Document 91jb8EgGpvKo0QrzKwwQ8XXm5

(ft RostPT ji. MeraiN v.C l Virginia Bridge Company, STEEL STRUCTURES BRIDGES. BUILDINGS, ETC. fiIforV*crs: Roanoke. Va. August 23, 1937-b PLAINTIFFS C EXHIBIT RR-207 File No. 506 I' Mr. J. B Baakerville, General Claim Agent, Norfolk &. Western Railway Company, Roanoke, Virginia. y Dear Sir:- Replying to your letter of August 20th with regard to lead poisoning which comes under the category of occupational diseases and which is giving the Compensation Boards of the various States considerable worry at the present time. The Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc., Mr. H. B. Mailer, Vfcnaging Director, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has given considerable thought to silicosis and various diseases which affect the body thru the lungs. I am attaching you sou information which I have on file indicating some of their publications which yoi could undoubtedly secure for further study. /So far, this Company has not had any claims by employes for injuries M alleged to have been due to lead poisoning, we do some painting by means of sprays but endeavor to omit the spraying of red lead whenever possible owing to the fact that it might have some effect on the operators, and also that it la wasteful of a rather expensive material. Therefore, the bulk of our red lead is applied by means of a hand brush. For Instance, on the oars which we are turning out for you at the present time, the first or priming coat is red lead and it is put on with a brush and the second and third coats are black and they are aprayed. We do not have sufficient experience to express an opinion with regard to the effect of vapors arising from burning off rivet heads as regards the operators. It has been our practice in removing rivet heads on-----steel to uae a buster which ImockB them off, rather than acetylene gas for burning them off. We require, aa you do> all men doing painting and spraying work to wear a respirator. We are interested in anything that may be developed along this line and if we can be of any further aid or ssslstasce we will certainly be glad to do whatever we can. 7ou suggest that we inquire of the American Bridge Company as to any experience they may have had along this line and I am doing so today and will give you the results of this inquiry. EXHIBH_Z 4 UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION NEW YORK April 9, 1937 TO ALL. COMPANIES, EE SAFETY Gentlemen*.- ARTICLES OK HOUSTRIAL DISEASE la further reference to ay letters of February 11th and April 7th, transmitting lists of abstracts of articles on industrial disease compiled by the Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc., I an sending you herewith an additional list, dated April 1, 1937, as also copy of report on the Second National Si 1 t Conference, submitted to us by the Foundation. In relation to this material, Mr. E. B. Meller, Managing Director of the Foundation, has written us as followss "Copies of the complete articles abstracted in this and other issues probably can be obtained from the publications quoted* or may be available at any largo library. Should a member desire any of the articles in full, it may be possible to obtain re prints from the author, or, failing that, copy of the journal in which the particular article appeared. Most libraries also have a photostat service. "If a member is unable to obtain what ho wishes through the usual sources, or if he desires further in formation, as to the address of an author or a publica tion, let us iaiow. It will facilitate matters if mem bers try for copies direct; but if you fail, write to us." If you find it necessary to take advantage of Mr. Meller1s offer contained in the last paragraph of the above, I will appreciate it if you will send the inquiry to mo for transmittal to Mr. Meller. Very truly yours, HAS/MB Fuller- 0002 UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION NEW YORK June 4, TO ALL COMPANIES, BS SAJSTf: Gentlemeni- ARTICL2S ON INDUSTRIAL LISBASSS Referring to ay letter of February 11th and subsequent letters on the above subject, I now send you herewith an additional list of abstracts, beginning with No* 236 and ending with No, 290, compiled by the Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. HAS/1G Fuller - 0003 IS TO RHC "3 * *-OT * Air Hygiene Tour.dnti 4400 Tilth Avenue, Pittsbu .ri^v"' lw , 93? o i Am 2 rl cs A. News Items <s;D .abor Lav: Admin . 12, Mar. '37. A bureau c: cndu'-t r;a_ uyg. . the Wisconsin Scat e H-alti; Oerartnent, through cooperative cl:er State e d Te c 3 ral H icrvi ce tc the Indus trial ty of cnforcin g rui os and regulations, assuring safe ar.d healthful working conditions in t... s__t_a_t_e_. (The March, 1937, issue of the Survey of Labor Law Acr.ir.istrr.ticn, includ ing this and the following items with other material of interest, can be obtained on application to the Division of Labor Standards, U. S. Depart ment of Labor, Washington. 3. C.) 237. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH LEAFLETS. Surv.Labor Law Admin. 12, March 193''. The Division of Labor Standards lias prepared four .additional Industrial Health Leaflets, dealing with cause and prevention of methyl alcohol, carbon tetra chloride and carbon bisulfide poisoning and carbon dioxide asphyxiation* Copies will be available for distribution in the near future* Those now obtainable include: (1) industrial shin diseases, (2) anthracosilicosis, (3) arsenic, (4) carbon monoxide, (5) chromium, ic) mercury, (7) lead, (8)benzene poisoning and (9) silicosis. They am very brief, but present the extent of exposure and fundamental rules of prevention for employees and workers. They are obtainable from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., at 5 cents each. The numbers given above arc the numbers of the leaflets. 238. HEALTH OF GRANITE CUTTERS. Surv. Labor Law Admin. 12, March 1937. The U. S. Public Health Service made an extensive study of health conditions among granite workers in Barre, Vermont, in 1925, and is now beginning a reexamination* The results of the present study should furnish additional important data concerning silicosis under controlled and uncontrolled cosditione. 239. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LABOR, MEDICINE & KYGISrS TOP. MEXICO. Surv. Labor Law Admin. 13-13, March 1937. The lexicon Government has been requested by its Labor Department tc appro priate funds for a National Institute of Labor, Medicine and Hygiene. A recent cooperative meeting has given impetus to a general movement to im prove health conditions, including the establishment of that Institute. 240. ILLINOIS CODES ON SAFETY AND HEALTH. Surv. Labor Law Admin. 14, March7l937 The Industrial Commission has appointed committees representative of all in terested agencies and is proceeding with the development of codes on safety and health. A policy committee has been formed to guide the work generally and to avoid duplication and overlapping of codes. The codes of other States and other safety information collected by organizations are being used freely as source material. 241. THE DUST STILL FLIES. Eng. News Rec. U8. 456 March 25, 1937. Last June New York State enacted a law to reduce the silicosis hazard in rock drilling and excavation, but the law is still inactivo, awaiting action of the Industrial Commission in formulating a code for its application and administration. The main cause of delay is a protest by cement and Fuller - 0004 4 Hof. Rec. lit.- 2 g gypsum interests over the tech, leal dofir.ition of silica-bearing rock. The editor urges the end of quibbl ng over the definition, and action or. the law, so that all concerned may '.cr.cw where they stand. 242. TIRST AIR CONDITIONED METAL UHS. Mining Ceng. J., 23, March, 1937. ?. 41. Installation of air ccnditior.ir.g with mechanical refrigeration in the Magma copper mines at Superior, Arizona, was announced by 17. H. Carrier. Tho normal temperature at tho depths of 3400 to 3600 is 95 to ICO0 with hi^i humidity. A fercod ventilating system is used. 243. MINERS1 PHTHISIS HI SOUTH ATRICA. Iron and Coal Trades Rev., 134. 454 (March 5, 1937), from So. African Min. and Eng. J. The years since attention was first directed to silicosis and precautionary measures were undertaken have seen a continual decroase in its prevalence. Silicosis cases now number less than half of what they were in 1920 to 1923. There has been a slight upturn in tho past year but it is no causo for alarm. One probable cause is the great increase in the number of miners. Tho in creased amount of rock drilling is probably a factor. The reduction of dust from this source is now being studied. 3. General and Scientific Papers In cases where we laiow or believe that reprints are obtainable from American and some other authors, their addresses are given. A few papers under this heading and many under the next one are by Trench and German authors. In many casos reprints in the original language are prob ably available from the authors, but considerable delay will be involved, both in locating the author1 s address and in sending for the reprint. 