Document YpoxwRR75jD54G9kMJqZjwaE

.r Hygiono Foundation of Amorioa, Inc*, 4400 Fifth Avenuo, Pittsburgh, Fa. June X, 1937 ^ Rows Items j91. OHIO LEGISLATION. SILICOSIS ADEED TO LIST OF COMPENSABLE DISEASES. Ohio State * lfed. J* 33* 562-563 (May, 1937). The bill mentioned in abstract No* 115 has boon passed to take effoct on or about August 1. Silicosis is defined as "a disease of the lungs caused by breathing silica dust, producing fibrous nodules, distributed through the lungs and demonstrated by x-ray examination or autopsy." Various provisions of the law arc reviewed and a revised list of occupational disoases now included is given. (Fullor information will bo given in our Legal Bulletin or may be ob tained from the Ohio State Board of Health.) 292. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LAWS COVERING DUST DISEASES. Ceram. Ind. 28, 297-8 374-6 (April, 1937). A brief summary of tho laws of a fow representative states. (The April number of CERAMIC INDUSTRY contains a number of general papers of interest, whioh aro abstracted in this bulletin. Copies are obtainable frcm Industrial Publica tions, Inc*, 59 E. Van Buren St*, Chioago, 111* at 50 oents each.) 293. PRECIPITATES IXJST ELECTRICALLY. Foundry, 65, 95 (March 1957.) This is a brief description of the oleotricaT precipitator developed by Westinghouse and now applied to industrial air oleaning field by the pongborn Corpora tion* It is olaimod that its use in industry provides the advantages of dust and furao collection by electrical means within tho range of general application at ooonomioal installation and operating oosts. The unit oensists of 8 essen tial parts, tho collector plate cells, the ionizing assembly and the power pack. The grounded plates where tho dust is colloctod are cleaned at neoessary inter vals by washing, rapping or blowing with an air jet. (For infonaation address Pongborn Corp*, Hagetfstocm, lid.) 294. CLEANING AIR WITH ELECTRICITY. Hooting & Vent. 34 , 70 (Maroh, 1937). Clean air will be supplied this summer to tho FieTd Building in Chioago, by the addition of oleotrostatic air oloanors to its air conditioning system in the lower aroade and first four stories. The air cleaning equipment will have a oapacity of 272,700 ou* ft. per min. and an expooted efficiency of over 99j( by weight of dust particles removed. It iB said to remove particles as small as 1/5 mioron, and to operate on a ourrent consumption of 10 kw* It will oonsist of 18 units and tho installation is expeoted to bo oompletod during July* 295. BRITISH USE ALUMINA IN SILICOSIS FIGHT. Coram. Ind. 28, 296 (April, 1937). Due to tho high death rate caused by silicosis among pottery workers, soveral British potteries have substituted alumina for silioa for the bedding material during firing* Three large firms ore using alumina exclusively, and most of tl. smaller potteries will probably follow their example. In tho United Statos, several plants have boon using powdered kaolin in plase of sand for several years* (Soo note on abstract 291*) Deferences to Roocnt Literature - 2 296# COURT DECISIONS SILICOSIS SUITS Coram. Ind. 28, 295-6 * A review of a number of cases illustrating various phases of the silicosis situation. The status of laws in various states is presentod more fully in another paper and in our Legal Bulletins, but sane interesting side-lights are to oc found in this artiolo. (Soo note on abstract 292.) 297, SHORE ELIMINATED BY SUPER-SOUNDWAVES. Power Plant Eng., 41, 174 (No. 3, 193'7' j. Frank. Inst. 223, 510 (Apr. 1937); Soi, Nows Let. 31, 14W (1937). A popular account of lectures and demonstrations of coagulation of smoke by supersonic wavos, by H. W, St. Clair of the U. S, Buroau of Minos. Several other abstracts havo referred to this process, and a full aocount will prob ably be given in a future publication of the Bureau of Mines. 