Document GXg7O5EGRrLLK4MdxdyZxedY

PIAII-.TIFF'S ZXII2IT VO I V gJ^-SSSCASS VO.___ 2_ *4 giene INDUSTRIAL HEALTH NEWS LITERATURE ABSTRACTS MEDICAL ENGINEERING - CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGICAL LEGAI* * * - decisions *ad frad4 -* < '.j* sesT* a AUGUST, 1949 (VoL 13, No, 8) . INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE FOUNDATION 400 JIFTH AVENUX *: PITTSBURGH IS, PA. ><* . icr.e Digest i =; .0 However, great care should be taken to exclude the tuberculous ir. select- ins persons to receive aluminum therapy. (U) It is not believed that a scientifically controlled experiment in industry i3 feasible for the evaluation of aluminum for the prophylaxis of silicosis. Ibis fellow from the uncontrollable variables inherent in the industrial situation and other factors which have been discussed. For these reasons, it appears improbable that any research agency vould consider it advisable to under take such a project except under special conditions already discussed, and which may not be attainable. (5) The McIntyre Research Foundation, as presently organised, is not equipped to solve the aluminum prophylaxis problem in relation to silicosis. The steps considered necessary to accom plish this objective are outlined. (6) Research should be continued vith laboratory animals vlth the -object of finding a more adequate basis for application to can. Such study is nov included in the program of the Saranac Laboratory of the Trudeau Foundation, - - Authors' Summary 866 gffacts of Electricity or. the Human Body. W.3. Kouvenhoven. Ind. Med. 18, 2o9 (July, IS49 The author discusses briefly the various effects of electricity cu the bedy, including variations with the amount of current. The current values of interest are: (1) threshold of feeling, about 1 nilliampsre; (2) let-go current, above which it is difficult to let go of a wire, about 9 ailliamperes for men, 6 for women; (3) current producing ventri cular fibrillation, 0.1 ampere; (*0 current producing a block in the ner vous system, one ampere or more; and (5) the counter shock current. The last three result in death if prolonged; otherwise artificial respiration may save the victim. These effects refer to alternating current cf com mercial frequency. Direct current is much less harmful. The only effect of high-frequency currents is heating. 867 Asbestos is and Cancer cf the Lung. Editorial. J.A.M.A. 1-0, 1219-1220 (Aug. 13, 19**9). Records of English, American and German physici: and The Am Renort of the Chief Inspector of Factories in Engl: id for 19U-7 show that the occurrence of cancer of the lung is related to pulmonary asbestosis. This relation is supported by the following observations: (1) The incidence rate of cancer of the lungs in asbestosis patients .i3 10 to 15 times as high as among the general population. (2). The male-female ratio is more nearly equal than it is for the general population, which indicates that an environmental and evidently occupational carcinogen tended to equalise the incidence rate of cancer of the lungs for both sexes. Recent experi mental observations support this interpretation, of clinical evidence. 863 Changes in the Lung3 Produced by Natural Granhlte. H.2. narding and G.3. Oliver. Brit. J. Ind. Med. o, 91-99 (April, igUg). . A brief description is given of the industrial uses of natural graphite, which is a crystalline carbon nixed with up to 10( of free silica and vith other minerals. The greatest dust risk occurs in the grinding of natural graphite, for which evidence is presented to show that thi3 can lead to ll> Jl" "