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Industrial Hygiene Digest
tuiteiatuie Qbshacts
MEDICAL ENGINEERING LEGAL -- decisions and trends
tfndustiial Health Iflews
luutd fljINDUSTRIAL HYGIENE FOUNDATION
4400 FIFTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA.
03118157
0088-000751*1
April, 1942. "Z 'J Vol. VI.
No. 4.
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Industrial Hygiene Foundation, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, fa,
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INDUSTRIAL HTOIENE DIGEST Literature and News
News I tens
a 338 Federal Workers Health Service Proposed.
Plans are being considered to establish an industrial health service for Federal
workers to reduce sick leave, which costs government agencies 4100,000,000 a
year. It is to bo coordinated under the United States Public Health Service,
through the Division of Industrial Hygiene, and tentative plans are that aedical
directors for each Department will bo solected from the U.S. Public Health Ser
vice staff, who will be administratively responsible to the Departaneat head.
"Emphasis will be on prevention and discovery of disease, through health edu
cation programs, sick absenteeism studios, removal of health hazards, and first
aid and treatment for minor ailments. Treatment and cure for more serious con
ditions will be left to the private physician."
Legal Developments j
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339 Allergy to Wheat Flour. The claimant in this case, an employee of a bakery, applied for compensation for disability due to "Allergic Bronchia.^asis," alleging that his condition is due to contact with wheat flour, to which he is allergic. Claimant has merited as a baker for about 6 years in OMo and Indiana. His attending physician in report ing on the case said: "This is definitely allergy to flour dust which over a long period of time has produced disabling bronchiectasis, and he must leave his work until well and then find some other occupation." An expert to idiom, the claimant was referred for examination gave essentially the acme opinion* The claimant was referred to the Board of Silicosis Referees for examination and it found that the claimant was totally disabled for a time but was not now disabled, although it expressed the opinion that disability would again ensue if claimant returns to bis former occupation. The Commission allowed the claim. Ohio Ind. Comm. Monitor, 15, 15 (January, 1942).
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340 Injury from Ta.yplng Compensable.
An assembler employed by a tool and die plant, applied for compensation, alleg
C' } ing be bad been disabled by a severe pain in bis right shoulder and am, which
he attributed to the hand tapping of cap screws in tho assembling of machines.
Investigation disclosed that tho claimant was required by his employer, on or
about March 11, 1941, to do some heavy tapping of screws, using a heavy tap
wrench and he had a largo order to complete. While doing this tapping he re
ceived the strain upon which the application for compensation was based. This
type of work is usually done by machine but as these particular taps were of a
o_. small size, tho employer was afraid the machine would break than and ordered
them done by hand, using a tap wrench. It was pointed out that the claimant is
a bench and assembly man and was required to do very little tapping. The employ
er certified the application and the claims reviewer held that the evidence, both
lay and medical, was such that the claim was one that should be recognized as an
occupational disease and be held compensable. The Commission ordered that the
claim be allowed.
Ohio Ind. Comm. Monitor, 15^ 12 (January, 1942).
341 Public Works Stoplosses not Covered.
This case is one of a group filed under tho provisions of the Occupational Dis
ease Act by inmates of The Lodge, a relief program carried on by the Cuyahoga
County Belief Bureau. In each case, the cause of disability was given as tuber
culosis and in each case, medical attention for the alleged tubercular condition
was first given in May, 1941. All the inmates of The Lodge are public relief
employees who receive meals and lodging and cash not to exceed $10 per month* It
i3 not clear, the claims reviewer points out, just on what basis the claimants
arc alleging their tubercular condition to be the result of their employment at
The Lodge and no causative relationship is alleged. He points out that these
claims are not compensable as the Public Work Snployee' s Compensation Law does
not include occupational diseases. The Commission, ordered that the claim be dis
allowed for the reason that proof of record shews that claimant is a work-relief
employee within the meaning of Sec. 3496-1 G. C, and as such is only entitled to
benefit under the Public-Work Saployees* Compensation Law, under which law occu
pational diseases are not compensable.
Ohio Ind. Comm. Monitor, 15^ 13,
{January, 1942).
342 Duodenal Ulcer. Aggravation by Nervous Tension During Strike. Absence of Acci
dental Traumatic Injury.
Shea had been employed by the appellant. A strike developed. Shea remained in
side the plant for 13 days, when he suffered from a perforated gastric ulcer and
died. The Industrial Commission disallowed the claim as decedent1 s death was in
no way related to any incident of eaployment. The Court of Common Ploae diroct-
ed a verdict for defendant. The Court of Appeals reversed that judgment, find
ing that there is evidence tending to show that the decedent was subjected to a
high nervous tension by reaeon of the conditions existing at the place of hie
employment, which high nervous tension either caused or aggravated a duodenal
uloor from which decedent was suffering causing same to perforate resulting in
his death.
The evidence of so-called injury was not supported by any proof
of a traumatic injury, accidental in origin and cause, which was the result of a
sudden happening at a particular time.
Judgment of the Court of Appeals re
versed and the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas affirmed. Shea y. Youngs
town Sheet & Tube Co.. Ohio Supremo Ct., Decided March 18, 1942. (CCS).
343 Undulant Fever Contracted While Skinning Dead Cow. Mo Evidence that Cow had
Sana's Disease. This is a workmen's compensation case. Judgacnt was rendered in favor of plain tiff, Defendant appeals on the ground that there is no evidence to show that
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plaintiff's disability resulted from tie injury.
While skinning a eow,
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--'W plaintiff cut his finger and became violently ill with undulant fever. There * -1, <3 is no evidence showing that plaintiff contracted undulant fever through the cut
in his finger while skinning the dead cow. The defect in .plaintiff a case is s*
the lack of any evidence that the cow in question had Bang's disease. It would*
have been necessary to establish by positive evidence, and not by circumstantial
evidence, that the cow had Bang'3 disease, in order to lay the proper ground for
an inference that the disease was communicated to plaintiff from that particular
cow* The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and judgment is here ren
dered in favor of defendant. Federal Underwriters Exchange v, Hightower.
Texas Ct, of Civ. App., 2nd DistI Decided April 3, 1942. (CCH).
344 Death from Heat Exhaustion. .Valter in Hot Restaurant Subjected to More Severe
Conditions than Other People in Locality on Sot Day, Death Held Compensable.
0 Appellees, os dependents of Clarence E, Banet, deceased, were awarded compensa
tion by the Industrial Board of Indiana at the rate of $9.62 per week for a per
iod of three hundred weeks. Appellees alleged Banet died as a result of personal
injuries received by him on said day, by reason of on. accident arising out of
and in the course of his employment by the appellant. Appellant contends that
there is no evidence to establish the fact that the death was the result of an
accident arising out of his employment.
Appellant operated a restaurant*
Banet, a waiter, was busily engaged on a particularly hot day on which theifele-
tive humidity was as high as 64$. So became ill, and the doctor diagnosed
ailment as heat prostration. He died a few hours later. Appellant contend*
that this evidence is insufficient to show that the death was a result of an
accident arising out of Ms employment by the appellant.
Appellees* decedent,
because of Ms employment, was subjected to greater exposure to injurious re
sults than the exposure to wMch persons generally in that locality were subject
ed. He was engaged in waiting upon the appollant's customers in a rocs without
cross-ventilation. The day was excessively warn and the tnnidity was high* The
trade for the evening meal was quite heavy, and, in waiting upon these customers, ~
the appellees' decedent was exposed to the boat from the kitohen, the steam
table, the coffee urn, and wMle so engaged in such labor, the eppalleas* dece
dent was overcome from the heat. This over exhaustion arose out of his employ
ment. Death was the result of heat exhaustion. Award affined* Fox v. Banet
et al. Indiana App. Ct. Decided March 24, 1942. (CCfi).
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345 Manganese Poisoning. Exposure Prior to Occupational Disease Act, Disability and
Death Thereafter. Award Affined.