298. BEARD IS EXCELLENT SILICOSIS PREVENTIVE. Coram. Ind. 28, 418 (May, 1937). "An inquiry roccntly instituted among a group of masonry workers showed that clean-shaven workers sufforod by far the most fran silicosis. Those with strong moustaches got along much better while the workers with full bushy beards and moustaches were practically immune fran silicosis. Tho obvious ex planation was that the moisture of tho breath on the hair formed a very officienl filter and one which men could not take off." (The above is included as an itei of interost, but it should be addod that no authoritative reports of suoh an investigation have appeared.) General and Scientific Papers 299. TALC DUST IN THE RUBBER INDUSTRY. Chas R. Williams. Safety Eng., 73, 49-61 (April 1937). Talc is used in the rubber industry as a dusting agent to provent pieoes of unvulocnizod rubber from sticking togother, and is disseminated into tho air in large quantities. The question of pormanent lung damage from this inhalation of dust has been raised, but there has been little work done in connection with the- problem. According to Dreossen and Dal la Vallo disabling pneumoconiosis is not produced, but there is evidenoe of a "fine diffuse bilateral fibrosis of the lungs which is definitely domonstrablo in the x-ray." The author reports a survoy of 9 representative rubber plants using talo. The dust concentrations found with the impingor variod fran 7 to 194 million parA tides por cubic foot. The quarts oontent of the dust is very low, usually only a trace. Roconmendations for reducing the hasard include oareful handling which oan bo automatic in tho panning operations, isolation of dusty operation* use of talc with a high carbonate content, and use of respirators. (Reprints may be obtained from tho author. Engineering Dept., Liberty Mutual Insurance Co*, Boston, Mass.) 300. PSEUDOTUBERCULOMA SILICOTUM. J. S. Faulds. J. Path, and Baot., 41, 129-135 (July, 1936). Two cases of subcutaneous pseudotuberculoma, caused by implantation of siliceou material with no tubercle bacilli, are doscribed. Thoy aro similar to those previously doscribed under the namo pseudotuborculoma silicoticum. In the two onsos, 23 and 10 yonrs respooti-vely elapsed between the injury and the devel opment of tho tumor. Polarized light was successfully omployod in examination of the mineral substanco. ^forences to Reoent Literature - 3 SICKNESS AMONG KALE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES CURING THE THIRD QUARTER AND THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 1936. D. K. Brundage. U. S. Pub. Health Bepts., 62. 127-129 (Jan# 29. 1937). Xhe total number of cases of illness lasting 8 days or longer, among 164,000 male industrial employes (exolusivo of venereal diseases) rose from 87 per 1000 in 1935 to 91*8 per 1000 in the third quarter and first 9 months of 1936* The morbidity rates for :iow cases of tuberoulosis of the respiratory system are unprocodently low for the third quarter. Pneumonia increased over the some periods while a number of other diseases wore lower than in the same period of 1935. The figures arc conveniently tabulated. (The Roport of the above date is ob tainable from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C, for 5 oents cash.) 502. DISCUSSION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 1935 CONVENTION OF THE IN TERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ASHE VILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ( U. S. Dept. Labor, Div. Labor Standards, Bull. no. 4, 1936.) The following three abstracts summarise the papers of greatost interest among a number of others presented at this meeting. Those not abstracted include a few others on various aspects of pneumoconiosis end a largor number on provonti< of occupational diseases and aooidonts, workmen's compensation and its admin istration and othor matters of general interest. (Tho entire report is ob tainable frem the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C., for 20 oonts oash.) 303. ESSENTIALS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SILICOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS. L. U. Gardner. (U. S, Dept. Labor, Div. Labor Standards Bull* no. 4, 1936). The author bogins by defining pneumoooniosis as "a condition of the lungs re sulting