 (April 12, 1940). The Report recommends: (1) Avoidance of over-long hours end continuous work with out on interval for rest; (2) Allowance for Sunday rest and ordinary holidays; (3) Use of measures to alleviate boredom, e.g., by varying work and providing distractions, such as music, that do not too greatly alienate the attontion; (4) Arrange work to cut out unnecessary movements and effort; and (5) Watch for dan ger signals such as increase in sickness absence, accidents and labor wastage* The second section of the Report deals with lighting and vision and stresses the necessity of converting improvisations consequent upon blackout conditions. Ven tilation is an even more troublesome problem consequent upon the blackout. Recossnendations to solve this difficulty are given at some length. There is also a discussion of accident prevention. 506 The Modifying Influences of Silicosis and Silicosis with Infection Upon the Healthy Cheat. B.P. Pendergrass and P.J. Bodes. Radiology, 34. 400-404 (April, 1940). The authors look with a new optimism upon the future of patients with silicosis. Fibrosis of any origin, interfering with the normal massage action of the lung, predisposes to the accumulation of silica and pulmonary fibrosis. If factors favoring further fibrosis, such as additional silica, vascular stasis, or infec tion are avoided, there is no reason why patients with minimal fibrosis may not remain well. On the other hand. If chronic or acute pulmonary infections supervone, there is little that can be done to prevent fibrous over-growth and pro gression to massive fibrosis. The hazard should be limited In patients with stabilized lesions and men with evidence of superimposed active infection should be removed from industry. These latter, if properly guided, may be returned to health even in the face of an active infection. Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 8. HWB-00i0076 507 Respiratory Disturbances Suffered by Cardrcom Workers Attributed to a Protein in Cotton Dust. M.F. Trice. North Carolina State'Board cTltoalth~ Bulletin, 13 pp. (September, 1939). 'w 'sJ '.Yorkers experienced respiratory trouble after the beginning of the processing of a low grado, discolored cotton. The difficulty v/ss confined mainly to the employ ees :f the cardroem and the cotton opening departments. A British article on till subject is discussed at some length. The conclusions reached therein seem to in dicate that the irritating substance is contained in the protein fraction of the dust. Statistics of the U.S. Public Health Service show the incidence of sickness among cardroon workers is much greater than among spinners and weavers. Better ventilation and the introduction of exhaust or vacuum stripping is essential in the prevention of this disease. Dust control measures now involve enclosing the carding machines in a metal housing* either partially or completely, and applying suction. 508 Investigations on Pulmonary Punctlon in Asbestosis. L. Roeoheld, H. Kempf and II.Vj. Edlor. Dcut. Arch. f. klin. Mod., 186, 53 (March 7, 1940). Abstr. from J. Am.Mcd.Assoc., 114, 2513 (June 22, 19407l" According to those authors, the relatively slight clinical symptoms of asbestosis aro frequently in contrast to serious impairment of function, A difference be tween the x-ray appearance ana the clinical picture is also not uncommon. It is difficult to determine the degree of functional impairment. The authors studied the oxygen consumption in nineteen cases of asbestosis. They found considerable conformity between the spirographic data and the severity of the clinical symp toms. This method permits an estimation of the pathologic changes and discloses the extent of pulmonary insufficiency. 509 Silico-Tuborculosis as Seen in a Large Industrial Center. B.H. Douglas and 2. Tompkins. Radiology, 34. 405-410 (April/ 1940). This is a presentation of 132 coses of silico-tuberculosis which wore admitted to the hospital. Their occupations were varied, the largest number, 73, having been foundry workers of various kinds. The authors point out tho failure of collapso therapy as a moasure to be employed for silico-tuborculosis. They stress the serious prognosis and emphasize tho need for an accurate diagnosis in the interest of proper treatment. 510 Factory Hazards in Paint and Varnish Manufacture. H.L. Howard. Varnish Making, Oil & Col. Chom. Assoc,, 164-177 (1939), Abstr. from J. of Soc. of Cham. & Ind., 59, 294 (April, 1940). Hazards associated with fire, explosions, Times, occupational disease, etc., are reviewed. 511 Safe Practice in a Brass Foundry, M.A. Giubol. Penna. Dept, of Labor and Industry Safe Practice Bulletin No. 15, 9 pp., 5 illustrations. This bulletin, another in a series, describes the safe practices followed by a model foundry. Modem methods of molding, conveying and ventilation resulted in SI an increase in capacity of 100# and a 10# roducticn in manufacturing costs* The expense involved in making tho changes in this foundry were written off in one year. Skilled molders are now able to devote practically all their time to mold ing and less to shovelling and other wasteful operations. Workmen arc hotter sat isfied with cunditi..ns resulting in higher production. 512 Dust in Mine Atmospheres. J.H. Griffiths and T.D. Jones. Iron and Coal Trades Re view, 140, 731 (May 10, 1940). (British). This is a report of the Coal Dust Research Committee of the South Woles Coal Own ers Association. The first work of the Committee was on the development of a stan dard technique for the collection of samples of air-bomo dust. The paper thimble typo of sampler was used and various factors affecting its efficiency wore studiod. The authors give the resulting conclusions with accompanying discussion. $ vr-c fOl '.or,i Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 9. 