McIntyre entered the employ of defendant, and from 1935 on his duties involved
exposure to manganese dust. In September, 1937, he was transferred and there
. after had no contact with manganese. He was discharged on the fourth of February,
1938. On the twenty-fourth of that month he became totally disabled from mangan
ese poisoning, and died on April 27, 1939, and Ms widow was substituted as claim
ant. An award was made and affilmed.
The point raised is that the Occupation
al Disease Compensation Act of 1937 does not cover the situation, because, by
its terns, it did not go into effect until January 1, 1936. Since tha date when
McIntyre's-disability occurred was February 24, 1938, this was the tine when a
compensable injury occurred, and, it being subsequent to the effective data of
the act, no retroactive construction of the statute is involved, Ivan if the
construction thus placed upon the Act of 1937 were to be regarded as giving it a
retroactive operation, such interpretation would not make it unconstitutional*
It could not be contended that, if an occupational disease arising in tha course
of the employment culminated in a disability wMch manifested itself after the
aaployment Mid ceased, the disability could not be the subject of compensation,
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IKDUSTRIAI HTGIPKE ' Current aev$ of Official Industrie! Hygiene Activities
Issued monthly by the division of Industrial Hygiene, rational
Institute of Health, V, S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, M&.
VqI, 1___________________ April
___________________ So. 4
SSE7ICES TC PllViS! CV3SD j& STIKTSTRIBS
The Safety and Security Branch, Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Chicago (in a directive dated Karch l6, 19^3, sent to all Ordnance District Offices), outlined the -procedure for the inspection of private facilities doing war work for Ordnance by the TJ, S. Public Health Service, through the cooperation of the State units. This directive brings out the point that industrial hygiene surveys conducted in Government-owned Ordnance establish ments during the past two years by trained tears of physicians, industrial hygiene engineers, and chemists from the Office of the Surgeon Central, U. S. Ariqy, and from the IT. S. Public Health Service have been of value in calling attention to practices that impair the health and efficiency of employees, and in suggesting methods for their control.
Consequently, the Office of the Chief of Ordnance desires to
extend the benefits of these surveys to commercial establishments
for which the Safety and Security Branch of Ordnance has continu
ing -protection responsibility. Commercial plants in each District
will be canvassed by Ordnance inspectors to ascertain if each
plant is receiving current industrial hygiene services from the
proper State agency. If not, the plant management will be advieed
regarding the value of such services, and the necessary arrange
ments will be made with the IT. S. Public Health Service to make
these sen-ices available to each plant.
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To motivate this program, the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the National Institute of Health, D. S, Public Health Service, has adopted the following procedure with regard to such rrquastst
1. Notification of 'a request for investigation will be made by the industrial hygiene unit of the Safety and Security Branch
of Ordnance in Chicago to the States relations Section of the Division of Industrial Hygiene, ar.d will include the name of the establishment and the person therein to contact.
2. The division of Industrial Hygiene will request the Stats
or local industrial hygiene unit involved to communicate directly
with the Safety end Security branch of Ordnance for the purpose of
certifying the names of those who v-ill cake the inspection and the
dates for which clearance should be obtained.
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miSIKG COURSES IS SAFSTT AMD IKDUSTRIAL ^AT/TH
Dr. Herbert J; Stack, Director, informs us.that the Center for Safety 3du.ce.tion, New fork University, located at 8 Fifth. Avenue, Dev 'fork City, is offering an additional course for industrial health personnel this year, "Hygiene and Accident Prevention for Industrial Ivrrses." Other courses given in this field are "Industrial Accident Prevention" (one basic, and one advanced), "Psycholog;'1 of Industrial Safety," and "Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases."
The Center offers.consultation services to safety supervisors >-- and engineers in industry as well as to various agencies concerned
with wartime safety problems. '3
USPRO IT CO'DTEHSra
Medical Directors J. 0. Townsend and Louis Schwartz, and
Sanitary Engineer J, J. Dlootnfield were among the speakers who participated in the joint session of the Post-Graduate Industrial Medical ar.d Surgical Conference sponsored by the Committee or. Industried Health of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Michigan Industrial Hygiene Society, and the Tar Conference of General Motors Medical Directors, which was held at the Hockham Memorial Duilding, Detroit, Michigan, on April 8, 19^3* aey also participated in ah extension of the War Conference of General fetors Medical Directors hold at the Dook-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, on April 9, where the principal subjects being most pertinent and important to General fetors own industrial hygiene program were discussed.
TtHERCULOSIS GASS PIMPING FACILITIES ECTEMDSD TO MEDIUM SIZED I LASTS
According to information received from the War Production 3oard, few, if any, industrial plant hospitals will be able to pur chase new high milliamperage X-ray units for their clinic wrk. 'Quoting from a memorandum received from the Hospital Section, Government Division, WPB, n. . . we do not have a sufficient number
of high milliampere power units to equip even 5 percent of the industrial plants in this country employing 3,500 or more persons at one plant."
.
The depleted supply of high milliamperage X-r?,r units suitable for photofluorography will probably be allocated to State industrial hygiene ar.d tuberculosis units for the purpose of making State-wide surveys, in order to get the maximum benefit out of this limited number of units. The VJP3 feels that a mobile unit of 30 ma. is all that an industrial plant needs for emergency work ir. its clinic.
Surveys of workers for chest conditions in plants unable to obtain the high milliampere equipment are available through the portable case finding units in many of the States ar.d through the Office of Tuberculosis Control, U. S. Public Health Service.
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project, in cooperation with the Alameda County Nutrition Committee,
in the analysis cf lunches brought or bought by' the workers employed
by two c,f the large shipyards in the area, to be followed by
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publication of the results of the analysis in the employees'
naga.sir.es. The report would include recommendations for improvements
in the lunches. A third project, which is being considered, is a
number of or.e-day institutes on nutrition for industrialists in the
3ay Area, to be held in cooperation with the University of California
Intension division and with management and manufacturers' organiza
tions.
GEOHGIA: Atlanta War Production Conference
A War Production Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 14, 13U3, under the sponsorship of the Georgia Engineering Society and the Industrial Bureau of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce,
following a dinner meeting, panel discussions were held on the fol lowing subjects:
1. draining Within Industry.
2. Heat Treating. 3. Welding.
4. Machine Shop Problems, Die linking, and Press Operations, p. Wood Working.
Personnel from the Georgia Industrial Hygiene Service presented
health nsoects of the various operations at each of the panel dis cussions. A total of about 4,50 men attended the various panels.
ILLINOIS: Medical Societies Plan Programs
Dr, Brederick V. Siobe, Chairman of the Committee on Industrial Health of the Illinois State Medical Society, reports that the State Medical Society and local medical societies in Illinois are develop ing programs on industrial hygiene for their meetings. These smarted with a Conference on Industrial Health in Chicago on January 11, following the American Medical Association conference. Governor Green of Illinois was one of the speakers at the evening bancuet meeting attended by over hOC.
The 15 branch societies of the Chicago Medical Society will devote their April and Mav meetings to industrial health. Indus trial health committees of other county medical societies are being organized. The Kane County Medical Society held an Industrial aealth Conference in Aurora on March 10.
The Annual Convention of the Illinois State Medical Society will include ?n Industrial Health Program under the auspices of the Central States Society of Industrial Medicine.
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E'TiUESSJ'S: Hew Fi
The Industrial Hygiene Service of
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/ins --T..1 tinted the public;
sailed "Tonnesc'e Ir.
i ssue,
Tjv.'clishsd in Mr.i'c'n, has- a foreword or.
'''t.-tIt-I or- lies-, -J. a
statement of services of the 'Tennessee Dopartmo t of rut tic I .''.1 th
available to industry, prepared tv Dr, V. C, Vi .li-rs, State wealth
ooi.u-issioner. 'his issue features Industrial .'Sicae '"ursi-g.