from the prolongod inhalation of dust." The condition fcooomcs & dis ease only when serious ohanges producing symptoms occur* An outline of the types of dust is then prosentod, with emphasis on tho point of "adequate oxposure" and the importanco of a good occupational history* The pathological and roontgonological features of silioosis and asbestosis are reviewed ooncisoly* A disoussion of symptoms and prevention oonoludes the papor* (See note on abstract 302,) * 304. RELATIONSHIP OF AS3EST0SIS AND SILICOSIS TO DISABILITY. R. R. Sayers. (U* S. Dopt. Labor, Div. Labor Standards, bull. no. 4, 1936). The definition of silicosis drawn up by tho American Public Boalth Association is followod by the author's equally full definitions of asbostosis aid of dis ability. The increased lost time due to respiratory infeotions among workers in dusty atmospheres, a6 compared to other workers, is demonstrated. In one of tho dustiest occupations, that of hand pneumatio cuttors in tho granite in dustry, whero the dust is high in silica, the time lost from such illness is four timos as great as among workers oxposed to minimum quantities of industrial dust. Tablos of anthraoo-silicosis and associated rospirntory infection and of mortality from respiratory tuberoulosis are included. (For reprints seo abstract No. 302.) 305. PNEUMOCONIOSIS. R. Hunt* (U.S. Dopt Labor, Div* Labor Standards, Bull no. 4 1936). Tho author considers "pneumoconiosis" as a general term very broad in scopo and roforring to presence of any dust in tho lungs. A review of the pathology of the pneumoconioses is followed by a more dotniled discussion of that of silico sis. He states that "silica is soluble in tho woak body alknlies, produoing ^ferences to Recent Literature 4 a toxin or poison, which "so alters the immediate surrounding tissue that it loses its resistance and becomes incapable of protecting itself against the invasion of foreign bacteria." "Roughly speaking, an atmosphere containing 5 to 25 million particles (of silica dust) per cubic foot, may produce sil icosis in from 5 to 25 years, and about 25$ of all dust workers will eventually contract the disease." The history, physioal examination, x-ray examination, dust counts and the progress of silicosis after exposure has oeased, aPD briefly discussed. Silica found in the lungs at autopsy amounts to 2 to 50$ of the total ash. Authorities hesitr.'to to call an amount less than 15$ ab normal. (For reprints see abstract No. 302.) 306. THE HEALTH OF CEMENT V/ORKERS. A. J. R. Curtis. Pit and Quarry, 71, 66-70 (April 1937). The results of several years' research work in plants of the Portland Cement Association are presented. The study included respiratory, abdominal, di gestive and miscellaneous disorders. There is little evidenoe of silicosis among cement workers, as may bo anticipated from the very low oontent of free silica (about 2$). The death rate for tuberculosis among cement workers is only one-half that for all males in the U. S. Registration Area. Minor re spiratory diseases are common but oannot be associated with dust exposure. Rheumatism and arthritis are the most important miscellaneous illnesses. Other diseasos are discussed briefly. (This office will have information about reprints on inquiry.) 307. CONDITIONS OF WORK AND MORBIDITY AMONG WORKERS AT A THOMAS SLAG MILL. A. G. Kalashian. Gigiena truda i tek. bozopasnosti (Russian) no. 6, 93-94 (1936) Very high dust concentrations were found at tho Thomas slag mill of the metal lurgical plant at Kerch. Respiratory diseases are much more frequent among workers in this department than elsewhere in the plant. The author advises dust control, careful selection of workors, medical supervision and occa sional transfer to loss dusty plaoos 308. MANGANESE PNEUMONIA. E. 7f. Baader. Aerztlich. Sachverstand. Zt. (German) 43, 75-81 (1937). ]T*partioular oasc of pneumonia in a worker handling pyrolusite in making dry cells led to a bibliographical study of manganese and limonite mining in various countrios. A high incidenoe of lung inflam&ation, including many fatal oosec, was found in all oountrio6. In the case described, manganese dust was found in the lungs, although thore was no change in the conneotive tissuo. 