513 "Black-Out" and Ventilation. Anon. British Medical Journal No. 4130 (March 2, 1940l. Offices and factories present a special problem owing to the lessening of venti lation by the light-trap arrangements. The provision of a light-trap on a venti lator will so resist the passage of air as to diminish the effective opening by ono-holf. However, if this is mechanical, the black-out need not interfere; the trouble arises where reliance is placed on natural ventilation. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is soon to publish a report on the subject of ventilation during the black-out. It will be abstracted in this Digest. 514 Downdraft Ventilation. W.C.L. Hemoon. Safety Engineering, 72., 12,14 (April, 1940). It is usually assumed that the vapors of most of the solvonts are heavier than air. In actual practice, however, the vapors mix with air at once and the result ing difference in density between this mixture and the surrounding pure air is so slight that it is practically negligible. The edgos of tables used for the clean ing of fur coats with carbon tetrachloride had barriers which supposedly blocked the heavy vapors and directed them toward exhaust slots. Studies of the work room environment disclosed that there was twice as high a concentration of the vapors in the air as there should have been. To be effective, a local exhaust system for solvent vapors must have its inlet as closo as possible to the source whether it results in downdraft, crossdraft or updraft. The article stresses the danger of making assumptions as to the probable efficiency of an exhaust system for toxic substances in the absence of proper technical knowledge. 515 Dust Control. C.J. Algor. American Millor, 68, 24-25 (May, 1940). A description of effective methods for the control of dust in the milling indus try. Wherever feasible, of course, the dust should be controlled at its source but this is not always possible. For the best industrial "housekeeping," heavy duty vacuum cleaning equipment is the logical solution. This may be either of the portable or stationary piped-up system. Plants which have installed this apparatus have found it of value in control of infestation and salvage of valuable materials. 516 Profits in Air -- Cummins Engine Company. C. Strock. Heating and Ventilating, 37, 33-35 (May, 1940). This is No. 17 in a series of articles showing how industrial plants promote processes and profits by scientific control of air ccndltions. Fuel economy and greatly improved working conditions have resulted from the operation of a vapor collecting system in the injector test room in this new plant. Blower type unit heaters have connections to the outside and have sufficient capacity so that, altogether, they provide three air changes per hour in tho building. All air, both outside and recirculated, is also cleaned in passing through the heaters. Motorized ventilators are installed in the roof to allow for the exhaust of vitiated air in quantities equal to that supplied through the unit boaters from the outside. 517 Dust Control. Part III. Hood, Inspection. Maintenance. Respirators and Sources of Information. F.F. Kravath. Heating and Ventilating. 37. 36-36 (May, 1940) T The hood is the most important single item in dust control. As complete enclosure as possible is the most important rule to remember. Adequate illumination must be provided in enclosing any procoss. Exhaust equipment should be inspected and tested regularly. Respirators find their place as an adjunct to, in place of, or during servicing of the o:diaust system. The author lists sources of information on various phases of dust control. HMBB-001U077 HWBB-0010078 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 10, 518 Dust Control, Part I. Exhaust Devices for Hand Pnemetic Tools, W.C.L. Hameon.. Heating and Ventilating, 37. 41-45 (June. 1940), A description of the problem of dust control among stone cutters in the granite monument and building stone industry. Technical developments are summarized and the limitations of present day exhaust equipment are outlined. The operations vrhich generate dust in large amounts are the various chiseling operations employ ing pneumatic hammers, sandblasting and, to a far lesser extent, hand chiseling. Some of the older, more or less inadequate installations are described and the more modern successful systems illustrated. Laboratory studies have shown that a linear air velocity of 200 f.p.m. induced at the point of the tool by an exhaust hood is adequate to capture the dust formed by hand pneumatic tools. Equations are given for calculating the necessary volume of air to produce a desired air velocity at any given distance frem the hood face. Power requirements beyond a radius of six or seven inches incroaso to unreasonably high "values. This is taken into consideration in the Massachusetts standard of recommended practices for the installation and operation of banker exhaust devices. Difficulties with toolattached exhausts have not yet been suxmountod. Exhaust booths present disadvan tages which may eventually be overcome but as yet are not used commercially to any extent. Velocities of 3000 f.p.m. are usually given for the transportation of granite dust. In the author's opinion, there is little advantage to be gained by attempting to balance the flow in exhaust systems of this typo by incroasing frictional resistance in branches nearest the fan. Under the stated conditions, an exhaust fan with an inlet diameter about equal to that of the final section of the main duct will usually bo of proper size. 519 The Venturi Ejector for Handling Air, Part I. Experimental Study of the Ejector. F.g. Kravath. Heating and Ventilating.