Document 6w1mLrQVqmvj4O0zMxpGyw1Jg

264 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE In group 1 were 28 per cent who reported themselves absolutely free from complaints; in group 2, on the other hand, there were 56 per cent. The frequencies of the most common subjective symptoms are listed in charts 3 and 4. In the former are included symptoms which a priori can be taken as results of the kind of work. Complaints concerning the mucous membranes of the eyes and the respir atory tract--probably caused by gas in group 1 and by dust in group 2--are slightly more frequent in the former, while those concerning the back, sleep and the stomach are approximately on the same level in both groups. The so-called neurasthenic troubles (chart 4) show a higher frequency in group 1 throughout. The dominating symptom is fatigue, and practically all men who Table 3.--Age and the Symptom of Fatigue (Divisions Arranged by Degree of Exposure) Group Division ' Sullur plant.................................... Bjungstrom plant......................... 1I I. M. and Rockesholra furnace, Bergh furnace................................ Totals for group 1............... ' Transport ...................................... Crushing house and silos........... 2 J" Steam plant.................................... Shale quarry.................................. Totals for group 2............... Year o Birth Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Before 1911 1911 and later Men Who Complained of Fatigue Men ,----------------- A----------------- Examined Number Per Cent 39 59 24 24 61 1 41 / 49 64 63 25 38 46 1 60 l 54 73 37 51 \ A*7 62 27 44 / 62 47 27 25 44 \ 53 / 47 228 113 231 114 50 \ 49 / 50 34 33 11 17 32 1 51 / 42 102 76 33 23 32 \ 30 [ 31 22 13 5 4 23 \ 31 / 26 58 46 21 9 36 \ 20 j 29 216 168 70 63 32 \ 32 / 32 have reported other symptoms of importance for this study have also reported fatigue. Several studies of the etiological factors of fatigue have been published in the literature, but there are few data about the "normal" frequency of the symptom. Frazer19 (1947) made a detailed study of the frequency of neurosis among British factory workers during the war; of 750 workers without physical illness, 35 per cent mentioned fatigue. If those with a neurotic illness (anxiety, depressive and obsessional states, hysteria and psychosis) are eliminated, the frequency'-is 22 per cent. These figures are probably too high for peacetime conditions, but they should give an approximate idea of the limits within which the "normal" fatigue frequency is to be found. Tables 3 and 4 show the frequency of the fatigue symptom within the various divisions with regard to age and length of employment. Group 1, as stated-above, is considerably more exposed than group 2. The age (table 3) does not seem to 19. Frazer, R.: Medical Research Council, Industrial Health Research Board Report no. 90, London, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1947.