309. THE MIST FR0JECT0R FOR SUPPRESSING DUST AND FUMES AFTER SHOf-FIRING -- H0LMANWETHE RILL MIST PROJECTOR. P. S. Hay. Iron and Coal Trades Rov. 132, 580 (Mar. 27, 1936). Disoussion of this paper at various mootings is oarried through several later issues. Spraying systems and other wotting prooessos for laying dust in mines are generally ineffective, because the comparatively small number of ooarse drops is insufficient to bring them into contact with all the dust. This difficulty is obviated by tho use of a fine spray, and various mochanioal moans of pro ducing a fine mist v/erc tried. Experiments were made on (l) the optimum size of tho water particle, (2) the design of projector to give the most effective mist, (3) tho addition of small amounts of wetting reagents, and (4) the ef fect in dealing with fumes and smoke from explosives, which have been shown to accelerate tho development of silicosis. The addition of alkalies was ef fective in absorbing these gases, but it was brought out in the disoussion jtefercnoes to Reocnt Litoraturo - 5 that the alkali dries on the clothing and bodies of miners. A small apparatus embodying the results of the research was found to reduce tho dust concentra tion to about IT%, With the Holmos-'vVothcrill mist projector a small quantity of castor oil is fed into the air stream and atomized with the water. The oil retards evaporation and consequent drying of the dust. Mine tests shewed that BQ$> of the dust pro duced by blasting was wettod and deposited near the souroo of production. Al though this projector is still in an early state, the results obtained give promise of greater comfort for the worker. The dust partioles remaining in suspension are mostly 0*5 to 2 microns in diamoter. The mist projector is most effective whore the ventilation is sluggish. (No reprints are available, but the material may be published later in a report. Copies of the magazine are obtainable through G. E. Steohert & Co*, 31 E* 10th St., New York City.) 510. THE MICROMETRIC ESTIVATION OF QUARTZ IN ROCKS. S. H. Shaw. Bull. Inst. Min. 4 Met. 385, 19 and 386, 9-22 (1936) Tho objoct of the investigation was to cheok the ohcmical estimation of quartz or free silioa in rocks by the micrometric method and to determine the re liability of the lattor. (This method applies to material in the rook and cannot be used for dust or fino particles.) The Delasse-Rosiwal method is ap plicable to any homogonoous rock. A ropresentativo plane surface is prepared, and the sum of tho intoroepts made by any constituent on a sufficiently long line, dividod by the length of tho lino, is taken as tho volume fraotion of the constituent. The chemical estimations of free silioa were made by a "rational analysis" method, in whioh the powderod sample is troatod alternately with aoid and alkalino solutions so that only the silica and refractory ailioates, mostly orthoolase, roroain. Tho rosiduo is analyzed for altsnina, a proportion of sil ica sufficient to make orthoolase is assigned to tho alumina, and the remainder is taken as free silica. Tho ohcmical and mioronvotric analyses chcok satisfactorily for igrujous rooks* In sedimentary rooks suoh as sandstones, the miorametric method gives low re- suits as oanpared with the chemical, probably beoause fine-grained quartz may - be overlooked. In shales, days, etc., tho discrepancy would be still greater and the miorosnotric method is unsuitable. The presenoe of earbonates oauses espeoinlly low results for quartz. (Those bulletins are obtainable through G. E. Steohert & Co*, 31 E. 10th St., New York City.) 311. DUST PREVENTION AND ELIMINATION. Ceram. Ind. 28, 299-302, 3SSU41 (April 1937). A general discussion of the necessity of cleanliness and methods of dust de termination and collection is followed by a description of means aotually used and found successful in pottery, glass and enamel plants, with a number of il lustrations* In the pottery