~37, 17-21 [June. 1940). In an effort to answer questions which might be raised by an engineer, the author conducted a series of experiments on what is considered the most efficiently shaped venturi ejector. The results Indicate that the induced air volume is vir tually a straight line function of the jet volume. Resistance applied on the induction side of the ejector rosulted in an expected decrease in induced air volume. Under identical conditions, a 2 inch jet induces 600$ of the air of a 6 inch jet and 250$ the volume of a 4 inch jot. Sswover, as the Induction resis tance is increasod, the relative superiority of the smaller jets decreases some what, but at froo delivery It is possible t_> induce an air volume of approximate ly 5-1/2 times the volume of the jot air. The author emphasizes the reduction of resistance at the ejector discharge to an absolute minimus*. Even a small amount cf additional resistance, such as would only decroase tho induced air by 85 to 40$, if applied at the induction or secondary end, is enough to destroy completely the effectiveness of the ejector if applied at the discharge end. In fact, not only is there no air induced, but some of the jot or primary sir actually reverses direction and comes out the secondary end. This can be avoided by making any length of pipe as lerge in diameter as is practicable, elbows should be of the long radius, multi-piece type, and weather caps should be streamlined to avoid unnecessary shock losses. If resistance cannot be avoided, the jet velocity must be increased. 520 Determination of Carbon Disulfido in Air. F.P. Sorehead. Ind. & Eng. Cham., (Anal. Ed.) 12, 373-374 (June, 1940). The article describes a modification of the copper-diethylanino method which has been made sufficiently sensitive for the determination of low concentrations in small samples of air by the use of 2-methoxyetbanol as the reaction medium. The results compare favorably with those obtained by the xenthate method when used on air and very good agreement with Beer's law has been shown. The author describes a new and very satisfactory type of absorption tube. HMBB-0010079 Digest of Industrie! Hygiene - 11. 521 Profits in Air -- C. G. Conn, Ltd. P,A. Westbrook. Heating and Ventilating, 37, 39-40 (June, 1940), By the use of unit heaters an economical scheme was worked out for heating the buildings and at the same time providing make-up air v;hon one or more exhaust systems were in operation. Whenever the exhaust fan for a particular group of buffing machines is turned on, a relay in the motor circuit is actuated and causes a motor to position the dampors so that all the air handled by the unit heater is drawn from the outside. When the exhaust fan is not operating, the damper motor swings to the other position so that the heater is now supplied entirely with recirculated air. The volume delivery of heated air from the unit is approximately the same as that handled by the exhaust fan for that group. This system has the economic advantage of not heating more cold make-up air than is required to compensate for that removed by each exhaust fan. 522 Profits in Air -- Ford Motor Company. C. Strock. Beating and Ventilating, 37, 32-38 (June", 1940). This is a description of an extensive exhaust system for 235 pieces of equipment by which the author terms "a strikingly smart and clean job of engineering." One soction of the building required the exhausting of grinding machines; the other, where heat treating and hardening was carried out, necessitated tho removal of gases from the numerous furnaces. A remarkable feature of the exhaust system serving the grinding department is the almost total absence of visible duct work* This is achieved by carrying the exhaust connection undor the floor to a main located under the aisle, and thence to a riser located along the side wall of the building. As the risers are relatively flat and located along the wall, they are practically unnoticed. The method of concealing the branches and main duct under the floor is illustrated. The problem of clean-out doors in tho under floor duct system was nicely solved. On the roof are 15 banks of dust collectors consisting of 92 units capable of handling 92,000 c.f.m., oach bonk serving an aisle. To maintain a constant static pressure, the filter begs ore cleaned automatically by a pneumatic shaking mechanism which agitates the bag. The heat treating equipment is arranged longitudinally through the hardening room. An enclosure was built in front of all the furnaces extending over their tops in order that they might present a uniform appearance and be heat insulated from the vrcrklng space. Each of the furnaces is heavily insulated. Three exhaust systems serve the furnaces and have a combined capacity of 58,100 c.f.m. Gas explosions are eliminated by automatic gas escape valves. The ducts are also provided w*th back pressure dampers to prevent the fan from discharging back into the building when one is shut down -- this also prevents heat loss by stack action. Where the vapors are hot and liable to discolor, an inside casing with air space is pro vided. This system effectively eliminates any potential hazards without obstructing light or sacrificing appearance. In the author's words "It is no overstatement to say that the exhaust systems in the Ford Tool and Die Shop approach the ultimate in good plant housekeeping. " 523 Triangle of Responsibility. A.S. Johnson. American Mutual Magazine, 19, 11-16 (June, 1940) The author describes the interdependence of the doctor, the safety onglnoer and tho plant operating head. He directs the attontion of the plant physician to JZ< tho position ho can occupy tc best advantage in the problem of occupational dis ease control, without becoming a prevention specialist. It is his conviction that tho doctors can assist tremendously by translating their medical findings into directly useful data for the engineer and operating divisions, and by mak ing recommendations for treating the workmen who are susceptible to, but not dis abled by, the toxic exposure. HMBB-801G080 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 12. 