17e suggest in order to avoid some of that delay* to order a copy of the per iodical giving the name of the periodical (as abbreviated here), and the month or day of issue if given, or the pages included if not, from G. 2. Stcchcrt & Co., 31 East 10th St,, New York, N.Y. They will first quote prices if preferred, but it will probably average 50 cents or so for ordinary publications. 244. SILICA AND SILICATE SOLUBILITIES, Albert C. Titus. J. Ind. Hyg. & Tox., 19, 138-145 (March, 1937). In earlier investigations of the solubility of silica, the methods did not permit distinguishing the silica in true solution from that in the colloid al state, and the results were variable and often apparently too high. The author used a combination of earlier methods with ultra filtration anff== determined the silica by the colorimetric method of Sing and Stantial. He found 0.05 mg. silica in 100 cc. water when oithcr pure silica or sericite was dissolved, and 0.1 mg. per 100 cc. from dolomitic chert containing 5$ free silica. In blood serum, which contains normally 1 mg. silica per 100 cc., none of the materials mentioned dissolves sufficiently to increase the amount perceptibly. (Reprints are obtainable from the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.) Fuller - 0005 245. ?:-3 occurrence cr silicosis in the manufacture or silicon alloys. Torster. 3rj.cs, J. Ind. Eyg. ar.d Tex. 19., 155-162, April 1937. The author presents the results of an investigation of the presence of silicosis in two Swedish factories producing silicon alloys. In the process both silicon and silica vapors rise through the furnace and are condensed ar.d given off as dust, in considerable quantities. In one factory 8 out of IS workmen oxarainod, who had worked 4 to 8 years,'were found to have silicosis, 3 boing in the second stage. In the other factory, which was such older, 5 out of 26 examined had silicosis, only one being in the second stage,ana the first clear case was aftor 14 years1 employment. There werealso two other suspected casos after 9 yoars* employment. The lower tncidan.cc in the older plant is evidently due to the uso of an oxhaust system which removos most of the dust which would otherwise sottle in the plant* (In this survey and others made in Swodon, dust counts would have added much to the value of tho reports. - Abstractor.) Reprints in English are obtainablo from Dr. Bruco, Royal Seraphimer Hospital, Stockholm, Swodon.) 246. FURTHER STUDIES OF THE TOTAL PULMONARY CAPACITY AND ITS SUBDIVISIONS IN CASES OF PUIMQNARY FI3RCSI5. Nolan L. Koltreider, TTalter N. Pray and H. van Zilfl Hydo. J. Ind. ar.d Torn., 19, 163-176 (April 1937). This paper sup plements earlier work by some of the authors, showing the extent of tho impairment of lung capacity in cases of fibrosis. In the present paper a correction for age is applied to the earlier results, and now cases are added. As fibrosis increases, the total and vital capacities are reduced, while the residual air and mid-capacity increase. If emphysema is present, the total capacity is not materially changed, but the vital capacity is reduced and the residual air is increased. The percentage of residual air referred to total capacity is proportional to the degree of dyspnea. In dividuals with minimal fibrosis do not become worse when removed from the dusty occupation. (Reprints may be obtained from Dr. Zaltreider, University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Rochester, N.Y.) 247. SILICOSIS AND RELATED CONDITIONS. Leroy U. Gardner. J. Ind. Hyg. & Tox., 19, 111-125 (March, 1937} The first clarifying studies of silicosis in 1915 gave results that have been repeatedly confirmed by subsequent investigators, namely, that free silica is the only cause of silicosis, that the action of silica is chemical, and not mechanical, and that pure silicosis is not infective, that it renders the patient more susceptible to tuberculosis, and that other dusts, including silicates (except asbestos) do not produce any type of fibrosis. The author defines silicosis as tla chronic disease resulting from the pro longed inhalation of particulate silica." The most distinguishing charac teristic of silicosis is tho presence of fibrotic nodules, found especially in the nodes of lymphatic vessels, and caused by irritation resulting from the presence of free silica. The only other cause of similar nodules is the tubercle bacillus; no other inor^nic material (except asbestos) pro duces similar effects. The cocroiications that arise from silicosis include neither pneumonia, which seems to be retarded rather than assisted; nor heartand kidney disoasos in spite of statements to tho contrary based on isolated cases. Emphysema (inflammation of lung tissue) sometimes exists, but tho most important complication is tuberculosis. It has been fully established, statistically and experimentally, that tuberculosis is much more common among silicotics than among normal persons. The tuberculosis of silicotics, however, exists in such a modified form that the distinguishing tern silico-- tuberculosis is generally applied. In most cases silico tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages, because the bacilli Fuller - 0006 " 1. build up an extension of the fibrous tissuo and other local reactions and arc not expelled through the sputum, free which they are otter, absent un til just before death. This increased susceptibility to tuberculosis has not beon explained satisfactorily. Various thoories have been presented, but none of them has boen conclusively established, and such more work is necessary in that field, Diagnosis of silicosis, whether pure or complic ated by tuberculosis, is difficult because thore"a.rc few physical manifes tations before the final stage. It must be basod on X-ray examination and a complete occupational history, including that of exposure to dust and the concentration and composition of the dust. In a very general way it can be said that prolonged exposure to free silica dust in excess of 5 or perhaps 10 million particles of free silica is sufficient to pro<ice silicosis, but the action of silica is so modified by the presence of other dusts that higher free silica concentrations may be harmless when other dusts are present. Much more experience will have to be acquired beforo any general standard of permissible dustiness can bo established* The difficulty of recognizing both pure silicosis and silico-tuberculosis in their earlier stages, and therefore of boginning adequate treatment before it is too late, makes periodic and thorough examinations indispensable* Tho real solution of the problem is dust prevention* "The time is not far distant when danger ous concentrations of dust will no longer.bo permitted in American industries. They have been reduced to safe limits in some of them; they can be in all*" (Reprinte nay be obtained from The Saranac Laboratory for the Study of Tuberculosis, Saranac Lake, N.Y.) 248. QUARTZ III INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND DEPOSITS ON HUMAN LUNG TISSUES: X-RAY DIHFHACu TION, CHEMICAL AND SF2CTR0GRAFEIC STUDIES. Victor Hicks, Olive McSlroy and Uary E. TTarga. J. Ind. Hyg. and Tox,, 19, 177-136 (1937). Several samples of industrial and atmospheric dusts were examined by X-r2y diffraction and spectrographic methods. The methods gave somewhat different results, as they vary in the emphasis on different substances. Silicon was found by the spectrograph!c method in all the dusts, and quartz was iden tified by the diffraction method in most of them. Since quartz dust is so generally present in the air, it may be expected in lungs,whether silicotic or not* X-ray examination showed the presence of quartz in 5 out of 8 nonsilicotic lung specimens examinod, but an unidentified substance was pres ent in others. The silicon content of some lungs in which quartz was thus found was as low as 1.4 mg. silica per gram of dried tissue* (Reprints may be obtained by addressing this office*) 249. REPORT ON 1936 SURVEYS OF MEDICAL SERVICE IN INDUSTRY BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SUBGECNS. M. N* Newquist, Surg. Gynecol, and Obstct., vol. 64, pp 403-406 (February 15, 1937)* This paper reviews 1,593 surveys of - dnstrial establishments in the U. S. and Canada* The first point considered is the scope of adequate'industrial service, with omphasis on medical exam inations and supervision, proper caro for industrial disoases, first aid and advice about occupational hazards. The socond subject is the confidential nature of physical examination records* Civil courts have ruled that these are confidential. An industrial commissioner, however, may subpoena such information as has an important bearing on a claim for insurance. Only results of examinations expressed in codes should be filed with the worker's employment record. Finally, the problem of medical service for small plants is a special problem. These plants employed 5^ million workers in 1929. The solution of the problem is "group service", i.e., a group of qualified phys icians should provide service to groups of small plants* Fuller - 0007 Ik 250 * Hoc. lit. - 5. SPECIFIC TISSUE REACTION TO PHOSPHOLIPIDS. A SUGGESTS EXPLANATION 70S THE SIMILARITY C7 THE LESIONS 07 SILICOSIS AND