industry, the most diffieult problem is in the handling of potter's flint or feldspar high in free silioa. Shipping in double bags i6 a partial solution, but spraying water at the time of loading is better* In other operations proporly dosignod exhaust systems havo proved suooessful* After a dust survey had been conducted and improvements made, no dust concentra tion of ovor 1 million partioles per cubic foot was found. In the glass in dustry the.only hazard is in the handling of raw materials, and it has beon greatly reduced by improvements such as unloading oars by suction, briquetting, dust boots and enclosed mixers. An enamel plant is easily cleaned to such an oxtent that the dust hazard becomes negligible. In a plant studied positive prossure is used throughout the enamel shop. Tho greatost hazard is in sand blasting, where suotion for tho enclosed room and positive prossure for the oper ator havo boon used successfully. In spraying and brushing operations a good down-draft exhaust is offioient. (Soe abstract 292.) to Reoont Literature - 6 airborne coal dust -- ABATEMENT of the nuisance in intensive conveyor mining. A. L. Davies. Colliery Guardian, 153, 755-758 (Oct. 23, 1936) Wetting of crushed coal in a dusty screening plant was found to reduce the dust by 99.5;/S in the chamber under the truck tip and by 90/S in the vibrating screen room, without reducing the soreen efficiency. Noztles with l/8 inch orifiees were usod with a water pressure of 40 lbs. per sq. in. The coal rate was about 50 tons por hour. (Periodical obtainable from Stechert as above.) PREVENTION OF SMOKE AND DUST EMISSION FROM CHIMNEYS. Nature 139, 138-141 (Jan. 1937) In Great Britain 165 million tons of coal are used annually, including 35 mil lion tons in domestic grates. The large industrial units are equippod with dust nnd cinder-catching devices, such as cyclones and settling chambers. Tho Cot trell process has boon successfully applied to collecting fly ash, but it does not affect the sulfur gases. In a large British power station lg- million oubic feet of flue gas are scrubbed per minute to reduce the discharged sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide concentrations to reasonable figures. (Magasine ob tainable from the McMillan Co.) HYDRAULIC CQALBUBSTING AT NETDIGATE COLLIERY. D. S. Newey. Trans. Instn. Min. Engrs., London, 92, 274-282. DISCUSSION, 282-290 (Feb., 1937). This paper describes a now method of obtaining coal without the use of ex plosives, thus avoiding noise, danger of oxplosions from shot-firing, formation of nitrous fumes, and danger to the roof, and producing a minimum quantity of dust. Tho coal burster is a stainless steel barrol bored at fixed intervals to receive pistons or plungers. A hole of small bore runs through tho barrel and oommunicates with eaoh of the plunger cavities whilo the barrel is oonneotod to a pump. Operation of the pump causes the plungors to omerge under pressure, usually for a distance of 3-^ inches. After the coal is undercut, holes arc drilled in tho coal to take the burster and the prossure is turned on. Tho pressuro dcvelopod is 4,000 to 5,000 pounds por square inoh and the total force exerted is 50 or 60 tons. Tho coal is brought down in 2 or 3 minutes. (This office will have information on tho availability of reprints.) MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SILICOSIS. Ceram. Ind. 28^ 294,374. (April 1937). A brief discussion of the cause and course of silicosis, the provalenoe of the silicosis racket and'the neoessity for expert medical examination. (Seo note on abstract 292). SOME ASPECTS OF BLANKET COVERAGE OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN THE UNITED STATES. L. R. Thompson. U. S. Pub. Health Repts., 52, 329-534 (Maroh 19, 1937). Attention is called to tho groat diversity of workmen's compensation laws in this country. Occupational diseases arc covered generally in only 8 statos, in others only specified diseases arc covered, and in many no provision at all is made. Laws that cover only certain diseases have been oriticisod as "unfair, illogical, unjust and ineffective," The change from no coverage to blanket coverage 4t to inerlr.sc the. rate by n t v-.r 1#. r* Statistics of tho operation of tho Wisconsin blanket law are given. Opponents of tho blanket law contend that the advantage of prompt payment is frequently lost. (Copios of the Report of above date arc obtainable from the Superintend ent of Documents, Yfcshington, D, C., for 10 cents cash.) k Inferences to Rccont Literature - 7 ` SILICOSIS - RACKET OR RESPONSIBILITY? (instalment l) Charles S. Pearce. Ceram. 