524 Tanks for Industry. S.Soltonstall. Safety Engineering, 79, 11-12 (June, 1940). The author describes the necessary equipment and gives instructions for the cleaning of bulk plant tanks without the use of steem. He estimates the cost of cleaning a 15,000 gallon tank at $12 - 015. He warns against cleaning opera tions during electric stoims. 525 Integrating Industrial Hygiene with Local Health Service. L. Graves, A. Flotchcr and C. Pharris. J.Am.Pub/Hoalth Assoc., 30. 493-498 (April, 1940). Duplications of service are pointed out which would result if a broadened indus trial hygiene program was begun where a well organized public health program al ready existed. The authors feel that the development of industrial hygiene in some communities has been delayed by the confused and erroneous conception of this work held by some health officials. An outline of the general qualifica tions for personnel in industrial hygiene are given -- in the author*s opinion, the public health engineer best fits the requirements. Illustrations are given to show how an industrial hygiene service might be added to the program of local health departments. 526 A New Modification of the Patch Tost (The Chamber Method). I. Rokstnd. Arch. Dero."& Syphil., 41, 649-653 (April, 1940)"." The patch test method commonly employed in eczema tests is unreliable for examin ation of the nonspecific (i.o., oaustic) effect on the skin exerted by certain volatile substances (e.g,, terpenes). In this new method a celluloid chamber replaces the cellophane plate (or impregnated cambric). The chamber exerts a suction effect on the skin when applied correctly, not only providing an air tight spaco that prevents escape of the volatile test substance but inducing the formation of a papule within a certain length of time. The papule constitutes the criterion of a successful tost technique and it may also be assisted to facilitate the absorption of the test substances through the horny and sebaceous barrier of the skin. This method has given constant results in studies of the toxicity of the terpenes. 527 The Determination of Amounts of Formaldehyde in Air. R.W. Kersey, J.R. Haddocks"r'hd' T.2. Johnson. The Analyst. 65 . 203-206 (April, 1940). The Association of British Chemical Manufacturers have set a limit of tolerance for formaldehyde in air at 0.025 mg. per liter. The authors found that most of the available methods for its determination were inadequate. They devised a method for absorbing the fotmaldehyde from the air in a dilute aqueous solution of phenylhydrazine hydrochloride which seemed free from the disadvantages assoc iated with absorption in water alone. Full directions for the procedure are given. Papers on Industrial Poisons, Cancsr, Dermatitis, Etc. 528 Health Hazards in Electroplating. J.P. Russell. Metal Finishing, 38, 321-324, 328" (June/ 1940). Health hazards in the electroplating Industry may be encounterod in grinding, polishing and buffing; in degreasing; in acid dipping or pickling; In plating; and in spraying with lacquers and enamels. Chromic acid, cyanides, nickel solu tions, cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury are all substances which may result in pathological conditions. HWBB-0010081 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 13. 529 Occupational Poisoning in the Viscose Rayon Industry. A. Hamilton. With an appendix on "A Study of Cases of Psychosis Among Viscose Rayon Workers" by L. Erskine. U.S. Dept, of Labor, Div. of Labor Standards Bulletin No. 34, 79 pp., (1940). For sale by the Supt. of Documents, Washington, D.C., price 15 cents. This report describes tho type of occupational poisoning found in the viscose rayon industry, primarily those due to carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide. Tho processes in the departments where these substances are used arc described in some detail. There is a discussion of the type of medical care supplied in the industry which in some of the analler plants is of a superficial character and has rosulted in some serious cases of occupational poisoning. The larger plants have recognized the inherent dangers and provide careful uedical super vision. There is a resume of tho study on carbon disulfide made by the Univer sity of Pennsylvania Medical Group and a discussion of the various pathological results of poisoning by this substance -- the psychoses, neuritis, disturbances of vision, effects on the oar, gastro-intostinal disturbances, effects on the skin, and certain types of unusual symptoms. Hydrogen sulfide also receives lengthy attention. In the appendix, Miss Erskine presents 27 cases of psychosis in an endeavor to learn whether probable connection existed between their mental condition ana their exposure to carbon disulfide previous to commitment. 