PUIitONAHY TUBERCULOSIS. J.T. Fallon. Canadian Med. Assoc., J,, voi 36, 223-228 (March, 1937}. The away similarities 'between the tub or cl c and tho silicotic nodule led tho author to search for a aingio substonco that is produced in both silicosis and tuberculosis and causes the irritation leading to nodule formation. In both cases thorc arc largo accumulations of monocytos which degenerate with the production of phospholipids. There is therefore a probability that the phospholipids arc responsible for the irritation and resulting fibrosis. This hypothosis was tested by aovorr.l methods. After injection of silica into various tissues of rabbits the amount of phospholipids increased until the 16th week, whon it bogan to dccreaso. Silicates introduced similarly produced only a nodorato increase in phospholipid content of tho lung and no fibrosis. Soma of the phospholipid recovored from these animals was filtered to remove silica and thon injoctcd into other rabbits. In 4 weeks nodules very much likp the silicotic nodules in the early stages wore formed* They also simulated/ieSions already demonstrated by Sabin, who similarly in jected phospholipid from the tubercle bacillus. In the author's experiments the possibility remains that some silica in soluble form remained in the phospholipids injected. However, the theory is most attractive, and if fully substantiated answers one of the perplexing questions of the histogonosis and tuberculosis. (Reprints arc probably obtainable from the author, at Ranting Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.) 251. ETIOLOGY OF SILICOSIS. 7. Rcichnann. Mod. O-in. 33, 226-229 (1937). Tho author disagrees with ether German investigators who claim to have ob served silicotic changes resulting from inhalation of graphite and rust, on the ground that no roentgenological, pathological or histological proof has been presented. Of the 20,000 eases of silicotic lung changos he has seen, he found none that were not caused by several years' exposure to quartz dust. A check of a number of cases of silicosis, allegedly due to other causes, disclosed that there had been sufficient exposure to silica dust to produce the result. Arguments against the Jones sericite theory are also presented. 252. SILICOSIS IN SPAIN. A. Oiler. Arch. J. Gewerbepathol, 7, 383-387 (1936). The author gives statistics on silicosis in the Spanish Rodalquilar gold minos, in which gold is found in layers of quartz, but no sericite is present. The mines arc dry drilled and have been in operation for 6 years. Ten work ers died from silicosis in 1935, and 32 eases of silicosis were found in the 110 employees. In a ceramic factory 16 eases of silicosis were found among 350 workers. Ifcrgienic improvements have been made in both industries. --~ 253. ASBESTOSIS AND ITS PREVENTION. Windel. Arbeitsscirutz, 9-16 (1937). A surrey of 11 German asbestos plants employing 385 workers disclosed 22 cases of asbeatosis and 13 deaths. A short description of the clinical and X-ray pictures is followed by a careful description of the exhaust systems needed for certain processes with illustrations. 254. THE CARBON CONTENT OF ANTHRACOTIC LUNGS. E. Muller. Arch. f. Gewerbepathol., 7, 316-318 (1935). A method for determining the carbon content of anthracotic lungs is presented. It consists primarily of pulverizing the tissue, extracting the fat with ether and alcohol, and then treating it repeatedly with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The method can be used also or. other tissues. Fuller - 0008 y' COPV Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Ir.c. , ^400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, ?a. July 1, 1537. references ?o ?z:ent litezazufz oh industrial dts: This office expects to havo information later about reprints in some cases where it is not on hand at present* Copies of Safety Engineering in cases where reprints from that periodical are not obtainable, may be secured from Safety Magazine Publishing Corp*, 4^ John St., New Tors, at 2p centB each. 329. INVESTIGATION OP FACTORS INFLUENCING DUST DETERMINATION MADE 3T the IMPINGE?. METHOD. M. K. Kronenoerg, A. N. Settcrland and C. K. McClure. J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. ], 198-20} (May, 1937) Comparison of darkfield and lightfield examination of impinger samples is difficult on account of inconsistencies that develop in both methods, and an extensive study was ande by the authors to determine what method is best. With brightfield illumination one source of inconsistency is that with centered light many of the trar.soaront particles, even as large as 10 microns, become invisible, nith oblique light, results'vary with the obliquity. The authors decided on darkfield illumination, cutting down the substage iris diaphraa until the field was at the maximum point of darlcvoss- where the fihipple grating was easily distinguished. A fixed distance from lamp to mirror and a fixed diaphragm opening was adopted, although some latitude is allowable. Two important factors that influence the accuracy of the darkfield count are the condition of the wator used for blanks, and the precipitation of tiny air bubbles on the bottom of the Sedgwick Rafter cell, especially in cold weather. Various procedures for preventing this precipitation wore tried, and the re sults are presented in tabular form. The must consistent and satisfactory re sults v/ere obtained by combined boiling and evacuating of the water and keep ing it above room temperature until the count is finished. Details of the procedure are given. Another factor that may greatly influence the count is the time elapsed be tween the start and finisn of a dust count. A series of counts was made on dust from a plant where waste paper was graded and sorted. From the beginning of the counts, after the customary 20 minutes, the number of particles in creased fourfold in 2 l/2 hours, and 15 hours later they were too numerous to count. This was on extreme case, on account of the large amount of organic dust, but the tendency is always present. Further work along these lines is eminently desirable, leading to a standard procedure which all investigators can follow without too much variation in results. (Reprints may be Reined from Dr. M.K.Kroneaberg, Illinois State Dept, of Public Health, Chicago, 111.) 340. MENACE OE DUST IN METAL MINING. D. Harrington. Eng. Min. J. 138. 115-123 (Mar. 1937}. The author emphasizes the importance of dust prevention and control as being the surest means to avoid dust damage and complications in metal-mining industry. Much information is nor; available relative to the effect of dust on the human body. The maximum harm to health from dust i- caused by breathing silica dust, chiefly ircc silica with its well-known effects on the lungs, ifiorc is not a general belie: tr.at dust may be detrimental to all parts of thr human system, including the skin. Explosibility of some mineral and organic dusts and tar harmful effects of dust on vegetation and animals arc other reasons for a determined effort to mducc dust evils. Fuller - 0009 Ref 5qc, li 2 Some years ago the South Afrtcnn authorities sot standards of .ua.xi.traa allowacl-i air-caatiness ir. aims, without reference to silica content or particle 3:00, or any definate idea of preventing occurrences of dust disease. Iren time to time South Africa announces that air-dustiness it kept fairly rigid ly below the standard weight and count of particles and that new cases of miner's consumption arc practically unknown. One difficulty in sotting a standard ic that duct sampling tad determination devices and -ethos arc r.ot applicable for every industrial condition, amt-until methods arc sc simpli fied for the use of the intelligent plant employe without depending on the fev; highly paid technical experts, the regulation on allowable air-dustiness will probably result in confusion and injustice, -he quantity cf dust in haled determines its danger, but no one knows what constitutes the quantitylimit, although some of the so-called threshold limits are bein.. oabodio- in State regulations and laws. It is illogical to predict dust respiratory harnfulness on a gliding scale in proportion to the free-silica content cf the duct. No one kr.ov;s who trier a particular dust containing 1 silica is or is not more harmful than one of 2 %, 3S> or 30$, It also depends on the immunity of the person and tno v.-orking basis. There are many factors thrt mate unworkable a sliding scale regulation. With so many uncertainties the operating m.in is litely to be confused as.to what constitutes a dusty atmos phere. If dust cannot be abolished entirely, it can be limited, and ths best remedy is the universal coursing of currents of air. Wet dustprevention devices should supplant dry devices. Water should be used in drilling and in sprinkling mine 7;alls, etc. Where it is not feasible to re duce air-dustiness to reasonable proportions, dust respirators should be worn. 