5 ' tod. 28, 140, 145 (Fob, 1937). The author cites instances of the "silicosis racket" in whioh physioians incom petent to diagnosis rilioosis and unscrupulous lawyers have had more influence on unintelligent Juries than experts with carefully and scientifically prepared evidence. The author then considers tho actual dnngor in certain operations in tho enamel industry. Sandblasting is a serious hazard, but tho author*s exper ience with spraying and grinding vdth carborundum wheels convince him that they do not involve a silicosis hazard. (See note on abstract 292, but note that thit is in the February number.) 518, PREVENTION OF SILICOSIS BY IMPROVEMENTS IN PLANT WORKING CONDITIONS, (instalment 2) Charles S. Pearce. Coram. Ind. 28, 342-344 (April 1937). A general paper on dust control, especially in the enamel industry, including exhaust systems, spraying booth's, respirators end positive pressure holments. (See note on abstract 293.) C, Scientific papers on industrial poisons and other subjects exclusive of dust. 319. CHEMICAL CANCER H. E. van Thomsche. Ing. chim. (French) 20, 30-35 (1936). Cases of cancer duo to soot are twice as frequent in ohimnoy sweepers as in any other occupation. Personal cleanliness and tightly fitting olothing around the nook and extremities arothe best preventives. Similar precautions in oases ex posed to gasoline, paraffins, oils and greases, and especially tar, pitoh, rosin and aniline dyes# will do much toward preventing canoor oausod by these substanoos. Striot medioal supervision and the uses of processes whioh avoid con tact with the product will further reduce the dangor. The derivatives 1,2 benzopyronc and 1, 2, , 6 - dibenz&nthmoene are particularly active in forcing cancers. The author suggests a chemical explanation of their aotion. 320. THE PHOSPHORUS CONSENT OF BLOOD AND OF BONE IN VARIOUS TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL POISONING; LEAD, MERCURY, CHROMIUM, PHOSPHORUS, STRONIUM AND FLUORINE. P. Cirla Med. del LfW. (Italian) 28, 44-54 (1937). In lead and ohramium poisqning the total phosphorus in the blood is increased, while the soluble portion is diminished. With strontium the total and lipoid phosphorus are increased, while in acute poisoning the inorganio and aoid solubl fractions are decreased* In fluorine poisoning the blood phosphorus is variable but it tends to remain stationary in phsophorus poisoning* The bone phosphorus in the epiphysial region tends to diminish in lead and chromium poisoning, while with lead and meroury it remains normal. It is muoh augnented in fluorine and i aoute strontium poisoning. 321. LEAD POISONING WITH SYMPTOMATOLOGY REFERRING TO THE ALIMENTARY TRACT. L. Preti. Med. del Lav., 28 1-11 (1937). A discussion of a lead poisoning case, including symptoms of the gastro-lntestinf tract and argument concerning the duty of the state toward workers so afflioted. 322. CHRONIC LEAD POISONING WITH SYMPTOMATOLOGY REFERRING TO THE CARD10-VASCULARRENAL SYSTEM. L. Preti. Med. del Lav., 28, 33-43 (1937) A detailed description of a case of lead poisoning in a varnisher, aged 46, is presented. The (Italian) legal implications of compensation and the question of beginning old age pension retirement for such c.n individual are disoussed. * Inferences to Recent Literature - 8 , SIGNIFICANCE OF ".IE BLOOD 1ICTURE, LEAD ELII'IR.TION IN THE URINE BY MEANS Of iZ*` various calciiu; ; retail ticks and their relation to phosphate metabolism, in vestigations or PORTAL 1EKSOUS. F. Schmitt rad V?. Ensse. Arch. f. exp. Pathol u, Thannakol (German) 184, 541-546 (Jan. 15, 195?). ^ law calcium diet in normal persons produces an increase of load in tho blood and a shift of tho total phosphorus in the plasma. Calcium given intravenously or orally increases tho total phesphorus, also the lead in the blood, sometimes to values approaching values found in lepd poisoning. There is a relation be tween calcium, total phosphorus and lead, manifesting itself in a parallel in crease. 