530 Controlling Health Hazards in Pickling Departments. M.A. Snell, Steel, 106, 66, 68 and76 (May 20, 1940). Gases carried up in mists from pickling vats may includo, in addition to hydro gen, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans (from the sulfur in the iron),phosphine, sili con hydride and hydrocarbons. Sulfur dioxide, arsine and hydrochloric acid may also bo present. Irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, dermatitis, and even systemic poisoning may result from exposure to these substances. Sul furic acid containing more than 1/2 of 1 part/pIr^fSSofooO parts of acid should never be used for pickling purposes. The various inhibitors, especially the synthetic organic, are effective as one means of control of the exposure to toxic gases. Good ventilation, however, is an essential. The author describes several good methods -- general room ventilation, overhead Moods (of which he describes several types), and slotted ducts located at each side of the tank. Tho volume of air exhausted should be from 200 to 250 eu. ft. per minute per square foot of tank surface for overhead hoods and slightly more for the slotted ducts. The air velocity at the slotted ducts should be from 1500 to 2000 feet per minute. Push pull systems are very effective and do not require the large volumes of exhausted :ir necessary in straight exhaust systems. The apparatus should all be of acid-resisting materials. Respiratory protective devices should never be used as a substitute for effective ventilation. Protective clothing and skin creams should receive consideration. 531 Rat Mortality Following Sodium Tungstate Injection. F.W. Kinard and J. Van der Erve. Am. J. Med. SciT. 199 . 668-670 (May. 1940). The median lethal dose (LD50) for 66-day-cld rats, injected subcutaneously with sodium tungstate after a 24-hour starvation period, appears to lie between 223 and 255 mg. (equivalent to 140 to 160 mg. of W). The authors point out that there is a definite age effect and that post-prandial (after meals) conditions markedly influence results. 532 Mercury Poisoning. A.C. Giese. Science 91, 476-477 (May 17, 1940). Vaporization of mercury takes place rapidly at room temperature and one cubic meter cf air saturated with mercury vapor at 25C contains!9.5 mg. of mercury. When a stream of air passes over a 10 sq. cm. surface of mercury at 25C at the rate of one liter per minute it becomes about 15$ saturated and will contain Hffo-001G082 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 14. about 3 mg. of mercury per cubic meter. Scattered droplets of mercury on the floor of the laboratory may soon result in toxic amounts in the air. Since mercury poisoning is cumulative, even very small amounts must be guarded agains Mercury may be detected in dust from laboratories whore tho element has been handled in a number of ways end may be demonstrated visually by tho use of a mercury resonance lamp and a screen of anthracene. Precautions against the poi soning ere enumerated. 533 Chronic Manganese Poisoning In An Ore-Crushing Mill. J.M. DollaValle, et al. Public Health Bulletin No. 247, 77 pp. (1940)7 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., price 15 cents. This is a report of the engineering and medical studies made in two manganese- ore-crushing mills. In one of the mills, which had been in operation for about twenty years, average concentrations of 173 mg. of manganese per cubic meter of air were found in tho vicinity of the pulverizer. In the newer plant, some effort was made to control the dust and here the dustiest operation, that of filling bag3 or barrels, exposed tho operators to 6 mg. per cubic meter. Physical examination of tho employees of tho older plant revealed 34 cases of chronic manganese poisoning. Nc cases wore found among men exposod to less than 30 mg. of manganese per cubic meter but the report cautions against establishing this figure as a threshold limit because of the snail number of cases and inter mittent character of the exposure. Muscular stiffness and incoordination are typical symptoms of this disease, first apparent as disturbances in gait and difficulty in stepping baclcward without falling down, speech disturbances in cluding stuttering and running together of the words, muscular twitchinga or tremors, and occasionally a nask-like facial expression. The differential diagnosis of tho disease, which has much in cannon with multiple sclerosis, paralysis agitans, end progressive lenticular degeneration, is discussed as are the various methods of control. 534 Exposure to Fluorine in Industry. W. Mnchlo and Z.2. Evans. J.Ind.Hyg* & Toxicol., 22, 213-217 (June, 1940) A study of osteosclerosis caused by industrial exposure to fluorine. In view of the varying manifestations in animals and man it seemed desirable to establish quantitatively the levels of absorption at which these conditions occur. The examinations have been given over five years of intermittent exposure and it has been found that concentrations of fluorine harmful to experimental animals have been tolerated by workers without evidence of damage. Analytical determinations show that the exposure of these workmen has resulted in absorption of mure than three times tho normal amounts of fluorine, but nc clinical evidence of abnormal ly large deposits in bones and teeth has appeared. 535 Lead Poisoning in Infants Due to "Load-Paintod" Toys and Cribs. F.H.Lewy. Penna. Dept, of Labor and Industry, Safe Practice Bulletin No. 6, 5 pp. (April, 1939). Colic, anemia, end peripheral norve disease such as wristdrop are comparatively infrequent in. children, while involvement of the brain and disturbance of its function are in the foreground. Hence the importance of preventing children, espocially infants, from contact with the lead painted surface of toys, cribs, and woodwork. Children seam more suscoptiblc to small quantities of lead than adults and the specific sensitivity of tho infantile brain may be caused by its lesser resistance to partial oxygen lack. The treatment of lead encephalopathy is very unsatisfactory. Tho author urges Child Welfare Organizations to crusade for tho exclusion of harmful paints in tho manufacture of toys and nursery fur niture. j 0 -3 &< Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 15. 