Document 9JGL7dkQNV0orkBwEj0VjxqDL

nation and diagnosed as rely free from symptoms, of 20 with negative diagiea and cough wore the these cases exhibited the . in true silicosis. Several ey were "short winded" osis should not be placed uring the progress of the the communities where stated that they dUd not tong these workers.. The <at found in a community q X-ray films) is given in ban 15 years of exsploy- ligns of chest trouhslo. Q FoolUvo Doubtful Shfatlro n II -* a J. 9 38 2 7 U 0 30 cbed to the presence of ; appears doubtful*, os 18 15 percont of the others i) showed such corns. -ray fllms called attention jusual incidence of )(' is a compensatory up. he heart in efforts 0 to pump blood through the fibrosed lungs. It is possible that not sufficient attention has been paid to the effects of the pneumoconioses upon the heart. Many workers had changed from one department to another and from one plant to another during their years of employment in the asbestos industry. Since only the amounts of dust collected at the time of this survey in the various departments are known, there is no way of knowing the average amount of dust in the atmosphere inhaled by these people over the years of their employment. Conse quently, it is not possible to correlate individual cases with definite amounts of dust exposure. INSURANCE CLAIMS To throw light on the relationship between asbestosis and pulmo nary tuberculosis, an analysis of death claims and total and per manent disability claims was made in regard to companies carrying group insurance and having available figures. There were 2,099 lives involved, with a total exposure of 7,019 lifeyears. Tho death claims are so small in number that reliable con clusions cannot be reached from any subdivision of tho figures. The same is true of tho sickness claims undor health insurance. The number of claims for respiratory diseases is high in two of the plants studied but low for the others, as compared with the Metropolitan experience of 1927. However, during the latter part of 1928 and the first part of 1929 there was an epidemic of infiuonza. The records of one establishment (plant B) showod that 6 of 36 death claims and .8 of 10 permanent and total disability claims were listed os due to pulmonaiy tuberculosis. This appeared to be on in ordinate amount of tuberculosis from this plant.' However, many of the employees were Negroes, and also tuberculosis claims are gener ally high in this section of the country. Realizing the difficulty in diagnosing pneumoconiosis and the tendency to confuse it with tuberculosis, these claims were studied individually. The physicians who had treated the individuals were interviewed, and the hospital and sanatorium records, including available X-ray films, were investigated, with the following results: Death claims: # 1. A typist, not exposed to dust; died of pulmonary and intestinal tuberculosia. 2. Colored mole, age 27; worked in asbestos 1 year and 8 months; died of pulmonary tuberculous following a hemorrhage; was in sanatorium 10 months. Also had a four plus Wassermann. No evidence of asbestosis. 3. Colored mole, age 32; worked in asbestos plant 1 year and 7 months; died of pulmonary tuberculosis alter 1 month in hospital. Cavitation both lungs; no evidence of asbestosis.