524. CARBON MONOXIDE AS A TISSUE 101 SON. E. Schultzo. EL in. Wohnschr., (German) 16. 417-428 (1937). One of two groups of guinea pigs was exposed for 15 to 20 days, Zb hours daily, to very small amounts of oxygen, while the oilier was exposed 10 to 20 minutes daily to a carbon monoxide concentration of 0.5;*. In the first group the thyroi remained normal,-while in the second, hypcrfunction developed. Therefore it is not deprivation of oxygen but carbon monoxide that causes these changes, the lat ter acting as a tissue poison. 525. THE TOXICITY OF INDUSTRIAL SOLVENTS. R. G. Barry. Faint Manuf., 6, 288-290 (1936), The important solvents and plasticizers are disoussed with regard to solvent properties, uses and disadvantages, especially poisonous properties* The author recommends that only the least toxic of the chlorinated hydrocarbons be used in paints, varnish strippers, and allied products and their presence should be shown on the wrapper of the container. Ketones, esters, and plasticizers cause but little damage. 826. POISON GASES AND THE IETROLEUJi INDUSTRY. S. J. V. Auld. Petroleum Timas, 55, 781-782 (1936). This paper doals with poisonous gases used in warfare and tho possibility of de velopment of now gases from petroleum. Ethyleno is n great potential source of war gas, with the possibility of 4055 being converted into mustard gas. Cracked gas may be tho foundation of the "persistent-lethal" for whioh search is being made. 827. NEW DISCOVERIES 01T INJURY TO HEALTH BY CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. F. Koelsch. Chem. Fabric, (German) 421-429 (1936). Jta. address on the poisoning by chemical substances, their effects, individual susceptibility, diagnosis and sanitary precautions. The substances treated in clude most poisonous metals, carbon monoxide and some organic compounds. 328. EFFECT OF ANILINE ON THE LIVER AND ON THE FUNCTION OF THE PITUITARY AND ADRENALC N. M. Rudenko. Gigiena truda i tok. bezopasnosti (Russian) 6, 19-24 (1936). Animal experiments on the effect of aniline administered by various methods sho. ed that it acts on the liquids of the parenchymatous organs, especially on the liver, and n ot upon the oentral nervous system, as many authors believe. A now method of determining the effect of aniline on hormone formation shows that the thyreotropic hormone and adrenaline remain within the normal limits. jffcT<&SCS to Recent Literntv.ro c RE'-ZBIS SICKNESS IX 'YORKERS AITLYINC MJBEEU GIUES. E. Holstein. Med* Welt. ;2'* (German) 11_, 331-393 (1937). A study was made of 85 persons engaged in gluing together pieces or rubber for rubber shoes, with a glue containing 78$ benzene and 15$ trichlorethyleno. Eleven cases of bcr-zene poisoning wore found, also 14 others v.ho had been ill from anenir. and hemorrhage. Improved ventilation was ordered and the use of the solvent vras discontinued. t,3, FATAL PHOSPHINE POISONING IN FUMIGATING FOR CORN WEF.VIL. 0. Gessner. Samml* v. Vergift., (German) _8, (Gutachten) 13-18 (1937). Phosphine in high concentrations was liberated from bags containing 30 grams each of aluminum phosphide, distributed throughout a granary. Twelve cases of nausea and one death followed. --NEW METHOD OF INVESTIGATING INDUSTRIAL DISEASES. F. Timm. Deutsch. Ztschr. f. d. ges. gericht. Rod., (German) 28, 48-50 (1937). Ey the use of a darkfield method proposed by the author, it is possible to de tect small amounts of heavy metal in the organism, how the metal penetrated, whore it is deposited and how its mobilization by medicaments takes place. He reports as an example, a case of lead poisoning. (These claims appear rather broad, but this is all the information we have at present. Abstr.) 