'These are not comfortable but give protection. However, tne y/caring of respirators is usually evidence that the management has failed to utilize effective dust elimination measures. The writer advises careful and thorough examinations by competent doctors before a worker is employed in dusty occu pations. Such examinations should be cade mandatory, and a physical examina tions of such workers should be given annually. Men working in dusty trades suffer more from respiratory troubles than do men who v/ork ir. clean air, but at present it is evident taut the legal aspects of dust and its health affects are being accentuated before fundamental and sufficient knov.ledge has been developed on which to base laws and regulation', so that many of the laws now operating will require amendment when dependable data are obtained. (Reprints are obtainable from the author, who is Chief of the Health and Safety 3rar.cn, U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. ) 341. THE SIMILARITY 0? T?2 I2SI0NS PRODUCED BY SILICA AMD BY THE TUBERCLE BACILLUS. Leroy U. Gardner. Am. J. Pathol, l^, 13-23 (1937)* The paper calls attention to the close similarity in the tissue response to silica and to the tubercle bacillus. It is remarkable that a simple inor ganic compound such as silica can set in motion a complicated series of__ cellular reactions comparable to those produced by a living organism made up of proteins, carbohydrates and lipoids, each of which are knovm to produce definite tissue reactions characteristic of tuberculosis. As the result of a detailed description of the various steps in the development of silicosis and tuberculosis, the author says in stannary that "the simple organic sub stance, silicon dioxide, is capable of exciting every tissue response that can be produced by the complex organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reaction to the latter is more uniform because its constitution is more or less constant and it soon establishes a limited equilibrium v/ith the tissues of the host. The reaction to silica is largely determined by the number and the size of the particles tnat come tc rest within a given focus of the body. Both irritants cause varying degrees of proliferation, exudation and necro sis, resulting in a nodular type of reaction." Fuller - 0010 He: to Hoc. lit. - 3 3y way of speculation on the cause of this similarity it would see- that bot; irritants are relatively insoluable, but that perhaps both continually liber ate minute amounts of irritating substances. Possibly mechanical irritation by the undi-solvod portion is also a factor. The study of physicochemical condition in the cells to account for the similarity of offsets is suggested. 7-e effect of silica in producing giant cello is at its greatest when the carticle size is from C.l to 4 microns in diameter, which approximates that of organisms such as the tubercle bacillus. The cuther also suggests that the dissolved silica firsts a physical or cncnical combination with collagen, which prevents its diffusion beyond the limits of the nodule. Son-siliceous particles produce r.c hyaline r.vellir.g of the collagenous fibers. The spec ialty of the tuberculin reaction has again been confirmed, in that the test is negative wr.cn the nodule has not boon the result of tuberculous infection. Moreover, silica is not antigenic and intracutaneous injections produce the same effects in silicotic and in normal control animals. (Reprints nay be obtained from The Saranac Laboratory for the Study of Tuberculosis, Saranac Lake, N. Y.) 3L2. x 3I0L0GIC TEST POP. THE DETERMINATION 0? THE FI3E0G2N2TIC PR0F2RTI2S OF LUST, C. ?. McCord, J. A. Easner and n. L. Brosius. C. State Med. J. ^2, 39^6* (Apr. 1937). The authors give instances of the confusion that prevails in the knowledge of silicosis and point out the need of a simple test - chemical, biologic or otherwise - which will accurately mark one dust as harmful and another as harmless. Such a test has been developed by Miller and Sayers and was applied by the authors. It consisted of injecting a sample of the dust in sterile solution into peritoneal cavity of an animal, such as a guinea pig, which was killed after 30 60 or 90 days, and the reactions were studied. Miller and Sayers found three distinct types of reaction, which they named prolifera tive, absorptive, and inert. Ir. 77 series of experiments with pure and mixed dusts, the authors found that in some cases the reactions were not as dis tinct as expected, and they add two types which they call mixed and military proliferative. The distinction of the typos in some cases depended upon highly technical criteria. The size of the dust cay also affect the cellular response. Therefore the test has not reached the stage of practicability at which an experienced technician man make use of it and additional work is necessary to eliminate uncertainties. (Lr, McCord cay be addressed at Indus trial Health Conservancy Laboratories, 10 Fetcrboro St., Detroit, Mich., for reprints.) 3^3. DUST CONTROL IN THE FINE CERAMICS INDUSTRY. ?r, Procknt. Staub, #2, 175-201 (July, 1936) (German) The author calls attention to processes in the ceramic industry which--are carried on in dangerous dusts: - (1) refining and comminuting of raw mater ials; (2), turning, bordering and surfacing of dry crude porcelin; (3) dusting-off of dried porcelain by pneumatic pressure before glazing; (4) turning, shaping and drying of crude porcelain, indirectly producing dust, and (5) spraying for color or glaze. The importance of dust-control in this industry is shown in the fact that the German Pottery Insurance Society paid out more team half its total income in 1933 for persions and expenses of severe silicosis. Prockat emphasizes the point that of a series of mechan isms tested, sccc where found ineffective in controlling dangerous dust, and urges co-operation between workers and the practical engineer in running the business economically and preventing silicosis. - Ceram. Aosts. Fuller -'0011 >Z?.Cl'S rusrs. J. 3. Hawes, 2nd, New lag. 162 {. ;7) The au.tr.cr insists that there is only one dangerous dust cr.tai silicon in some form.. He snows that compensation : cr ai l<2 1COS1 eftcr. obtained through ignorance cn the part of the .able doc tor c - a desire to help his patient, or ir. sore rare cases, willi agr.ess or. t ~ C "V1 of a physician to testify tc a silicotic condition .about chich he thing, in order to make a fee and thirdly, through the a. scrupulous lawyers and the ignorance 0: the work:ngunr.. Street dust is not harmful, except for the germs that may be in-it., ana dust from cotton and wool manufacture is also not a cause of silicosis. Sore people are strongly allergic, and on entering a cotton or r/oul mill might have an acute rhinitis for a few days, but this does not mean that cotton and wool dusts are danger ous at all. In the soft coal industry a worker may develop anthraccsis, but this is not a disablir.. disease and does not predispose him. to tubercu losis. If a coal worker dues got silicosis, it is from the granite or rock in wr.ich hard coal is imbedded. Silicon is a common and widely distributed ele ment, and it is only when found in excessive amounts that it becomes dangerous. The writer is of the opinion that asbestos dust is the most dangerous of all dusts, but that asbestotis is a relatively new disease about which up to the present very little is known, except that it does not seer* to correspond to the lav/s of silicosis ir. general, and that it can produce disability in a remarkably short time. The author insists that diagnosis of dust disease shall be used on history of exposure as well as on clinical symptoms, X-ray and if possible an inspection of working conditions. (Reprints nay bo ob tained fron Dr. Hawes, at 33^ Dartmouth St., 3oston, Mass.) 3U5. THT 2T1QL0GIC, DIAGNOSTIC, AIID M3DIC0I3GAL PROBLEMS 0? OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. C. 0. Sannington. 111. State lied. J. (?eb. 1937); lad. Med. 6, 157-164 (Mar. 1937) This paper, presented at a meeting of the Illinois State Medical Society, em phasizes the need of better knowledge of the causes 01 industrial diseases, a need which is especially acute in Illinois on account of the new Occupational Disease Law. Two errors and fallacies into which physicians, engineers and employers often fall are pointed out; (l) assuming the presence of silicosis when a history of dust exposure is given and (2) reliance on visual condi tions to determine the presence of dust, and even of vapors and lead fumes. Roth can be avoided by the use of known scientific methods. Diagnosis, also, involves problems as difficult as those of etiology, especially in differen tiation of industrial from non-industrial diseases. Specific published proce dures for making proper distinctions are cited for specific published proceccdurcs for examination of the body and its fluids are now at our disposal, but undoubtedly great impetus will be given to extension of that field. Pre-employment and periodic examinations are really diagnostic problems and must undergo considerable adjustment and improvement if good results are to be obtained in their application to specific problems. The examining nhysician would be better equipped if he knew (1) the nature of past or expected exposure; (2) the effect of this exposure on the physical states of employees, and(3) the nature and efficiency of the protective devices used. The chief medicolegal issues in occupational disease problems arise because of defic iency in etiological information and consequent errors in diagnosis. This situation oust be corrected by better knowledge, because the liability of the employer mist be determined fairly to all concerned. The definition of occu pational disease in the Illinois lav.