''Succeeding issues will contain a feature article on a particular
p" nntuserec.i"ii ir. du?trial hygiene together with comment of a general
UIAS: Special Industrial Hygiene Issue of "four Health"
The Utah State Department of Health made the -'arch issue of its monthly bulletin, ''Tour Health," an Industrial Hygiene Unit.
It forcefully states the importance and need of industrial h-'giene programs to dor', and specifically lists the disease hazards cost likely to he encountered by Utah industrial workers. A des cription is giver, of an ideal plan for providing an adequate health service to workers, one. the benefits to he expected. The facilities of the Division of Industrial hygiene of the State Department of r-enlth end the services of other agencies available to Utah indus tries are described.
A chart showing the relationships of Federal, State, and local agencies whose services are being integrated in the "Cooperative Industrial Hygiene Frogran in Utah" is included in the bulletin.
VIRG-IalA: Nutrition Pamphlet
The Director of the Bureau of Industrial Hygiene, Virginia Stare Department of Health, reports that the Department has a nutritionist now working entirely in industry, The Department has prepared a pamphlet entitled "Food for Ken," which gives require ments and many suggestions for food suitable for lunch boxes.
VIRGIKIA; Industrial Dermatoses lectures
At the request of Dr. ?. D, UAinpler, o- the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. John Dunn presented a series of five lectures on industrial dermatoses at the Institute on I nidus trial Medicine held during the week of March PS, under the auspices of the Committee on industrial uea.lth of the Medical Society of Virginia,
FERSCDITEL HOPES
Fussed Assistant Dental Surgeon (P.) leland H. Evans was assigned to tr.e ..ichigan. State Department of Health on '-arch 15, 1943, to assist m tr.e promotion of dental programs in industry.
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K3?T PUBLICATIONS
(Supplement to ^nelicatior.s List of Bivision of Industrial "-ygiene, national Institute of H.-aith, ". 3, Public Health Service-, April 15^3)
katjai or i:~?3_h:ai hyi-iibbi afp hzbical s^.ticz :i; '..'ah ihbl'sbp.iis. issued
infer Sue auspices of the Committee or. Industrial Htdieir.e of the Division
of Medical Sciences of the "atior.nl Research Co'mcil, prepared '07 the
Bivision of Industrie.! Hygiene, National Institute of Health, United States
Public H alth Service.
h, Gafafor, ed. Philadelphia! *'. L Saunders
Co. (13^3). ni + 3CS pp. Price 33.00.
Part I--Organization ar.d operation of facilities.
'Car's influence on industrial hygiene. J. <1. Bloomfield. Plant nodical facilities, 0. F, Esdlev. .-eiicr.l services. 0. 7. Hedlcy. Humsing services. C. h. ''hitloci:.
Lcr.tal services. L. B. Peace cl:. Crnanicoition of -Iant e.'eerurnc." medical service and
integration v-ith thet of the co rerun ity. H. 7. Sievers. Available services in industrial hygiene. J, J. Bloomfield.
Lart_.II--Prevention and. control o_f_ disease in industry.
Ih: problem. of occvoution?.! disease, `.v. C. Dreessen.
Occupational ler ntosos-. Louis Schwarts.
Hngineering control of air contarination of the working
environment, A. B, Brandt.
Mcdic-1 control of respiratory diseases, h. L Dreesser..
"emroal disease control, C, L. Anderson.
Industrial psychiatry, L. G. Gibcrsor..
Health education. 3. 7, Pritchard.
Industrial fatigue: Causes and control. P-. K. Flinn.
nutrition ir. industry. P-. P. Sievers.
Community sanitation. A. Pane.
Plant sanitation. A, B, Brandt.
Illumination, noise, and radiant energy. A, B. Brandt
and H. 3. Seifert.
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Heating, ventilating, amd air conditioning. A. D. Brandt.
Part III-- The nar.nower problem..
Maximum use of manpower, P-. H. Plinn.
''omen in industr-. H. ?. Brin ton.
Absenteeism.
H. Gafr-fer.
SAPS LIMITS CB IZF.C1P.Y ABB CBP.CMAUZS IH All. HCP.X PL^CSS; FBOSnCTIOlT OF VfOPgBBS AC-AIH5U BIoZlSB ABB ACCIBSHB KBLP S HAP. PPCBUCBIC:: IJOYIITG. P. A. Neal and F. h. Goldman. Ini. Stan.Bc.rdization. lU , 19-SO (lAar. 1343).'
Standards for allowable concentrations of chronic acid and chromates (Z37.7-134J) and -mercury (237. S-lphl) are now available from the American Standards association, ?$ 'vest 3$th Street, Hew "fork, H. T. , at a price of 20 cents each.
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GOVZ?:':.ITT'S OSLIGATTOIT IS INDUSTRIAL HEALTH, W. F. Draper. Hew Zr.gl. J.
Led.. 22Z7177-179 (Pet. 11. 1SU3).
"
"Perhaps the most far-reaching obligation of the Public Health Service ir- to co-orr.in-.te the health-conservation activities of industry, labor, ; \ieir.e and interested government agencies."
ILDUS THlAh PfllSu ACTIVITir.S I" TES PU3IIC S5<H SZR7IC3. J. G. To \r. s er. d. Am. v7. Pub. Health, jQ, 3?h-3L9TApr. 1$JT
Summarising the work of the V. S. Pvbl.ic Health Service, Dr. Sown send presents a comprehensive picture of the place of .governmental industrial hygiene, National, State, and local, in this ...-.r period. He discusses briefly the scone of National activity, including recruitment and training of personnel, service to industry or.d labor, investigations into optimum hours of work, research, in aviation medicine sad toxicology of explosives, studies or. "entilation for control of benzol and toxic solvent exposures, studies of plant medical facilities, the survey of the duties of nurses in industry, the program of H-ra-7 examinations for the detection of tuberculosis in industry, publications which have been issued or are in preparation, and other problems and programs.
ISH'LAL PROGRAMS I" YJ& I'TDUS'TEIPS. L, D. Seacock, Dental Health, 2, 3-4,
22 l?eb. IS--j).
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The her! th of the worker has or. important hearing on the speed and efficier.c" with v/hich v'?.r materials are produced. Dental disorders, directly or indirectly, cause the loss of working time that cannot be spared if maximum -/reduction is to be maintained. Therefore, the present emergency dcm-nic that work:rs ir. v.r.r induetri-s be assured of good oral kuziene ar.c. freedom from pain and infection through a well-planned and s*`stematic dental urogram.
OPTIMUM HOURS C? WORK. J. G. Townsend. Abstract of a speech presented at
the -ifth Annual Congress on Industrial Health, Chicago, dan. 11-13. 1943; J. Am. Led. Assoc., JgL, 853 (March 13, 1943).
This paper discusses the -work of an advisory committee of government officials, which, together with industrial labor, has made recommendations on hours of work, and has prepared a check-list of questions which plants may ask tr.f-:..selves in order to determine whether their working hours are the optimum, hours for their 'particular t'*~>e of work. The check-list is designed to bring out the to' afcior.ship between hours of work and accidents, Absenteeism, labor turnover, discipiir.ar"' cases, grievances, output per worker, quality of work, rate of spoil.usa, rejects, etc.
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for otherwise, after an employee had been exposed to the hazard for years and
the seeds of occupational disease had been sown in his body, his employer could
discharge him and thus avoid compensation liability for a resulting disability
which might reveal itself shortly, or even immediately, thereafter. Affirmed.
McIntyre v. E.J. Lavjno k Co. at al. Penna. Supreme Ct. Decided March 23,
1942. (CCS).
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346 Occupational Disease Hernia. Alleged Forfeiture of Right to Compensation Be
cause cf Refusal of Operation. Finding of no Aggravation of Hernia by Prior
Non-Conpensable Disease. Award Sustained.