332. A NICROGRAVILETRIC METHOD FOR DETERMINING SNAIL AMOUNTS OF MERCURY VAPOR IN AIR. V. A. Fiankov. J. Applied Chcm., (U.S.S.R) 9, 580-582 (1936). On passing the air through a spiral tube containing iodine, crystals of mercuric iodide settle on the walls of the spiral. After removal of the excess iodine, the mercuric iodide is dissolved out with ether, dried and weighed. 333. PURIFICATION OF GASES AT THE MERCURY FLANT AT NIHITOVO. V. A. Piankoff and K, L, Loevsky. Gigicna truda i tek. bozopasnosti (Russian) 6, 57-58 (1936). It was found that 2 to 3 kilograms of mercury were lost daily. Considerable sul fur dioxide was also present. The authors recommend catching the sulfur dioxide with dilute ammonia and fixation of the mercury with chlorine. 334. DETERMINATION OF MERCURY IN AIR AND ABSORI TION OF VAIQRS OF MERCURY WITH THE AID OF I.RIALLIC GOLD. V, Kajer. Collection Czechoslov. Chon. Commun., 8, 339-348 (1936). Very small quantities of mercury are determined by distilling into a fine cap illary, uniting the gl Abules with the aid of a centrifuge and measuring the length of the thread of mercury. In some cases the mercury was condensed in tubes ohillcd with liquid air. Quantities larger than 0.5 g. per liter the colorimetric method is advised. 335. DETERMINATE OP SMALL CONCENTRATIONS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE IN AIR. II. V. G. Gurevich and V. F. Vondt. J. Gen. Chem. (USSR) 6 , 962-971 (1936). Tho modified method of Vorlandcr and i&ir.snfe tJwjsends on the different rates of oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur iicarido in air in on ammonium hydroxide The sulfate is precipitated with lead nitrate end the turbidity due to lead sul fate is determined with the aid of a special photoelectric nephclometer. De tails of the mothod are given in Chemical Abstracts, for Fob. 20, 1937, col* 629 or will be supplied on request) but we doubt whether they aro full enough to follow without referring to the original Russian. 10 note on :mvfst.'n' ,rio:` of l"mi d;,;-. ge ik miners, carried out ijj october-novek- BER, 1936 IT: TIT] SCUEEFRERJ-rJEUST/.DTl'R KIEFS. E. Noitzol. Arbcitsschutz pp. 70-72 (1937). As a result of fi? trr.ti -in -.-xnariments the author concludes thr.t the lung ili nes arc caused by the rad3ur. emanations, and not by The quantity of nr.nnrtion in the air ivas not decreased although it was '"hcn silica gel was used. For pro tection of the nine re, the author suggests the: use of pneumatic drills where the control of mine air, nd changes of working place for 337. LATE POSTMORTEM DEI TOMS TRA TIOM OF CARBON MONOXIDE. M. Eicczarkowski. Polska Gazeta Lekarskn, 16, 24-26 (Jan. 10, 1937). The literature on death by asphyxiation from illuminating gas is meager from the viewpoint of demonstrating the cause of death after exhumation of the suspected body* The author's experiments yield additional information on that point, and show that under some conditions the presence of carbon monoxide can bo demonstra ted for a surprisingly long time after death. Spectroscopic and chemical examination of the blood reveals the presence of car bon monoxide, even in decomposed parts of the body after 2% years. If blood poisoned by the gas is scaled with exclusion of air, spectral and chonical an alysis demonstrate its presence even after 20 years* The presence of the gas may also be demonstrated during 1 year by pouring thickly and drying the blood. However, if the blood is in contact with air, the tests are ineffective in a much shorter time, depending on the extent of contact* The blood mixed with Jaederholm's solution shows oarbon monoxide for only a short time. 338. SOVIET CARTRIDGE RESPIRATORS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE. T. P. Glazkoff. Gigiena truda i tel:, bezopasnosti, 6, 89-90 (1936). Two hopkalite cartridge respirators are described, one with 1900 cc. capacity, good for 10 to IF hours, and the other, 700 cc* usable for 1-y to 3 hours. A dis advantage is that they give no warning when their effectiveness ceases.