- is quoted. By way of summary the author urges progress in the fields already noted, also greater opportunity for study of industrial environment on the part of physicians and medical stu dents, and raising the standards of industrial medicine by the establishment of qualifications of men who are to be leaders in the field and the recogni tion of industrial medicine as a specialized field. (Rsnrints are obtainable Fuller - 0012 to ?.ec. Li m--- LvvU.'a. 4 Wtn.W- '.rrr'.rr J<^"-".,v*'AATi.T0J.\lr, 5.A1>^}'*-, s. srcw?_^.l1". * v~' .w.-._. > - r * :cn. An address abstracted in lad. Ued. 6, S5-6 (jco. 1557). Tlte author divides the history of the knowledge of occupational diseases into three periods, manely, ancient, medieval and modem. The ancient period ex tended to the depression, and may be also called the stage of guesswork and hysteria. Occupational disease is not as spectacular as crippling and killing by mechanical forces, and little attention was paid to it. Then came the degression, bringing many spurious cases which placed a great burden on indus try. These factors produced bogies of unrest. Our present experience con stitutes the medieval period, or the stage of reality, characterised by a swing to the factual, with the introduction of compensation legislation in ^0 states, its passage in a few, and the development of plant surveys and X-ray and clinical laboratory tests. The modern period, or stage of progress, is now beginning. The author predicts that occupational disease legislation will be general in the United States within five years, that physical exam inations be universal within 10 years, and that there will bo an increased ure of surveys and studies of industrial environment. The most important sources of occupational disease are listed as dust, poison ous metals, gases, vapors and solvents, and skin irritants. In an extensive survey made by the United States Public Health Service in 13}^, the chief exposures in order of frequency were inorganic dusts, carbon monoxide and lead. The author emphasises a distinction made in the report of that survey, be tween the words exposure and hazard. The employer must Imow the extent of hazard, as well as exposure, in his plant, examino his men before and during employment, correlate cause and effect factors from scientific study, and control or eliminate the hazard or furnish adequate protection. In short, "management must blow its men, materials, methods and machines. The occupa tional disease situation.....................presents difficulties no greater than any other industrial problem if same amounts of time and money and quality of brains are used as have been qpplied in the past to comparable industrial situations." (See note or. preceding abstract.) 3^7. PKAEMACOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON COLLOIDAL SILICA. G. Leone and T. Santi. P.ass. terap. patol. clin. 8, 17o-90t(193&) (Italian) A report or. tests carried out on pure, stable O.pO $ colloidal solutions of silica. In dogs and cats intravenous injection of 5"10 eg. of colloidal silica decreases blood pressure and also the number and amplitude of pulsations, even in atropinized or vagotomized animals. Ir. case of the heart in situ of cold-blooded animals, there is a decrease in rate and an increase in ampli tude. On strips of small intestine of mammals the silica first produces a decrease in the contractile amplitude follov^ed by marked hypotonia and paral ysis; the same is true of earthworms; in both cases the changes tab: place after atrepinization. From the results obtained as regards circulating the heart and smooth musculature, even after atropinization, it is con cluded that colloidal silica exerts a depressing action in small doses and a paralyzing action at toxic doses, on all organs and tissues that were stud ied. This action ,is of a muscular nature. - Chec. Absts. Fuller - 0013 Ref. to Rec. I' - 6 QUANTITATE MINZRALOGICAL DUS? ANALYSIS. J. X. Helaers ar.d X. Udluft. Zeiss Nachr. (2) No. X, 1-10-May, 193&) (German) The minerals in a dust are first ascertained qualitatively under the polarIzizg microscope. After a comparison of their refractive indices, the sample is introduced into a 2ciss kor.meter with attached dust chamber and a lC-ficld object plate. The first dust spot. Ls photographed under a micro scope with a polarizing attachment. After adding one of the suitable em bedding fluids the spot is photographed again. A third picture is taken under crossed nicols, and a fourth after turning the object stage ^5 Other spots are treated similarly, a large scale enlargement of one of the pictures and the others arc projected over it, marking identified miner als on the enlargement with crayon. (Carl Zeiss, Inc., dS5 Fifth Ave., Now York, havo a limited number of copies of the Zeiss Nachrichten for May, 1936, containing the original German article, with an English abstract somewhat fuller than the above.) 3^3. PNEUMOCONIOSIS IN SOUTH WALES COAL MINERS AND ITS RELATION TO TUBERCULOSIS. Prafulla Zuimar Sen. J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol., 19, 225-257, (June, 1937) The author reports an extensive study of 100 cases of pneumoconiosis in the South Wale3 coal field, including analysis of industrial, family and pre vious histories, physical and radiological examination, blood counts, and sputum tests. The patients included 47 hardground worters, ^3 hewers, 7screensrs and 3 without detailed history. Since bordground workers consti tute a small minority of the men employed, the high incidence of pneumocon iosis among these workers is striking. Previous complaints of bronchitis, pleurisy and influenca were common among the men examined. Tuberculosis was present in a number of those reporting those diseases. Dyspnea was the most frequent of the present symptoms. Once it started, its progress was very rapid while the miner was working. The average period from the onset of dysp nea to disability was 2 years. Clubbing of the fingers was present in 15 $ cf the cases. Pulse-rate was higner than normal, especially in hardground workers. In general, physical chest signs vrere oeagro compared with under lying pulmonary lesions; persistent crepitation, however, was very signifi cant . In the radiological examination, mottling in various stages was present in all cases. Eight presented features of active tuberculosis and the bacilli were detected in 4 mere, while tuberculosis was suspected in IS additional. In the blGod tests. Von Sonsdorff's count gcnorally was lower and sedimenta tion rate lower than normal. Blood tests supplrted by other findings indi cated the possibility of tuberculosis in 23 $ of the "probable1' cases, in addition tc the "definate" cases. Gf the 12 "definite" cases of tuberculosis, 7 had uo constitutional symptoms, suggesting that the disease was somehow modified. If the "probable" "cases are included, the incidence of tuberculosis is 35$, which is high, but the evidence on "probable" cases is not conclusive. This investigation shows that there is a high incidence of tuberculosis among the pncumoconiotics of the South Wales coal field and supports the theory that coal dust modifies the toxicity of tuberculosis, leading to failure to recognize the disease or to the mistaken diagnosis of ^bronchitis*." (Reprints are not obtainable. The June nuabor of the Journal for Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology may be obtained frocWilliams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, Md. for 57 cents.) Fuller 0014 to Rec. -it. - 7 MINERS' PKTKISIS MEDICAL BUREAU, SOUTH AFRICA, 1933-1335* L. G. Irvine, Ch?irrrAr.. Johannesburg, June ^C, l?3o) > 76 pages. The "new Hand miners", that is, those who have entered the industry since the initial examination system oi" 151b went into effect, now constitute nearly 72% of the total miners but contribute only 12% of the 193 cases o: silicosis detectod. The average age of new cases is steadily rising, exceeding l/2 in 1935. These facts demonstrate the groat improvement in working conditions that has taken placo at the Hand Mines has been"*attsspted on a much greater scale than in the United States or elswnerc. For instance, 22,000 European miners wore examined in 1534-5. Tables arc given showing the relations 0: number of the cases to age and length 01 service. The relation of silicosis to nature of the work was also studied, with special reference to men operating machine drills. "The liberal application of water has not prevented, to the extent that had been hopod, the dissemination of the finest dust particles (from 1 or 2 microns downwards) which are produced by drilling.M Additional investigation of drilling dust problems is now being conducted. The effects of high temperature and humidity must always be kept in mind. A large percentage . the deaths are from "simple silicosis", in contradiction to frequent statements that simple silicosis is rare. (So far as we Imow at present, the original report can be obtained most easily through 0. E. Stechert and Co., 31 Z. 10th St., Now York City, The price given is 5 shillings.) 