Plaintiff while employed by defendant, suffered a hernia. Defendant furnished
a truss and plaintiff returned to work. Ho worked one day when he was taken ill
with a recurrence of Malta Fever, a disease about which defendant knew at the
time of plaintiff's employment. Upon return to work, defendant offered him an
immediate operation for hernia which plaintiff refused because of his recent
serious illness.
Plaintiff applied for compensation and operative correction
because of the hernia, under the occupational disease part of the compensation
act. The commission found that plaintiff suffered from an occupational disease
hernia and allowed plaintiff* s claim for total disability. Defendant contends
that plaintiff forfeited his right to compensation because he refused an opera*
tion for hernia, when such operation was recommended by his own doctor.
The
rule is well established that if the operation is not attended with danger and
if the operation offers a prospect of restoration, then he must either submit to
the operation or release his employers. All doctors testifying agreed that
plaintiff is a less than normal operative risk. The record sustains the finding
of the commission that it was not only inadvisable, but also dangerous for plain
tiff to undergo an operation for the hernia, and the commission* s holding that
plaintiff did not waive his right to compensation because he refused an opera
tion.
The commission also found that plaintiff's disability was caused by an
occupational disease hernia arising out of and in the course of his employment,
and the evidence also shows that the fever was not a contributing factor in the
discontinuance of plaintiff's employment. The record contains ovldenee to sup
port this finding. Moreover, there is evidence in the record to sustain the
finding that the disability caused by the hernia was not aggravated by the Malta
Fever.
Award affirmed. Coombs v. Klrsch Co. Mich. Supraao Ct, Decided
March 17, 1942. (CCH).
347 Linotype Operator Gets Dermatitis from Lead Alloy Fanes.
Linotype machines require a melted lead alloy from which the type is made. In
the plant where claimant worked as a linotype operator, pots electrically heated
were used in connection with the machines to melt the metal. There was no appar
atus to remove any fuses that resulted. The pots were closed except when the
metal was put in. The claimant had to open the one attached to his machine for
this purpose, and at times when readjustment was necessary, he also bandied
sticks of type which had not cooled. He developed a dermatitis. Teats Indicated
that the dermatitis resulted from the fuses volatilized from the melting anti
mony which was one of the elements in the lead alloy, and from handling the hot
type. The claimant was found to be unusually susceptible to the hazard which
caused the dermatitis.
An award was granted. The dermatitis was held to he
compensable as an "occupational disease" notwithstanding the fact that only an-
,ployees unusually susceptible would suffer from it, Le Lenko V. Wilson H. Lee
Co. (Conn.) 24 Atl. 2nd 253 (January, 1942). Occup.^Hazards, 4 27 (Apr.,1942).
343 Heavy Lifting Causes Tuberculosis Flare-Up.
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A laborer while lifting a 300-pound bag of scrap complained of pain In his back and abdomen. It was found that the employee has suffered a linboscacral strain. Previously, the employee had a condition of quiescent pulmonary tuberculosis.
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The strain of the lifting caused the tuberculosis to flare up and resulted in
the death of the employee. The death was held to be compensable as being the result of an accident sustained in the course of employment. Jenkins v. A.
Abramson & Son. Inc. (N.J.) 23 Atl. 2nd 122 (October, 1941). Occup. 'Hazards 4 7-28, (Aprtl, 1942).
349 Employee Being Allergic to Cleaning Compound does not Prevent Dermatitis Award. The employee developed a dermatitis from the use of a certain cleaning compound. The evidence showed that the claimant was allergic to the substance contained in
the cleaning compound and consequently was more susceptible to the development
of a dermatitis from it than persons not having such susceptibility. This did
not prevent an award.
Under the Workmen*s Compensation Act, providing com
pensation for injuries caused by accident or disease arising out of employment, any disease that is caused by an employee's work becomes compensable notwith
standing an allergic tendency of the employee to the conditions that made the disease possible. Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. v. Industrie! Com. (Ylis.) 1 H.W. 2nd 8C2 (January, 1942). Occup. Hazards, 4, 26 (April, 1942).
350 Occupational Diseases and the Law. J. D, Dorsett. Pamphlet, 21 pp. (Jan.,1942).
The paper is a transcript of a lecture delivered January 12, 1942, as part of
the course on Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, at the Center for
Safety Education, New York University. Mr. Dorsett discusses the legal rights
and obligations of the employee and the employer after the foxmer has suffered
physical injury as the result of hazards incident to his employment. The fcis-
tory of occupational disease compensation in the United States is traced briefly,
with accounts of the important cases that led to changes in the laws. Ths defin
ition of occupational disease is discussed. A list of states is given in which
diseases are (1) scheduled or specifically described, (2) defined in general
terns, and (3) undefined. The problem of dating of compensation is discussed
and varied interpretations in different states ore given. Especially in the
case of dust diseases, the problem of accrued liability has also arisen, and the
experience in New York State with the unworkable law of 1935, leading to the en- -
actment of Article 4-a of the present law, covering accrued liability by gradu.
ated benefits, is described. Similar laws have been enacted in several states,
and a modified plan has been in force in Pennsylvania, adjusted in 1939 so that
the State pays a part of the compensation directly when the disability aoorued
from a time before the law was passed; the low applies to other dleeasea in
addition to silicosis.' The procedures of Ohio and Washington, calling for divid
ed compensation, have led to difficulties which have not as yet been altogether
adjusted. The North Carolina plan by which full compensation may be waived by
employees who are mot fully disabled, is discussed. Definition of "accident" is
also not a simple matter, and state laws vary in their ruling on the meaning of
accidental injury. The trend, at least recently, has been toward the enactment
of well considered laws; however, not only good laws, but good administration,
aro essential. The author closes by stressing prevention of accidents and occu
pational diseases as solution cf the problems, and recounting the pert of legis
lation, government bureaus, the insurance companies and other organizations In
furthering prevention.
03118173
351 All-Inclusive Coverage of Occupational Diseases under the New York Workmen* s
Compensation Lawl Anonymous. Internet. Lab. Bav7. 45, 157-165 (1948). After a short survey of plans for occupational disease compensation, the author
describee the New York system, under which 27 occupational diseases were origin ally compensable and In 1935 a paragraph covering "any and all occupational dis eases," was added. In 1936 silicosis and other dust diseases were included. In 1938 the definition was stated to cover "conditions which attach to an occupation
a hazard which distinguishes it from the usual run of occupations and is in ex cess of the hazard attending employment in general." Conditions compensated
P
Industrial Hygiene Digest - 6.
under this definition include hernia, facial paralysis, Dupuytren's contraction,
bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis and infectious diseases, especially among nurses and attendants in hospitals. The number of cases of compensated diseases increased from 694 in 1935 to 1775 in 1940, but the number is still less than 3$ of compensation cases from all causes. A large proportion of the cost of occupational diseases is caused by the high compensation cost in deaths and permanent disability from silicosis and other dust diseases.
352 Death from Disease Caused by Bacillus Bnteriditis Held Compensable under Work
men' s Compensation Act-! (Utah Supreme Court; Aadreason et al. 7. Industrial
Commission ct al., 100 P. 2d 202, Decided March 13, 1940; rehearing denied
May 31, 1940, 102 P, 2d 894).
An employee of an animal by-products company, whose duties consisted of shinning
and butchering animals, died as a result of contracting a disease attributed to
bacillus eateriditis. Ills widow sought compensation under the Utah workmen's
compensation law for herself and her minor children. The illness from which the
employee died was uncommon and rare, and there were no other known cases in the
State. The disease was one that was acquired from contact with diseased animals
or diseased moat. There was no evidence that the deceased came m contact with
any diseased animals except at his work. The statute provided for compensation
for the injury or death of an employee "by accident arising out of or in the
course of his employment." The law also statod that "personal injury by acci
dent arising out of or in the course of employment" should "not include a dis
ease, except as it shall result from the injury." The Utah Supreme Court said that two questions confronted it, namely, was the disease an accidental injury,
and, if so, was it contracted in the course of the deceased's employment. These
questions were answered in the affirmative.
