Document XzXXKrZ7ardwEbjbxNOwDJ21R

- u. COPT/ HIPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF TEE INDUSTRIAL CL1SIC, MONTREAL GENERAL HOSPITAL, FOR THE TEAR SEPTEMBER 1 , 1929 to AUGUST 31, 1930. CLIHICAL PRODUCED S/C/M/Ms The clinical work in the Hospital as distinguished from that done in the field has continued as in the past, and an additional duty has been assumed, namely the supervision of the health of the Hospital employees. This vas undertaken as a service to the Hospital, and has little value from the University standpoint. The nee activity calls for an examination of all nev employees of the Hospital, and requires that all cases of illness among the Hospital employees he reported to the In dustrial Clinic. During the year 80 pre-employment examinations and 38 periodio re-examinations vers performed. 410 sick ^ employees of the Hospital vers seen and followed until the. ,*termination of their illness. This system, as it operates a$>present, is not entirely satisfactory on account of the nunhfr of departments whioh engage their own personnel, and a considerable number of nev employees are being engaged with no examination. However, It is hoped that as the value of this examination be comes appreoiated all departments will take advantage of it. The study of Occupational diseases among the Out-patients oi' the Hospital continues. Some results of this work are now appearing. One concern, which formerly contributed a large number of oases of lead poisoning to this Clinic, has established a nev factory, partly on account of the severe lead hasard which existed in the old plant, and another firm has Installed a fume removal system which should reduce the haiard very considerably. ZZ cases of motive lead poisoning vers treated and investigated. Tvo. of these mejy^ of speoial interest, and have been written up t*t-. report, ene la the Journal of Industrial "ore the Montreal Medioo-Chlrurgical Assoeia- ng vas one of the prlnoipal diseases seen, gases of occupational skin diseases were in- eonneetion an arrangement vas made between fgfc-tmWv^and the Skin Department of this Hospital to undsr- Investigation of a dermatitis caused by a certain lotion This investigation was carried through to a very satis factory conclusi^n^y the Skin Department. . c t ! Sr. It may be stated here that the legal aspeot of occupational diseases is in^a^jjrj unsatisfactory oonditlon in this Province, since no provieign^s made for compensation through the Forkmen's CompenaationT.lct. This matter vas brought to the attention of the Province of Quebec Safety League, and a committee was form ed to investigate it, but eo far, unfortunately. tM a^ommlttee has been very inactive. ` 'I 2- The Industrial Dental Clinic hai had a very satisfactory year. Ita clientele increased, andconsequently an increase of staff was necessary. 260 new patient* ear* treated and 984 treatments giTen. I beliere this Clinic la of real value to the oommwjiitj. Industrial worker# can get goqd dental service at a low coat, and since the Clinic is operated at night, they need not lose time fnom their work. The financial status of the Industrial Dental Clinic is satisfactory, the fees from the patients being sufficient to pay the operating cost. FIELD ACTIYIJIES. The plant Medical Departments hare continued to carry on their work, and hare giTen general satisfaction so far as can be determined. It is our practice to send to each plant manager a monthly report corering the activities of V.is Medical Department, and indicating the state of health of bis employees. Frequently suggestions are made as to improvements in his plant from the standpoint of health. These suggestions are always gladly received, and usually followed. In these. Medical Departments 1056 physical examinations were made dating the past year, 15,605 aurgioal treatments and 6336 aickaeeai.`- treatments were given, and 889 nursing visits mads to the hrmes/. of the employees? ' 1 number of firms have been approached in regard to establishing medical departments, but no suctess has attended our efforts this year. I beliara there is no doubt that ths services already established have given satisfaction, but the idea has not sold itself, and we have had very few unsolicited requests for information and adviee about the organisation of medical eervless. It is possible that the general industrial depression has been responsible for this. Four new activities were proposed during the year: w' ^ (1) 1 study of asbestos workers C5 udy of a large group of workers by Z-ray CO eterain* the incidence of tuberoulosis. Q u study of psyohologioal tests for automobile o ZJ oera with the view to decreasing aooldents. o (4) The organisation of an Occupational Therapy cc Workshop and an Industrial Vorkshop for hand CL icapped individual**. * * *,1 5 ' (1) The asbestos stu.dy,<-ia nearing completion. 