351. REPORT OF MINERS* PHTHISIS MEDICAL BUREAU OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR 3 YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 1935# L. G. Irvine, Chairman, Government Printer, Pretoria, 1936. Reviewed in Lancet 232. 764-5 (Mar. 27, 1937)* This report is apparently a different publication from the preceding one but covers much the same ground, calling attention to the elaborate records kept since the Bureau was inaugurated and the improvements that have taken place during that tine* Native laborers undergo initial, periodical and final examinations, which arc carried out by 42 medical officers on the medical staff of the mines. The task is onercus because 90 % of the labor force is replaced each year. On account of the preponderance of active tuberculosis cases, Dr. Irvine emphasizes the importance of using every possible effort to eliminate cases of communicable tuberculosis among cine workers and to control every condition that fosters infection. Although prophylactic mea sures have accomplished cuch, there is still much to bo done, and any further improvement will have to come free the technical side of dust prevention The entire problem is now being reinvestigated, and the thermal precipitator is proving efficient in this work. Tables of occurrence of occupational disease axe given, including silicosis, tuberculosis, and silicosis with tuberculosis. (See note on preceding abstract, price is not given for this one.) 332. REPORT OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1935-36. H.M Station ery Office, London, 1937. This report contains references to a number of investigations bearing on industrial health.. One i3 work of Pransnitz on the allergic effects of cotton dust, which is still prevalent in the textile industry, in soils of remedial measures that have been undertaken. Desensitization does not promise to relieve the situation, and the solution probably depends either on the use of respirators or the application of some new means for collecting the smaller particles (under 2 microns) before they enter the general air of the room. Fuller - 0015 to rec. Lit. - 8. Continuation of the experiments on exposure of nice to dust from tarred roads showed that tar-free dust docs not have the tumor-producing effect found with the original dust. 'The experiments are being extended to rabbits and guinea-pigs. Similiar experiments are boing undertaken on the effects of carbon doposits from internal combusioa engines using heavy oil fuel. Other investigations include the study of medical after-histories of old and retired coal miners. The symptomicss typo of tuberculosis in elderly pneumoconiotics ha.- boor, found to progress rapidly wr.cn it reaches tho stage where bacilli are found in the sputum. Tho effects of pneumoconiosis is oamg studied. An iniruiry into the substitution of alumina for silica as a placing material in pottery work shows no evidence of fibrosis from alum ina. (This is treated more fully in another abstract.) (Obtainable from the Medical research Council, London, or through G. 2. Stochert & Co,, price 3 shillings). 353, ESTIMATION 01 DUST IN MINT ATMOSPHERES. A. M. Bryan and J. Smellie. J. Roy. Tech. Coll. (Glasgow) J., part 4 (l) 671-S1,( 193^)* There are two ways of determining the amount of dust i:; the air in mines: particle counting and filtration followed by v/cighing. The first method, although rapid and convenient, is not a very exact one, because the particles arc very small and ufton very dense so that it is impossible to make a com plete find satisfactory count; also one cannot determine the proportion of com bustible matter. The second method of filtering is longer but much more exact. Tables of results arc given. 354. THE SURR2S3I0N 0? DUST DURING DRILLING UNDERGROUND. Colliery Guardian 154. 585-92 (3-25-1537). It has been shown that the leakage of air into the water supply used ir. wot drilling produces excessive dust and nullifies the advantages that wet drilling is supposed to provide. This article includes brief descriptions of several forms of apparatus claimed to avoid tnat difficulty by supplying a constant stream of water through the drill. (No reprints are obtainable. A copy of the magazine is obtainable through G. 2. Stechert & Co., 31 2. 10th St., New York City). 355- ?*0AD DUST. 7. B. Loftheim. Medd. Vordirektrcr., Oslo, 1936, 65-63 (Norv/cgian). In dust from different roads more than $0% of the particles had. diameters too small for ultramicroscopical measurement; the remainder had a mean size of 2-3 microns and were composed of pear-shaped or spherical forms of pyroxene, feldspar, quartz and hornblende. The content of organic matter was 7.67 - 1G.75/& ** Brit. Chen. Absts. 356. DUST. 2d. Smolozyk. Gasmasks S_, 16-19 (1936) (German) A brief but excellent review of tne dust problem. Among the points dis cussed are the sources of dust, the amount of dust in various locations, the loss of valuable products in the form of dust, the properties of dust par ticles, the physiological damage caused by dust, the body mechanism to protect against dust, and diseases due to dust - Chcm. Absts. (We ha*e as yet no information on reprints, but the issue of the periodical containing the pages mentioned may be obtained tnrough G. 2. Stechert & Co.) Fuller - 0016 .tai. to Rac. "9 KCb t? PLAINS FOP. IZKAUST AND VIir.'ILA' V05*-. '"".d. Pv 11 - lb ., 133-1-0 (April, 1537). The su r.or calls atter.tior. to the requirements for eve 0: pollution of air in worxrocr.s, la the new labor law of New York. ii - r.ery creating dU3 * U d other imouri tits roust be equipped with proper hoods and pipes ccn- nected to an exhaust fnn of sufficient power to remove adequately such duct or inn rities. The- : an rust oc in constant operation while the machinery is in use. Furthermore, all gases, funuis, vapors, dusts or other impurities must be r-moved at tr.air point of origin v.nsrc'brncticc.ble. The employer can make adequate plans ~ or the necessary changes by submitting proposed plans to the labor Dopart-u.:t and got tnc benefit of disinterested and coupe tor.t advice :ron cxporicnc ud engineers. Directions for preparing the plans and specifications are given. (The March numbor of the Industrial Bulletin is obtainable from the Industrial Commissioner, State Offico Building, Albany, N.Y, for 10 cents each, or a reprint of the article may be obtained from the same source at that price or.less.) 35S. DUST CONTROL RUIZS NO"; 23TZC7IV3 IN ROCK-DRILLING OPZrLATIQUS. (In Her 'the) Ind. Bull. 16, 171-174 May, 1537) The rules for dust control and testing of apparatus became effective May 1 and are embodied in Industrial Cods Bulletin No. 33* Silica-bearing rock is divided into two classes, containing under and over 10$ free silica, respect ively. In working with Class I rock (under 10$ silica) ICO million particles per cubic foot, as determined by the impingcr, are permitted; while in Class II the maximum permissible count is 10 million per cubic foot. Dust control methods arc specified as suction or exhaust, wet or others approved by the Industrial Board. Notice must be given the Industrial Commissioner advising as to the location and date of starting work. All approved dust control equipment and methods must be tested and approved in the specified manner, and full directions for conducting the test are included. The test period for dry drilling consists of two three-hour shifts, and 3 dust samples are to be taken with the impingcr during the last 2 hours of each shift. For wet dril ling only one shift is necessary. The operations to which the new rules ap ply include all public as well as private works in New York State, and the driving of the tunnel for tnc Delaware Aqueduct supplementing New York City's water supply will be the largest single operation affected. (Industrial Code 3ullotin No. 33 is obtainable from the Industrial Commissioner, State Office Building, Albany, N, Y., presumably free to Rev. York residents at least, and the May number -f Industrial Bulletin may be secured from the sane office for 10 cents cash). 359. DUST CONTROL DEVICES TESTED. Safety Eng. 73, 43-U, (June, 1937). A description of the tests being made at Letchworth Village, N. Y. by tnc Now York State Department of Labor. Specifications for equipment and^-i-nformation to be furnished are given in briefer form than in the Bulletin men tioned in the preceding- abstract. 