The court was of the opinion
that under the compensation, law an injury arising out of an accident was not
limited in meaning to the result of the application of physical force to the
body of the injured. An accidental injury might well be expressed as a disability
happening by chance or unexpectedly but must, however, be connected with the em
ployment. We do not wish to imply, said the court, that, because one becomes
ill while at work, the statute applies to him, even though it may be that he be
came ill unexpectedly. "That alone is not sufficient to make this ease one of
an accidental injury. There must bo a causal connection between his employment,
or his place cf employment, and his illness -- something which happened to him
in the performance of his duties, or some contact ho made at hie place of employ
ment while on duty there -- which forms the connecting link between his employ
ment and the contraction of the illness. And, we might add, which is not an
occupational disease." Respecting the legislative provision, above-mentioned, relative to personal injury by accident not including disease, the supreme court
referred to one of its prior decisions in which it had been stated that the pur
pose of the legislature in so enacting was to eliminate occupational diseases.
Relative to the evidence, the court stated that it believed that there was
only one reasonable inference to be drawn and that was that the deceased con
tracted the disease in the course of his employment.
The court held that, so
far as the questions suhmitted to it were concerned, the dependents of the de
ceased were entitled to compensation. Pub. Health Rents..57. 551-552,(Apr.1942).
Book Reviews
03118174
353 The International Labor Code -- 1959. Price $5.00, 920 pp, (December, 1941). This volume is a codified edition of the Conventions (Treaties) and Reoonnondations adopted by the INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE during the period 1919
f ET
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Industrial Ifygiene Digest - 7.
through 1939. It includes explanatory and bibliographical annotations as well
as numerous appendices embodying other standards of social policy adopted under
the auspices or with the cooperation of the International Labor Organization.
There are twelve books in this single volume, dealing respectively with Em
ployment and Unemployment; General Conditions of Employment (wages,' hours of
work, weekly rest periods, holidays with pay); the'Employment of Children and
Young Persons; 'the Employment of Women; Industrial Health, Safety and Welfare;
Social Insurance; Industrial Relations; the Administration of Social Legislation;
tho Conditions of Work of Seamen; Standards of Colonial Labor Policy; Migration;
and Statistics.
In addition to the full bibliographical references there is
a large amount of material relating to the ratification, application and inter
pretation of the I.L.O. Conventions.
The material contained in the IOTSl-
KATIQUAL LABOR CODE has never been available hitherto in any convenient and gen
erally accessible collection. This valuable work of permanent reference is now
being made available to students of social legislation and international law as
well as to officials responsible for the administration of social and labor law
and to those who may be called upon to make dehiled plans for post-war social
reccnstruction, national and international.
354 29th Annual Report of the Secretary of Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30. 1941. Washington, 1942, 165 pp. A large portion of this report concerns matters outside tho scope of this Digest, but the listed accomplishments of the Department in the field of industrial health deserve consideration. Tho National Committee for the Conservation of Manpower was organized to meet the expanding health problems necessitated by an increase of over 20$ of employee hours in defense industries. It built up a safety personnel of approximately 400 safety experts, and helped develop defense
safety engineering in colleges and vocational schools. The conferences of labor legislation, bringing together representatives of the states, caused an increas ing degree of uniformity and effectiveness and a full cooperation in making rules and regulations. Federal and state inspectors often work together, for instance, in inspection of the clothing industry in California. The interest of trade _ unions in industrial health and safety has been awakened.
355 Standard Bodyparts Adjustment Guide; Traumatic Cases. Occupational Diseases. Dis
ability Evaluations. Medical Fees, Statutory Digests. 115.00, including ton
years* revision service. Insurance Statistical Service of North America,
Chicago, 111.
A useful loose-leaf manual which provides a very convenient presentation of the
legal and medical aspects of evaluation of disability and injury and disease
compensation. The medical material, particularly the anatomical charts, are de
signed to be used by lay persons -- both in management and insurance -- and are
very clear and concise. The section on medical fees should be of value to all
having compensation problems. There is a handy arrangement of data on occupa
tional diseases, listing the nature of the hazard and its symptoms, and a summary
of the statutory regulations governing compensation in the States and Federal
divisions.
03118175
Industrial Health Hazards and Their Effects
356 Dust Problems in Industry as Related to the Coroner. C.O. Sappington. Ind.Med., U7 127- 13CT (March, 1942 N Dr. Sappington discusses briefly the diagnosis of silicosis, with especial refer ence to the coroner's problems. Ho discusses 3 cases in considerable detail, in .
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Industrial Hygiene Digest - 8.
which wrong diagnoses were made by the autopay surgeon, and points out where the mistake lay. The essentials for correct diagnosis of silicosis are reiterated.
357 Lead Exposures In the Printing Industry in Virginia. R.T. Homewood and H.J. Worsham. Ind. Med.. 11, (Ind. HyK.~~Sect^. 3). 166-188 (April, 1942). A surrey of lead exposures was made in 16 job printing and 9 daily newspaper plants in Virginia. Precipitator air samples and urinary samples were taken with special precautions to avoid contamination and lead was determined in both by the ditto zone method. Atmospheric lead concentrations were generally within
allowable limits in linotype, monotype, composition and press departments. How ever, in drossing and sieving operations concentrations as high as 955 mg. per 10 cu. m. were found. These operations are worse in newspaper plants than in job printing plants on account of the larger quantity of metal used. The urinary excretions of the -workers engaged in these operations showed values that also
indicate an unusual exposure to lead. On the basis of these findings recommenda
tions for control measures have been made,
358 Commercial Talc, Animal and Minoralogic Studies, R.Z. Schulz and C.R. Williams.
J. Ind. Hyg.
24, 75-79 (AprilT 1942).
r Petrographic analysis showed that In certain "talcs" carbonate and serpentine
decreased as the experiment progressed. Such "talcs" are to be preferred from
the health aspect, inasmuch as a smaller amount of material is more of less per
manently stored. The greatest amount of fibrous tissue was developed in t%k
presence of the two "talcs" which contained the least carbonate. "Talcs" it
this type should be avoided wherever possible, but when these are essential*
methods of controlling the dust should be employed.
359 "Lastera* Disease" (Spasm in Einger Capillaries in Workers on Lasting Machines]. a7 SchraST Deutsches Arch, f. klin. Med.. 187. 491 (July. 1941), (German). Abstr. from J. A. M. A. 118, 850 (March 7, 1942). This condition, characterized by spaaas in the capillaries of the fingers, is an occupational disorder which develops in constitutionally disposed workers os lasting machines as a result of irritation and cold. The reaction is local and not of central nervous origin, although the entire nervous sy8t may become irritated if it persists for a long time. Therapy is ineffective as long ss the same work continues. If the job is changed, improvement results, but symptoms may persist for a long time. Treatment with diathermy and with alternating baths offers good results except in cases of severe disease in which muscular and articular parts are involved. Since alcohol and nicotine are vascular poi sons, these patients must abstain from them. Young workers are acre prone to
the disease. In factories with modem, non-vibrating lasting machines and automatic holding devices, lasters' disease has completely disappeared.
360 Puimnnary Aspergillosis. J.M. Donaldson and others. I. Lab. & Clin. Med., 27.
740-746 (March, 1942). A case of pulmonary asporgillosi3 is presented with a discussion of the mode of infection, pathology, symptomatology, x-ray picture, diagnosis, and treatment. It is emphasized that aspergillosis has a distinct relationship to certain occu pations. It is most commonly observed among bird fanciers and pigeon staffers who feed the birds from their own mouths. This occupation affords s double haz ard in the infected birds and the contaminated grain. Other occupations in which there is a prolonged exposure to grain dust, such as occurs in farming, milling, threshing, and sponge cleaning afford ample opportunity for infection with this organism. It is likely that often repeated massive dosage is the chief factor in the pathogenesis of this disease. Asymptomatic cases have been
found upon routine examination of iron workers in certain localities. Potassium
iodide is the principal therapeutic agont.