536 Molten-Lead, Lead Oxides. White Lead and Lead Dry-Colors. F.W. Eckfeldt. Penna. Dept, of Labor and Industry, Safe Practice Bulletin No. 19, 10 pp., 11 illustra tions (February, 1940), This is another in a series of bulletins on safe practices. It treats the proce dures carried out by one company in the manufacture of metal products, lead oxides, white lead, lead paints and lead dry-colors. Lead melting kettles aro provided with hoods connected with an exhaust system to remove fumes given off from the surface of the molten metal. Furnaces for oxidizing pig lead to the powdered oxide are hooded to prevent dispersion of the dust into the workroom. Steel drums containing oxide are provided with rim-type portable exhausts which are controlled in position with counterbalances, acting on chain and pulley. Flexible connections aid in quick removal when drums are to be weighod. Corrodet buckles of white load (in Old Dutch Process) are duaped into a covered metallic crane-bucket which is furnished with portable oxhnust to remove lead dust. Fill ing of barrels is accomplished in an enclosed packing machine which effectively eliminates the dust. Workmen mixing batches of dry-colors containing lead are provided with positive pressure rospirators. Personal hygiene is fostered by giving additional compensation to those who take showers. 53? Effect of Calcium and Phosphorus on Retention of Lead by Growing Organism. L.G. Lederer and F.C. Bing. J.Am.Mod.Assoc.. 114. 2457-8461 (June 22, 1940). Studies made with young albino rats lead to the conclusion that the amount of lead stored in the body is decreased when calcivaa carbonate is added to the diet. Phosphatos have no significant effect. Lead is found stored chiefly in :he bones, and the kidneys have relatively high contents compared to the liver. Calcium appears to exert its beneficial action by preventing the absorption of lead from the intestinal tract as the calcium in the diet seems to have no effect on the retention of load administered by injection into the abdominal cavity. 536 The Biochemical Behavior of Lead. I, Influence of Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D on Load in Blood and Bone. A.E. Sobol, H. Yuska, D.D. Peters and B. Kramer. J. Biol. Chcm., 132. 239-265 (1940). 1. Experiments were designed to study the Influence of diotary Calcium, Phosphor us, and vitamin D on the biochemical behavior of lead in young rats. The diets used varied with respect to these three factors but wore similar in their lead content. 2. The rosults shew that influence of all three dietary factors, namely Calcium, Phosphorus and vitamin D must bo considered in the biochemical behavior cf lead. 3, Lead deposition in the bones may be explained by post ulating that lead phosphate and vitamin D fora a system of lead deposition analogous to the system of calcification. The addition of Calcium tends to re move Phosphorus from the system for lead deposition, 4. Blood lead values obtained may bo explained by assuming a relationship between blood lead and dietary lead to Phosphorus ratios similar to tho relationship between blood Cal cium and dietary Calclxa to Phosphorus ratios. The influence of vitamin D upon blood lead is similar to its Influence on blood Calcium on corresponding dietary metal to Phosphorus ratios. 5, It'was experimentally doonstrated that simultaneous lead deposition and removal cf Calcium from the bones is possible. Furthermore, it was shown that Increased calcification does not necessarily moan increased lead deposition. 6 It is concluded therefore that lead deposition is directed by a system of its own, which Is governed by tho seme laws as is Calcium deposition but does not necessarily go in the same direction. The effect of Calciua on the deposition is essontially competitive, booause it tends to re move Phosphorus available for lead deposition. -- Author*s summary. 539 A Single Trauma as an Etiological Factor in Carcinoma. W.E. Leighton and E.C. Schmidtke. J. Missouri State Mod. Ass.;c., 37, 267-277 (July, 1940). The authors present seventy-nine cases of superficial cancers initiated by a single trauma which were net biased by a medical-logal phase. Tho authors HMBtf-0010083 HMBB-0010084 Digest of Industrial fygiene - 16. "believe that although trauma in itself does not produce a cancer, it apparently sets off something, and that in certain cases it is the inciting cause or in stigation of the cancer. 540 Cancer Incidence Among Lead Workers. B.J. Black. J.Missouri State Med. Assoc., 37, 298-299 (July, 1940). The author concludes that there is no available body of data which can be used to answer the question "Is there a smaller incidence of cancer among workers ex posed to lead poisoning or plumbism than among workers not so exposed?" The interest in this problem is initiated in the speculation that load might be an effective agent in the destruction of the embryonal type of cell that constitutes cancer. Studies of the incidence of cancer among workers in industries allied to lead manufacturing give but inconclusive results. However, mortality records of two smelting plants indicate that the cancer deaths for these men, who are subject to lead fines, is relatively small. 