360. ZFFICIZNT FLY-ASH COLLECTION. Stanley Brown. Power Plant Eng. Ul, 121-22, -7eb., 1937), There are two methods of estimating the value of a fly-ash eliminator; its overall collection efficiency, regardless of particle size, and it effic iency with the minimum size stated. Some engineers ir. this country use the first method, but on the Continent, Y/here many more eliminators have been installed, a lower limit of 3 20 microns, corresponding to the 'nuisance range1, is specified. A table shows tnat a 20-micron particle will tra vel 3*5 ~ilec at a wind velocity of 5 ni. per hour, while falling 200 feet, Fuller - 0017 T a tni to Bee. Li t 1C. while a 2-ricror. particle Trill travel -2S riles ur.der the sane c enditiers The author argues for ecus lie rati or. of the "nuisance rave" in tae as*.inn of the efficiency of cello ctcrs, wr.en the c'cjoct of colloctlor. is removal the nuisance hasard. When. tr.o dust is collected fer its value, the overa efficiency should apply, (Mimeogranhed copies are obtainable : rcr. the au thor, Buill Engineering Cc . , 70 ?ine St., Hew York City.) THIRD ORDINANCE INCREASING COMPOSITION CP QCCUPA A\T , - diseases german M. Bauer. Rcicharbeitsblatt, No. }o, pt, 4, *?* ?; Be lin, 193o. (Gernar Tr.e r.cw ordinance relating to occupational diseasos ir. Germany went into effect April 1, 193 superseding the second ordinance 0: Feb. 11, 1529. Several industries are added to the list 0: compensable diseases, including all the ceramic industries, sandblasting, and operations for cleaning cast ings and colds; asbestosis ir. the asbestos trades and lung career ir. the enromiue industries. "Severe" silicosis is still the only form of silicosis insured against, but characteristics of the disease for clinical roentgenolo gical and judicial estimation ore definitely specified, thus abolishing hitherto vexatious complications. Severe silicosis accompanied by pulmonary tuberculosis requires only the establishment of the severe silicosis in diag nosis. Silicosis has stood at the peak of claims for occupational disease compensation since 1929. In 193^ ou^ of 10^3 cases, 522 were silicosis; in 1935. out of ll6l cases, 627 were silicosis, with 146 deaths from this oause in 1935* - Ceram. Absts. 362. SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF CERAMIC PONDERS AS DETERMINED 3Y A PARTI CIS-SI 22 AIR ANALYZER. Paul S. Roller. J. An. Ceram. Soc. 20, 164--174 (May, 1937). The air separation method for powders has a number of advantages over the use of liquids, and the author has made an extensive study leading to the dev elopment of an accurate air separator, the latest form of which overcomes the difficulties encountered previously. The essential features of the pres ent apparatus lie primarily in the dynamic relationship between the powder sample and the air jet such that the powder is in constant uniform motion against the force of the jet, and secondarily ir. the means for baffling the jet before it enters the settling chamber. Construction of tuc apparatus, method of operation, and operating characteristics are described. Particle-size analyses beginning with the 0 to 5 Qicron fraction ars given for flint, feldspar, pyruphyllite-auortz, two English china clays, and talc. The size distributions are compared, and the time of fractionation, accuracy, and precision are discussed. Seme properties of the size fractions are described, and the use of the instrument in the control of grinding is indi cated. Prom the authors summary. (Reprints are obtainable from the author, Nonmetallic Minerals Experiment Station, U. S. Bureau of Mines, New Brunsvack, N. J.) 363. LIGHTING IN MINES: NOTES OH THE EFFECT OF DUSTS. T. D. Jones and Gyles. Colliery Guardian I5U, 769-71 (*<-23-1937) The authors present the results of expernints on a phase of the dust hazard that has not been considered so fully as others, that of effect of dust on illumination. The illumination in one case was reduced by nine-tenths after 5 minutes* hard continuous shoveling by 9 non. The importance of keeping the well-glass clean is also shown. A loss of lighting efficiency was brought about by substituting cadmium yellow or daylight blue bulbs under both nor mal and dusty, conditions. Incidentally it was shown that although limestone is much harder to get into suspension than coal dust, a mixture of coal and lime dust settlos out more slowly than coal dust alone. It was also learned that the dust raised by shoveling was of a smaller particle size than that resulting from the introduction of artificially prepared dust into the blow er section. (Obtainable only in the above magazine.) Futtei - 0^ ?.ef. to ?.ec. T_T_ use c? sound aic surzrsonic V>'AVI IN METALLURGY. EX?! IMENT5 IN 7112, ?CG AND SMC-id. V. H. :*o: schalk and K. ff St. lair. Mi. ana Met. IS, 2U---6 (May, 13}1). - The use of acoustic waves for precipitating smelter smoke has been under in vestigation in the Bureau of Mines itr several years. This paper gives a brief out clear explanation of the principle,, a brief history of the devel opment of apparatus, uses of the principle in-metallurgy and surrzary of the results accomplished so far. The principle has not reached the stage of practical application, but it is effective on a laboratory scale. Zarlier uses of these waves in metallurgy include making dispersions of metals in melts, modifying the structure of metals crystallizing from melts or being deposited electrolytically, uniform distribution of carbon and other materials, and removal of gases in molten metals before solidification. In the work on coagulation of smefce, the vibrating nickel tube has been used, but the air-jet generator has been found most effective. Both forms of apparatus arc described. (Reprints are obtainable from Dr. Go ttschalk, U. S. 3urcau of Mines, College Park, Md.) 365, DISTRIBUTION OF RESPIRATORY GASES IN A CLOSED SHEATHING CIRCUIT. I. IN NORMAL SUBJECTS. II. PULMONARY FIBROSIS. H. C. Lassen, A. Gourmand and D. W. Richards, Jr. J. Clinical Invest. 16, l-l6 (Jan. 1937)* 3reathing tests were made in a closed room, showing the content of inspired nrvi expired air, the carbon dioxide excreted and oxygen absorbed per breath, and the composition of inspired gases within the lungs. The cases of fibros is included one of pulmonary emphysema and one of chronic sinusitis. In both cases tests showed an unequal distribution of gases in the lung, which made it practically impossible to obtain reliable measurements of residual air with the method of quiet breathing in a small circuit, as used in the investigation. Charts and tables are given. The experiments are being con tinued. 366. PNEUMONIA AND TUBERCULOSIS AMONG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. C. K. Kibbey. Am. J. Pub. Health 2]_, 555"559* (June, 1937)* This paper presents the results uf a statistical study of pneumonia and tuber culosis among the employees -f one company and their dependents, over a period of 11 years. Many of the existing state compensation laws are far in advance of precise Imowledgc and are based on opinion rather than scien tific fact; therefore such studies as the one reported are much needed. The population of 77*000 persons over the period covered was divided as follows; (1) dependents, including all males under l6 years and dependent females of all ages; (2) surface workers; (3) coal miners, and (4) ore miners. The number of workers was known from the pay rolls, but the number of dependents was estimated at 3 for each wa^-e earner. The incidence of pneumunia-j^.the dependents, surface workers and coal miners did not differ greatly from the percentage of the total population. The ore miners, hex ever, who constituted 2.3 of the population, contributed 5*2 % of the pneumonia cases. The death rates are expressed in a way which makes the picture vived: "It has taken 1,55^ dependents each year to furnish 1 pneumonia death and 2, 965 for each death from tuberculosis: of each 663 surface workers, 1 ha3 died annually from pneumonia, and it has required 1, 7^9 to furnish 1 tuberculosis death. Coal miners have had 1 death per year from 8O3 persons and 1 for tuberculosis from 687 and while 3^5 ore miners have contributed 1 annual pneumonia death, it has required 807 ore miners for each death from tuber culosis." In separating the data for white and colored workers, some curious discrepancies appear in that although white surface workers have a somewhat higr.er pneumonia death rate than colored, the reverse is true among coal Fuller - 0019 a ?,ef. to ?.cc. Lit, 12 miners and in oro minors the rote for colored workers is several times greater than for white workers. (Reprints are probably obtainable from Dr. Kibboy, Dept, of Sanitation, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co., Eairlieid, Ala.) 367. HEALTH E-'SKIES OR INDUSTRY. Leverett D. ErfsTol. Safety Sag. J, 25-31, (March, 1937). This is a general article or. r.ealth conservation, * sicimess and accident prevention at work, at home ar.f or. tr.e r^?.d. More personal injury accidents occur off duty timr* cr.# and employers, employees, home and family groups should co-operate to dispel ignorance end indifference in the use of home facilities and equipment. Co;ur.unicablo diseases should be faithfully re ported and controlled, examinations and diagnoses of tuberculosis should be more complete and through, and prevention of occupational diseases should receive expert attention; because those are often slow in onset and very difficult to treat. Constant guard oust be maintained against the various poison hazards in industry, and personal hygiene must be stressed. However, preaching health conservation the the employe is not of much use if the foreman or supervisor is n<-t health-minded; therefore the key person in the industrial health program should, be the g-upervisi^ foreman or lo cal manager. (Dr. Bristol is Health Director of the American Telephone and Telegraph co., New York, but we have no information about reprints.) 