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Industrial Ifygiene Digest - 9.
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361 Health Hazards in Steel mils. J.W, Fehnel. Presented at Amer. Ind. Hyg. Asso Convention, Cincinnati, 0,, April, 1942.
The operation of a by-product coke plant presents the hazards of coal-tar dis tillates, lime and acid burns, ammonia and carbon monoxide gas. Employees at blast furnaces are constantly exposed to varying concentrations of carbon mon oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Casting floor workers are exposod to the sulfur gases. Many of these people aro exposed to high degrees of heat and radiant rays. Open hearth workers are exposed to carbon monoxide, and, in tearing down the furnaces, to siliceous dust. Employees on the pouring plat form and the ladle crane operators are exposed to the fumes given off by the
molten material, both from the metal ana the coal tar pitch lining of the molds. In producing alloys, many metals are added to the steel, among than nickel,
chromiian, ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, titanium, tungsten, and molybdenun. Fumes may bo excessive, especially in the case of electric furnaces. Carbon monoxde may be present in the vicinity of heating furnaces and soaking pits. Pickle and cleaning baths expose workers to the mists and vapors of a nunber of acids, alkalies and cyanides. -C*i
362 The Significance of Chemical Examination in the Diagnosis of Silicosis. L. TJ. Gardner and A. J, Redlin. Presented at Amer, Assoc, of Ind. Phys. k Surg., Cincinnati, 0., April, 1942,
There is an alarming tendency to attribute diagnostic significance to the pre sence of silica in tissues without regard to its state or to associated aaatoaical evidences of disease. An autopsy Is performed to determine the presence of
pathological lesions; in their absence the demonstration of even great exo#ases of a non-poisonou3 irritant like silica is without meaning. The reasoning res ponsible for this tendency is based upon two such obvious fallacies thgt Site
necessity for even discussing the subject is rather surprising. Because tissues from cases of recognized silicosis generally reveal large amounts of total sili ca, often in excess of 1 per cent of the dry lung, the converse is assumed that a large amount of total silica must mean disease. Because the total silica re covered from silicotic lungs usually includes enough free to have caused pulmon ary fibrosis, the total silica content is accepted as a standard in this con nection although in all others only free silica is considered significant.
This paper demonstrates the ranges for total silica in 56 lungs with no known exposure, in 20 with significant exposure but so microscopic evidence of sili cotic nodules, and in 72 with both exposure and classical lesions. Many of the
lungs with definite silicosis contained less than 1 per cent of total silica in
the dry tissue and some with larger amounts revealed no silicotic nodules. Other data demonstrates the difficulties of correlating exposure with the anoint or
character of the dust In the lungs. The more logical criterion of the free sili ca content of tissues is discussed with figures on 32 silicotic lungs illustrat ing the absence of correlation with total silica values. Finally, experimental evidence la presented which suggests the improbability of exact correlation be tween even free silica and pathological reaction. The free silica values may
be high, but an associated inhibitor mineral may have prevented irritation of the tissues; the values may be lowered in cases of advanced fibrosis due to di
lution with ash of the newly foimed tissue.
363 The Casting of Magnesliaa. C, R. Williams. Presented at Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc.
Convention, Cincinnati, 0. April, 1942.
With vastly stepped up use of magnesium, there are many new problems in foundries
handling this vital metal and its various alloys. Perhaps the most spectacular
of these is the fire and explosion hazard, but there should be equal concern
with the potential occupational disease exposures.
In general, the processes
are no different than those in any non-ferrous foundry. There are, however,
03118177
Industrial ifygiene Digest - 10.
HlfBB-0007529
several departures from standard foundry practice which introduce materials not usually encountered in foundries. Thus, in addition to the usual air contamin
ants characteristic of foundries, there may be water soluble fluorides, hydro fluoric acid, sulphur dioxide, chromic acid, carbon tetrachloride, magnesium oxide, and magnesium metal -- and this list will probably grow as tune goes on. Data are presented as to concentrations of fluorides found in the vicinity of
several operations which may give rise to these compounds in air. In addition, concentrations of MgO and SO2 from pouring and "salting out" are reported. Diffi culties experienced as a result of these exposures and suggestions for overcoming them are presented.
364 The Metabolism of Fluorides. W. Machie and E.J. Largent. Presented at Amor.
Ind. Eyg. Assoc. Convention, Cincinnati, 0., April, 1942.
Mottled enamel, industrial fluorosis, Dannous, Geddur, and fluorine cachexia are
clinical abnomalities causod by the absorption of excessive amounts of fluoride.
Moreover, acute fatal poisoning has resulted from the ingestion of fluorides.
The existence of these problems of public health and industry has occasioned in
-3 vestigation of tho behavior of fluoride in the bodies of hvman experimental sub
jects.
Balance experiments have established levels of intake and output of
fluoride with the subject on a noratal diet. The urine was found to be the prin
cipal route of excretion. There was increased absorption and retention when
fluoride was added to the diet in different amounts (up to 25 times the oormal
intake). Within rather wide limits a relatively constant proportion of thS ex
cess fluoride was stored in the body. Absorption of fluoride in quantities up
to 1 aga. per diem was not associated with storage, but amounts greater than
2 mgm. per diem resulted in storage. The quantities stored were not released
and excreted after the intake was reduced to noraid levels.
The absorption
of fluoride is greatly affected by the aqueous solubility of the fluoride adt
ingested. Very large amounts of fluoride may be stored in the bones without the
appearance of roentgenologic changes, although the bones are abaoimd.
365 Silicon and Silicon Halogens. Queries & Minor Notes. J. Aa. Med. Assoc., 118.
857 (March"1942].
In reply to a query concerning industrid poisoning by "silicon gas," several possible fozms of exposure are discussed. Air-borne suspensions of the element
silicon might be construed a3 gaseous in the fume liberated on electric furnace
treatment. The fine particles of 3uch fumes collect as long cobweb-like stream
ers in flues, rafters, etc. It has been shown by
experimentation that
this form is inert and Incapable of producing tissue changes except phagocytosis*
The same was found true of coarser particles 1 to 3 microns is disaster. On the
other hand, some of the gaseous compounds of silicon are injurious. Silicon
tetrafluoride is a colorless, irritating gas. The tetrachloride has a suffocat
ing odor and is used in the preparation of smoke screens. Severd other halogen
compounds are (mown. Of the organic silicates that might be inhaled aa vapors,
ethyl silicate has been found to be highly toxic on injection into animals.
366 Bronchlogenlc Carcinoma in Association with Pulmonary Aabostosia. Report of
Two Cases. H.H.Hollob and A.Angrist. Am.J.Pathology. & 123-125 (January,1942).
Two cases are reported in which men between 40 and 50 were found to. have both
asbestosis and a primary carcinoma of the lungs. A table listing 10 reported
cases, collected from the literature, in which both diseases occurred, is pre
sented. The authors conclude that the data from 2 cases, with some reports in
the literature in doubt, are insufficient for a statistlcd evaluation, and that
caution should be used in ascribing carcinoma to asbestosis. In one case the
carcinoma was in a region least affected by asbestosis, but where carcinomas
often occur.
03118178
Industrial Hygiene Digest - 11.
acn
uf-rs>,
36? Non-Tuberculoua Conditions and Complications of Tuberculosis. C. J. Koerth and
otters. Diseases of the Chest, 8, 40-49 (February, 1942).