541 An X-ray Study of the Effects of Industrial Oases Upon the Human Lung. E.2.Evans. Radiology, 34, 411-424 (April, 1940). Serial x-rays of the chests of a large number of men in the cheed.cal industry were begun five years ago. During this period approximately 17,000 chest x-rays have been made. The cases are discussed in four groups, depending on chemical exposure. The program has been carried out to determine the effects of low con centrations of various gases upon the human lung, namely, hydrofluoric acid, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide, phosgene, phosphorus oxychloride, and phosphorus trichloride. (No data is given as to the concentrations of the gases these men were exposed to.) In the author's opinion, the x-ray films show no visible evidence indicating lung changes. 542 The Response Attending Exposure of Laboratory Aninwifl to Vapors of Methyl Bromide. D.D. Irish, et al. 7~.Ind.Hyg. & Toxicol., 22, 218-230 (June. 1940). The possibility that this substance may attain widespread/as^a fumigator stimu lated this investigation into the physiological effect of its vapors on man and other animals. It was found that animals could tolerate quite large doses for short periods of time but eventually showed severe lung irritation. However, they tolerated a daily 8-hour exposure for a long period of time to a concentra tion not far below the mw-rlmum tolerated for a single exposure of 6 hours. Also, recovered animals showed no functional or physiological abnoxmality. Although it is less toxic to man than some fumigants, the authors warn that with proper precautions it may be used without serious damage. 543 Hematologic Control of Intoxications by Volatile Hydrocarbons. A. Langelez, 0. Peremans and H. Bastenier. Brussols-Medicale. 20. 430 (January 28, 1940). Abstr. from J. Am. Hod. Assoc., 114. 1702 (April 27, 1940). The authors review the cases of industrial hydrocarbon poisoning which have occurred in Belgium during the years 1932-1938. Nearly all were due to "benzol" which was probably the coal tar derivative and not benzine. A complete picture of the blood ohanges involved is given. 544 Eruptions and Photosensitivity Due to Dyed Fabrics. E. Epstein. Arch. Dent. & Syphil.41, 1044-1052 (June, 1940T This is a presentation of a review of the literature and a discussion of eight casos of eruptions due to dyed clothing. This condition is, of course, quite often of industrial importance. Dyed fabrics may cause deimatitis venanata, photosensitivity, pyoderma, hidradenitis suppurativa, lichen simplex chronicus and urticaria. The author stresses the importance of hyperldrosls and of "bleed ing. " He questions the Importance of sex and polysensltlvity in the production of these dermatoses. Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 17. HWBB-0JMO085 545 Role of Vitamin C in Various Cutaneous Diseases* W.F. Lever and J.H. Talbott, Arch, Pena. & Syphil. 741. 657-663 (April, 1940). The authors find no direct correlation between tho level of vitamin C in the blood and the development of the several diseases of the skin which were inves tigated, Low levels of vitamin C in the blood of most patients with pemphigus, purpura or generalized exfoliative dermatitis is believed to bo due to the fact that most of these patients had been ill for a long period with an elevated tem perature. Eighteen patients with various diseases of the skin showed no coin cidental improvement under treatment with large amounts of vitamin C. (=L 546 Cutaneous Hypersensitivity to Triethanolamine. G.H. Curtis and E.W. Nethorton. Arch. Dorm. & Syphil., 41, 729-731 (April, 1940), A report of two cases of cutaneous hypersensitivity to triethanolamine, one due to shaving cream, the other to an ointment. However, on the basis of patch tests on one hundred other persons without a positive reaction, the authors be lieve it is safe to assume that this condition is rare. 547 A Twenty Year Survey of Anthrax in the United States. (Sixth Report of the Committee on Anthrax). H.F. Smyth, Sr. American Public Health Assoc. Bulletin, B-3087, 16 pp. (October 18, 1939). There have been 1,663 cases of anthrax with 353 deaths in the period 1919-1938* Since 1928, there has been a decrease in the number of cases but this has pro bably been due to the industrial depression with a corresponding decrease in the number of employees and also in imported hides and skins, with a greater use of packer-killed hides which are usually from Government-inspected anthrax-free animals. Further proof of this is to be found in the fact that the decrease comes only from industrial groups. The drop in fatality rates comes practical ly all from the cases in organized industries where earlier diagnosis, more prompt treatment, and extensive use of serum and arsenicals are employed. This report shows that there is still a decided need for prophylactic measures to be taken in the prevention of anthrax. If hides and skins, the largest single cause of anthrax, had boen properly sterilized,there would have been saved in the 20 years a large nuzber of deaths and over 10,000 days1 lost time but as yet there is no accepted method for carrying out such sterilization* 548 photosensitization by Phenothiazlne. F. DeEds, R.H. Wilson and J.O. Thomas. J. An. Med. Assoc.. 114 . 