36S. COMPENSATION AND INDUSTRIAL DISEASE. Thomas N. Bartlett. Safety Eng. 21* 59-60 (March 1937). 59-60 (April 1937). The basic principles of compensation go back to the year 63^ when King Rothari of the Lombards codified a set 01 rules to give compensation to his subjects hurt in brav.is, fights and feuds. The development of industry in the United States gave birth to our workmen's compensation laws, first for accidents and later for occupational diseases, now often including silicosis and asbestosis. Tncre is great difficulty in estimating compensation for occupational disease, often through ignorance, conflicting testimony, misrepresentatioa/^Srious other factors. Tfhere life, limb and disablement are involved, prevention and not remedy is the solution. Preventive legis lation should be enacted at the same time as compensation legislation. Records of employment should be kept, and periodical examinations, strict enforcement of rules and instruction should be included. Many accidents happen through a violation of express rules. With the cooperation of the employer and employe and tne education of both parties in a well-organized movement of prevention, ouch progress in better health conditions will be effected* 369. CHEMICALS AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH. Manfred 3owditch, Safety Eng. 13-1^ (March 1937). A brief report of a survey of various industries made by the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Hygiene, including storage battery, paints and varnishes, wood heel covering, boot and.shoe woolen and worsted goods, rub ber products, and chlorinated naphthlene. (Mr. Bowditch, Director, Depart ment of Industrial Hygiene, Massachusetts Department f Labor, Boston, Mass., will supply reprints of this brief review, but the official report, to be published later, will treat the subject more fully.) Fuller. - 0020 to 2oc. Ut. - 13 37C. CHROMIUM PLATING - A HEALTH HAZARD. Safety lag. 7J, 20(Mar. 1937) The orocess of chromium plating involves serious hazards for the workers, but health risks may be eliminated if ventilating and sanitary measures are observed. Chromium compounds produce ulcers of the skin and affect the mu cous aeoorano of the nose and throat. These are painful injuries and diff icult to cure. Proper protection and adequate and prompt medical attention must be provided. Testing of the air is important, and is made with the impinger, collecting the chromate spray in a sodium carbonate solution. The United States Public Health Service is in a position to render complete in formation concerning the proper practices to prevent injury to health in the chromium industry. Two bulletins for plant display, giving precautions and treatment, are illustrated. 371. THE POSSIBILITY OP MANGANESE POISONING IN MINING PYROLUSITZ. K. 2. Buettner and 2. Lenz# Sane. v. Vergiftungsf., St 1-2 C1937) forty-four manganese mine workers were examined. Parkinsonian tremor showed in 25 of the cases, among- which was one severe case and eitht cases of mask-like expression (this was rather a large riurihar of abortive forms of man ganese poisoning). Pive cases showed a retarded pulse, and in six cases there was vestibular extrasystoles. Qf ho miners who died during a period of 10 years, 23 died of lung inflammation, and the course of the disease was unusually malignant. Silicosis, first and second stages, was found in 26 of the ^2 examined. 372. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND TEE PAINTER ViITK SPECIAL SEFSR2NC3 TO NSW YORK* Adolph 3. Gersh. N. Y. District Council no. 9, 3rotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, New York, 1937* The hazards discussed include accidents, with statistics from compensation records and occupational diseases. The high d.ath rate fur painters, which is twice as high for house painters as for factory painters, is largely explaind by the excessive exposure to poisonous substances such as lead, benzene, turpentine, aniline, alcohols, toluene, rqflene and arsenic. The abnormally high rate occurs, especially in heart disease, tuberculosis, pneumonia, nephritis, cerebral hemorrhage and ulcer. The effect of the development of the spray machine and the official investigations regarding it ere discussed. The last half of the bulletin is devoted to a discussion of costs of these hazards to the worker and to society and a critical study of compensation problems. (Copies are obtainable at the above address, possibly at a 3mall charge.) 373. THE PROBLEM OP THE PATE OF MERCURY FUMES AND MERCURIAL COMPOUNDS IN THE OR GANISM. I. Gelman and G. Dcrviz. J. Ind. Kyg. Toxicol. 1, 215-2^, (June, 1937)* In the clinic, two types of mercury poisoning must be distinguished: = (a) chronic mercurial poisoning produced by inhalation of mercury fumes, and (b) mercury intoxication with injury to the excretory organs (saliva, kid neys, etc.) observed in poisoning with mercuric salts. This difference js caused by the difference in physical-chemical states of mercury and in the fate of fumes and salts in the organixm. This difference is established ex perimentally. Mercury, fumes are preserved in the blood in a state of atomic dispersion for a long time, the length of which requires further study. Mercury salts, on the other hand, enter into complex combination with blood albumins. (Reprints are not obtainable. See note on abstract No. 3U9.) futter - 002V tC ?.cc. Lit. - lU 37^. or lead sic-ciess in vxtjtxctjzz or tile a_'C pottery glades. C. Stuermer. Xeran. Rundschau 1, -65-6 (133) (German) 3one large German firms have developed lead silicate compounds of known conposition and very snail tolerance, intended for every kind 01 ceramic glace. Manipulation of these compounds is free from danger. Although the lead con tent of some of these mixtures is lower, the appearance is better than with force: mixtures. 375. THE USE or A GS1GER-MUELLIR COUNTER FOR DETECTING SMALL AMOUNTS 07 RADIUM S7CP.EE IN RADIUM VrCEEEES. 7. 0. Rraaten and J. D. Leit.cn. J. Ind. Hyg. Tox icol. li, 193-7 (May, 1937) The Geiger-lfueller counter, which has bean successfully used in locating lost radium, was used in an investigation of workers employed at a radium extrac tion plant. The results have little significance as far as the storage aT radium in the body is concerned, but they show.a greater contamination of the clothing than was expected, and a further examination of that point will be made, when more exacting precautions will be taken. It is suggested by the authors that exposure to low intensity gamma radiation may play an im portant part in causing the anemia reported among radium workers. (Reprints may be obtained from the author, Division of Industrial Hygiene, Ontario 'Dept, of Health, Toronto, Ont.) 376. CAP30N MONOXIDE IK EAT INDUSTRY. May R. Mayers & Tfcu J. Burks. Ind. Bull. 16, (March, 1937). The hat-blocking industry in New York City has for some time presented a spe cial problem in industrial hygiene, as a number of workers have been overcome by carbon monoxide gas. The chief source of carbon monoxide is the gasheated hydraulic blocking machine. The machines were originally designed for steam heating, but the steam jacket is used as a combustion space for the gas, with specially adapted types of burners. Since the illuminating gas supplied contains 25 of carbon monoxide, atmospheric contamination may arise either from unburned gas cr incomplete combustion. The three types of burners used are described and evaluated. The oarliest and most used, the "pipe stem'1 is especially productive of carbon monoxide. The "barber jet" burner offers some improvements, but is not entirely satisfactory. The "bat wing", in which the flame does not impinge on metal parts has been found to be perfectly safe. It is also recommended that no alterations be made in the adjustment of the burners, when they are once installed, and that they be kept in repair through the cooperation of the gas company# (The Industrial Bulletin is obtainable for 10 cents, cash, from the Industrial Commissioner, New York Stato Department of Labor, Albany, N. Y.) 377. INDIRECT EFFECTS Q? CARBON MONOXIDE. John P. McNabb. Safety Eng. 47-g. (March, 1937). The writer shows that accidents through carbon monoxide poisoning are in creasing and questions wnethcr the exuny accidents attributed to poor driving judgment are not attributable to carbon monoxide. According to the U. S. 3ureau of Mines, 0.04< is the maximum to which a person can be exposod for an hour. Enough gas emanates from every car, no matter how well constructed to kill a human being in less than six minutes. It is notable that traffic policemen after several hours on duty, often become irritable, and in busy sections often complain of headaches. Taxidrivers and others have been found dead in their cars, with the engines running. There are more deaths now than in the pre-motor age, from heart ailments, and mororists who have been fuller - 0022