Most of the large number of non-tuberculous patients who are mistakenly admitted^
to tuberculosis institutions could have had proper diagnoses if sufficient time 30
had been given to the history and examination. Silicosis is the disease most *
frequently mistaken for tuberculosis. History of exposure, symptoms, physical,
roentgen and laboratory examinations must be obtained to make a diagnosis. The
paper includes a brief description, including reproductions of roentgenograms,
of 11 cases of several diseases admitted to the Woodmen of the World Hospital
with an erroneous diagnosis of simple pulmonary tuberculosis. Five of the cases
exhibit combinations of silicosis, silicc-moniliasis and silico-tuberculosis.
Salient points in differentiating such cases from ordinary pulmonary tuberculosis
are well brought out both in the discussion and in the roentgenograms. The
chief indications of silicosis are a history of long silica exposure, negative
sputum for tubercle bacilli, pinpoint nodular infiltration uniformly throughout
both lungs (in early silicosis) and physical findings less marked than such
symptoms as shortness of breath and weakness. The other 6 cases, treated brief
ly, include pulmonary carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphogranuloma, and abscess, aortic
aneurysm and thyrotoxicosis. In addition 2 frank pulmonary tuberculosis cases
are presented briefly to illustrate such complications as pleuritic effusion and
spontaneous pneunothorax.
366 Carbon Monoxide and Particulate Matter in Air of Holland Tunnel and Metropolitan Now York. W.P.. Yant and others. U.S. Bur. of Mines, Rapt, of Inves., No.3565, 66 pp. (November, 1941). A study of carbon monoxide and particulate matter In the air of the Holland tunnel, Its dissemination into the surrounding atmosphere, and how the concen tration in the air in the immediate vicinity of the tunnel compared with that
in air at other places. The concentration is estimated to decrease to about 109t of that at the point of discharge, within 50 feet, and to 2S& within 150 ft. The number of microcopically visible oil-immersion particles per milligram of partic ulate matter collected from the air of the tunnel was about 1500 million. The daily amount of tunnel-added particulate matter in the air when the traffic was about 30,000 cars was estimated to he about 33 pounds, or shout 7 grains per car.
369 Toxicity of Lucitons and Vernonlte. Queries & Minor Notes. J.A.M.A. 118, 1169 fMarch 38, 1942). Both of these materials, used in making dentures, are believed to he methacrylate resins. Deichmann's experimental results showing evidence of pathologic effects arc reviewed. The respiratory tract showed the severest damage and only local and temporary effects on the akin wore found. The possibility exists that the
prolonged absorption of small quantities may lead to the production of porphyrins
which through photo action may lead to dermatitis or othor physiological abnor malities.
370 Firedamp. R, Forstmann. Glueckauf,, 76. 595-608 (1940). (German).
Present knowledge of the causes of formation of firedamp (mothene) in coal mines
is reviewed. A study of gas movements In a mine was made by blowing ammonia in
to boreholes. Data for the methane content of the air at various positions in
the mine are presented, and possible methods of reducing the firedamp hazard are
discussed.
03118179
371 A Case of Poisoning by Hydrogen Selenldc. H.W. Sonf. Deutsche med. Wchnschr.,
67, 1094-1096 (1941), (German)'. The author gives a survey of the literature and reports a case of poisoning by pure hydrogen selenide in a chemist working continuously in it3 production. Signs and symptoms included flow of tears, coryza, hoarseness, dyspnea, purple rash on
r
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Industrial Ifygiene Digest - 12.
the cheeks, edema, thrombophlebitis in the calf, and finally a heart lesion. Seleniua could not be found in the urine or sputum.
372 Illnesses Caused by Turpentine and Its Substitutes. W. Hofbauer. Dermat.
Wchnschr7," 113, 821-824 (1941) (Germany.
,
'
Skin diseases are relatively froquent in persons working with turpentine or its
substitutes. In examinations of 31 patients the author found that substitutes
were the etiologic factors in 15 cases. Data are presented regarding exposure
to turpentino and to the substitutes, length of exposure, age, and the effect of
skin tests. Although some of the data are rather confusing, they indicate in
general that turpentine is more injurious to the skin than are substitutes, but
that the substitutes often affect the akin after sensitization to turpentine.
The author stresses the difficulty in obtaining the right materials for testing,
because the substitutes are often changed. The substitutes on which experiments
were conducted are those in use in Germany.
373 Poisoning by Triorthocresyl Phosphate. B. alt hard and K.M. Walthard. Schweiz,
Dtschr. f. Pathol, u. Bacterial., 4, 410-420 (1940),
In triorthocresyl phosphate poisoning the first development consists of serious *>? disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract lasting about 5 days. The later
effects developed 16-17 days later, starting with pains in the calves, followed
by paralysis of feet and legs, and later of arms and hands, with muscular atrophy.
The authors made observations in an epidemic in which 89 cases occurred. A num
ber of facts observed in the patients, confirmed by
experiments, lead to
tho conclusion that the pathologic changes are not situated in the peripheral
norves, as was believed previously, nor in the central nervous system, but in
the muscles themselves.
374 Pathology and Therapy of Phosgene Poisoning. E. Rothlin. Schweiz, med. Wchnschr., 71, 1526-1532 (1941). (German).
Experiments were conducted in order to determine whether phosgene penetrates the lungs and directly causes damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, etc., or whether " the lungs act as a barrier for the phosgene and the damages to other organs are consequences of edema of the lungs. Experiments were made with phosgene alone,
ergotamine alone and ergotamine followed by phosgene inhalation. They led to tho conclusion that the lung presents so invincible barrier and poisoning is general. Calcium therapy was found very effective in reducing the secondary con sequences in the surviving animals.
375 Ultraviolet Burns of the Eye. Queries and Minor Notes. J.A.M.A. 118. 1264
(April 4, 1942).
Increase of ultraviolet bums of the cyo is accompanying expansion of the heavy
industries. In the beginning of an attack of photophthalmie, iced appllcetions
are of some value. Cocaine is contra-indicated but one of the more recent
corneal anesthetics affords rolief. An antiseptic to prevent infaction of the
eroded area, is valuable. After 24 hours, heat hastens epithelial regeneration.
There are no known therapeutic agents of curative value, but the condition is
self-limited, provided there is/fntercurrent infection of
376 The Effect cf Standing in Daily Work -- A Suggested Method to Increase Efficiency. K. Zacharias. Zentralbl. f. Gcwerbohyg., 8, 119-122 (1941). (German). The author, a physician, discusses the exertion and fatigue caused by standing in many typos of work. He has invented a "standing support," consisting of a tripod with an adjustable tube and with a seat similar to the saddle of a bicycle. 'Kith this seat it is possible to work close to a machine in a half sitting, half standing position which is less fatiguing than "free standing."
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Industrial hygiene Digest - 13.
377 The Causes of Accidents; Experimental Contribution to the Effect of Fatigue.
S._Tovo. Raas. Had. Indust.. 12, 298-322 tI94lT. litallan).
8
The author gives a broad survey of the literature on the significance of physi
ological and pathological deficiencies, of fatigue, absence of mind, imprudence
inexperience, carelessness and alcoholism, as contributing causes to accidents.
The author then describes the reaction of Donnagio, by which fatigue and other
abnormal conditions may be detected chemically, and reviews the literature on
the subject. He examined 21 normal individuals and found an average reaction of
4 to 5 on an arbitrary scale of 68. A similar test on 107 workers as soon as
possible after a slight accidont gavo an average of 6.9, that is, slightly more
abnormal or fatigued than the other group, but in some the reaction fell to 0 a /T?\ few days later. Tho reaction normally was higher in the early morning and after
noon than in the late morning, and higher on Monday or Saturday than at the
middle of the week. About 14# of the men who had accidents were fatigued. {The
abstractor concurs in criticism that has been made of this paper, that it tends
to overemphasize the Importance of relatively snail results.}
378 The Influence of Atmospheric Temperature and Humidity upon the Dryness of the Oral Mucosa. C.E.A. Winslow, L.P. Herrington and J.H. Nelbach. Am. J. Hyg., 35. 27-39 {January. 1942).
e The condition of the oral mucosa as affected by surface moisture was studied by weighing the quantity of moisture absorbed by small discs of dried blottir* paper, applied to the back of the throat for a period of 5 seconds. Obeeiymtions before and during exposure of subjects to various temperatures and di ties showed that the drying effect of the respired air is a function of ltd vapor pressure. With pressures above 0.4 inch of mercury the mucosa im Hit* tively moist, but with vapor pressure below 0.4 in. there was a narked tXftag of the mucosa. No evidence is presented to show that such drying is harmful, but it is pointed out that if the effect is to be controlled, a relative timidity of over 50# is necessary with ordinary room temperatures of about 70f.