2095-2097~15ay 25, 1940). This substance is one of the more promising organic Insecticides developed as a substitute for lead and arsenic. Reports of irritation among man using it for spraying purposes have been made, although laboratory workers have usod It with impunity and it has even been administered orally as a urinary antiseptic with out untoward results. The explanation for this seeming contradiction apparent ly lies in tho ond-products to which the substance is oxidized in the body. After oral administration, phenothiazlne is oxidized to the reversible oxidation-reduc tion system thionol-leukothionol. This system will sensitize individuals to sun burn. The fact that tho orchard workers who use the spray are subjected to environmental conditions sharply contrasting with those of the tested laboratory workers and hospital patients is also a determining factor in tracing the source of the difficulty. Laboratory tests conducted on the basis of these faots showed that the trouble was due to the resulting photosensitizetion and not to local irritation by the phenothiazlne. 549 Cheilitis and Dermatitis from Toothpaste. L.B. Beinhauer. Arch. Derm, ft Syphil., 41, 892-894 (May, 1940). A presentation of two instances of cheilitis and dormatitis following the use of toothpaste. In one case, thymol was the offending drug; in the other, alpha naphthol was aispected. HUBB3HH0Q86 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 18. 550 Dermatitis From Elasti-Glass Garters and Wrist Watch Straps. E.P. Zeisler. J. Am. Med. Assoc.. 114. 2540.2542 (June 29. 1940). This is a report of two cases of dermatitis resulting from the wearing of garte and wrist watch straps of "elasti-glass," made from a new synthetic resin. In tho author's opinion, the affection is due to a specific sensitivity induced by intimate and prolonged contact with the material. Negative patch tests are not a sufficient criterion of noninjurious effects, as the method would not correspond to the long wearing of a constricting band against the skin over a long period of time. Mechanical friction and overheating of the skin are also determining factors. The author believes that hydrolysis takes place and that in this way irritating compounds are producod. Although this is the first re port in the literature, the author mentions 28 other cases which have come to his attention. 551 Industrial Dermatitis. Committee on Healthful Working Conditions. National Association of Manufacturers. Safety Engineering, 79, 35-37 (June, 1940), Claims for compensation due to skin damage in industrial work reported in incom plete state reports and to the Office of Dermatoses Investigations of the U.S. Public Health Service have constituted about 65$ of all reported occupational disease cases. The economic loss to employees and employers is largely prevent able. Although the Information in this svsnmery is, of necessity, general in character, nevertheless, an effort has been made to treat the subject so that not only the control of a specific dermatitis problem can be set up, but that the control shall be practical. The publication lists in detail the industries most affected by dermatoses. 552 Papular Lesion in Chicken Feather Pickers. J.Aa.Med.Assoc., (Queries 4 Minor Notesj 115, 76 (July 6. 1940^. Warts noted on the hands of girls engaged in picking chicken feathers are no doubt the result of a foreign body reaction resulting frem the embedding of particles of feathers. Lesions of a similar type have been noted in asbestos workers. For prevention, the workers should wear sturdy gloves made of rubber or one of tho newer elastic fabrics. 553 Mite Dermatitis. D.E.H. Cleveland. Arch. Derm. feSyphil., 41, 831-834 (May,1940), Although its nature and source are commonly unrecognized, dermatitis in handlers of copra and cheese due to irritation by mites found in these materials is not uncommon. Secondary Infection usually complicates the aruption and therefore regu lar handlers of these materials require 3omo protective measures. Thorough ad vance greasing of the exposed parts with an inert fatty substance and cleansing with soap and water after working appear to give efficient protection. 554 Dermatitis Due to Safety Pins: Interesting Sequence of Sensitization Due to Con tact with Nickel. J.G.Downing. Arch.Dera.fc Syphll.,41.568-569 (March, 1940). This is a report of a case of nickel sensitivity in a woman due first to safety pins and then to nickel plated garters. It has been noted in nickel platers that those who have suffered from an eruption as a result of their trade become secondarily sensitive to leather and have a dermatitis on their foreheads and on the dorsa of their feet. The author believes that some of the eruptions of the hands and feet which have been callod fungous infections without cultural proof have started as a nickel dermatitis of tho giners with a secondary sensitization of the feet due to leather. S) l>--J V-- /?.:*> <C -5 ILS? ,-5> Anthrax report 547 Asbestos!e pnlmnnnry function 508 Concer 539-540 Carbon disulfide determination 520 Dermatitis "elastl-glass" 550 fe&ther-pickers 552 general 551 mite 553 nickel 554 triethanolamine 546 vitamins 545 Dust control general 517 mining 515 atone cutting 518. Dyea 544 Dust cotton 507 mine 512 Electroplating 528 Fluorine poisoning 534 Formaldehyde determination 527 Foundry safe practices 511 Hydrocarbon poisoning Industrial health in war 505 Industrial hygjone general 525 INDEX * > / sJ,i. (July, 1940) Lead poisoning 535-536-537-538-540 Manganese poisoning 533 Mercury poisoning 532 Methyl bromide 542 Occupational disease control 523 decisions 502-503-504 Paint hazards 510 Patch test 526 Phenothiazlne photosonsltlzation 548 Pickling hazards 530 Rayon industry 529 Silicosis general 506 Silico-tuberculosis 509 Sodium tungstate ------531 ------ Tank cleaning 524 Triethanol^^^e dermatitis 546 Ventilation "black-out" 513 downdraft 514 general 516-521-522 venturi injector 519 Workmen1 a compensation decisions 496-497-498-499-500-501 541 HUBB-0010087