102 individuals ware examined clinically and by Z-ray at the plant of the Canadian Johns-Uanvilie-'.Qo. in Asbestos, P.Q. in July 1930. Other groups were examined at Thetford Mines in Sep tember 1930, but these do not come within the purview of this report. This study le being carried on with the oo-operation 0455 -3 - of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.# end it is expected that valuable Information on the eubjaot of asbestosis will he forthcoming. It is hoped that permlaaion to pahliih the results will be obtained. (2) The Tuberculosis Survey will probably be commenced during the coming jeer in co-operation with the Canadian Tuber culosis Association,,the Sun Life Insurance Co. and other bodies Since tuberculosis is such an Important disease in the Prorinca of Quebec, particularly among industrial workers, it is ex pected that results of real ralue will accrue from this study. (3) The psychological study of automobile drivers was discussed in committee and then proposed to the Insurance Casualty Underwriters Association, but they did not show sufficient Interest to warrant continuing the matter. (4) The organisation of the Occupational Therapy and the Industrial Workshops for handicapped individuals is still mooted, and will, it is hoped, be accomplished in the futuxe. In that conneotion the Direotor of the Industrial Clinic ha* ' served as President of the Association of Oooupational Therapy and has visited a number of workshops in other cities to'. *' aoquaint himself with their organisation and operation. EDUCATIOIAL. Lectures have been given at the University in the faculty of Uedloino# the Sohool of Sooial fork, the Sohool of Graduate Surest and the Department of Arehiteoture. Several addresses have been given to elubs and societies in Montreal and elsewhere. A paper, "Lead Poisoning in Brass and Bronse Industries" was read before the Industrial Hygiene Seotion of the American Public Health Asseoiation at its Annual Meeting in Minneapolis in Patch! ........ er, "The Incidence ef Ocoupatlonal Deafness s Prevention", was read before the 11th the American Association of Organisations for r^ng in Hew Tork in June 1930. Through the Provinoe of Quebec Safety League and the Montreal Ceunell of Social Agencies representation was made to the- Provincial Department of Public forks and Labour ea behalf of handicapped workmen who are discriminated-against by the Torkmen's Compensation Aot. In this connection the Director of the Industrial Clinic was asked to road a paper before the International Association of Industrial Accidents Board and Commissions at its Annual Meeting in fllaington, Del. in Sept. 1930. ' *0jUc n-. 0456 4 The Direeyor of the Industrial Clinic served a* Chairman of the Industrial and Economic Soctlon of tha 2nd Canadian Conferanoa of Social York hald in Toronto In Hay 1930. Tha Industrial Radical Association of tha Prorinea of Quebeo haa hald five regular maatlnga during tha year. Tha attendance at thaea meetings has bean batvean 20 and 35. Tha members regularly.attending the mattings appear to enjoy them, and I believe the organisation of this Association has been veil worth while. It plana during tha coming year to send lecturers to different parts of tha Province and so extend the influence of tha Association more widely. aw Tha Director of tha Industrial Clinic attended six national or international meetings during the year as follows: Tha Annual Meeting of tha National Safety Council, tha Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, tha Second Canadian Conference of Social York, the American Association of Organisations for the Hard of Hearing and two meetings of the Conference Board of Physicians in Industry. PRODUCED G/C/M/Ms In resigning tha position of Director of tha Industrial Clinic I wish to say that it is my belief that tha Industrial Cllnle should be continued along tha llnee already established. Although numerically the number of cases seen and treated is not large, tha looation of tha Clinie and its activities have served the useful purpose of gaining contaot with induatry, and it seems likely that as time goes on the fitld of usefulness of the Clinic will be enlarged. It was my hope at first that more use oould be made of the olinioal material passing through the Compensation Clinie, but so far no method has been found to handle this material in a useful way. A study was carried on last year of the acoident oases of several large firms, hht sinoe these firms did not sen the Cllnle a proper statistical background mined and the result of the study were of no A t:? ?s In that the present change in personnel affords for the re-organisation of the Industrial There is need in this part of the country for a well trained chemist in the field of Industrial Hygiene, and it is ay belief that one should be engaged. The spaoe is avail able in the Department of Publlo Health and Preventive Medicine, and many problems await a man aualifiei in this field. At the present time Industrial Hygiene aotlvltles at XeOlll University are severely havered by the absenoa of skilled assistance in ohenistry. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) Frank C. Pedley, - 0457 The Industrial Clinic 1 4 1