379 Zinc Poisoning. T.E.P, Gocher. Northwest Medicine, 40, 476 (December, 1*41). Abstr. from J.A.M.A., 118. 1012 (March 21( 1942). The complaints that follow exposure to the fuses and dust of zinc oxide, ohrom
. ate, sulfate and chloride are enumerated. They arc deimatitis of the trunk and
of the upper parts of the thighs, conjunctivitis, chills, gastrointestinal up- sets, chronic enamia after about six months of exposure, bolls and eczma. Mo permanent disabilities were observed, but a certain mmber of men retained a distinct susceptibility and allorgy to zinc salts.
380 Comparative Effects of Propylene Glycol and Some Other Agents on Oxygen Commo tion of the Organism. W. Van Winkle, J.Lab.fc Clln.Med.7 27. 970-773. fMar. 1942).
Propylene glycol was found to depress the oxygen consumption of white rate, this
depression not being due to a decrease in activity, since the depressions of pentobarbital and chloral in the same rats did not significantly decrease the oxygen consumption. These results on whole animals are in agreement with previ ous results on Isolated liver perfused with propylone glycol, which else showed
a decrease in oxygen consumption. The doses of propylene glycol used were be yond those likely to be taken as solvent or vehicle In food or medicinal agents, but the depression of oxygen consumption could oocur with very large or toxic doses. This result is essentially of scientific importance, because the use of propylene glycol has a wide margin of safety.
381 Vitamin A Concentration In Hat Liver During Recovery from Carbon Tetrachloride Cirrhosis! C.Haia and J.Post. PTOC.Soc.SxnerTBioi.a: Med.. 48. 710-717 (Dec.1941). The authors showed that the liveis of rats recovering from carbon tetrachloride cirrhosis contain much less vitamin A than do livers of normal rate os the seme
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382 Wax Industries Face Hew Hazards. L.E, MacBrayne. Factory Man, it Main., 100,
72," 196 (March, 1942^
-----
Among the increased hazards that may be attributed to wartime production axe the
introduction of potentially dangerous chemicals new to the plant's experience;
stepping-up of a hitherto safe process to the point where it becomes hazardous;
lowered vitality caused by fatigue because of long hours and overtime work, and
consequent inefficiency. A number of specific examples are described. A dis
cussion of sick absenteeism is also included.
383 Prevention of 111 Health in Industry Using Toxic Chemicals. J.M. Foulger.
Presented at Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. Convention, Cincinnati, 0., April, 1942,
The industrial physician has the great responsibility of maintaining good health
and, consequently, efficiency in production, of many thousands of workers in the
United States in industry, and especially in those branches making war material.
Fow operations can dispense with synthetic chemicals, which might be harmful.
While it is a definite fact that with care, common sense, and proper infomation,
any chemical can be handled without injury to health, the converse is also true.
Ignorance and carelessness may lead to serious injury from chemicals.
The
great number and variety of new materials now in use or being introduced dally
makes necessary a general picture of the physiological action of chmnicals,
which can be the basis of an effective program of preventive medicine. Such
general infomation has boon collected over the last four years by a study, of
thousands of examination records of workers, and many animal experiments, in a
variety of chemical exposures. From this data, a procedure has been established
for medical control of health in industries using chemicals.
This method of
study makes it possible to detect the effect of exposure to harmful substamess
at a stage at which no organic injury has occurred. At this stage, physiological
abnormalities can be removed easily by increased physical protection, attention
to the habits of workers, or a few hours or days of rest or temporary change of
occupation.
It is found that these early physiological changes (and subse
quent injury if these early changes are not given attention) depend, not only
upon the degree of exposure of workers in Industry (as controlled by physical
protection and proper medical observation), but also, to a very great degree,
upon the history of workers during the sixteen hours of the day away from their
industrial plant. Unnecessary overexertion during extremes of temperature and
humidity, prolonged automobile driving, especially in badly serviced and poorly
ventilated cars, improper nutrition, sclf-medication and injudicious treataent
with synthetic drugs, can make an otherwise normal worker susceptible to harmful
chemicals.
The maintenance of good health in industry requires close cooper
ation of employer, industrial physician, family physician and, very definitely,
the worker, himself.
384 Health Hazards in the Paint and Lacquer Industry. Nat. Paint Varnish & Lacquer
Assoc., Sci. Sect. Circ., Ho. 629, 319-322 (1941). Iron oxide, chrome oxide, ultramarine blue, barium sulfate and titanim dioxide are not toxic to man, and these dusts are act unusually irritating to the lungs. However, lead, arsenic, antimony and cadmium pignents are hazardous and require special precautions. Zinc pignenta are irritating when taken internally but their external effects are comparatively non-toxic. Toluidene reds, para reds and lake colors do not appear to have marked toxic effects. Fixaea and vapors from hot drying oils and resins are irritating to the eyes and respiratory organs. All volatile solvents, except water, that are used in the paint and varnish in dustry ore poisonous when present in the air in sufficient concentration.
385 Industrial Benzene Poisoning and its Remedies. D. Florentin. Ann. d'lfyg., Pub.
Indust, et Sociales, 18. 97-112 (194l). (French).
This is a general paper on benzene poisoning, including uses of benzene, method
of entrance into the system, and preventive measures.
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386 The Clinical Fonts of Benzol Poisoning, their Prognosis and Prophylaxis. Lechell and others^ Bull.et seauSoc.Mod.hop.de Paris. 567 553-558 (1941). (French).
The authors studied 47 cases of benzene poisoning in female workers using nearly pure benzene. 'Within, the first month some workers showed emaciation, intestinal troubles, hoadache, and sometimes fever. The authors term this fora "minor benzoiism." Then between the 48th and 120th days there appeared various forms
of purpura, menorrhagia, and metrorrhagia; serious cases developed with, or with
out fever, with tonsilitis and necrosis of the mucous membranes of the mouth. One such case ended fatally. The blood examination presented the picture of
hypochronic anoraia with leucopenia and hypogranulocytosis. In one case the red cell count was 870,000, the leucocyte count 2600, rising to 25,800 shortly be fore death.
387 Possible Urticaria from Solvent. Queries & Minor Notes. J.A.M.A., 118, 1169
(March 28, 1542).
Generalized urticaria in a dry cleaner using Skellysolv T does not seem to have
a direct occupational origin, although dermatitis, "naphtha jags," and rarely
chronic systemic poisoning do occur with this solvent, a petroleut derivative.
Pollens and other dust3 from clothing may be of greater significance. Contact
tests should be made utilizing high dilutions of acetone with the solvent,, and
water with the sodium hydroxide used in reconditioning the solvent.
-
).388 Cyanide Dermatitis. Queries & Minor Notes. J.A.M.A., 118, 935 (March 14, 1942 A treatment is suggested for cyanide dermatitis. Boric add ointment U.S.P. or wet boric acid dressings will act as a buffering agent keeping the pH in the
range from 0.6 to 0.6. If deep ulcerations have been produced, superficial debridement may be indicated.
389 Safeguarding of Health in the Plastics Industry. J.A. Cwarnings. Penna. Dept,
of Labor & Ind., Safe Practice Bull., No. 88 (1942). 8 pp. Dermatitis is the most common industrial hazard in the plastics industry. The most general sources of hazards are: (1) dust of molding powders, (2) fuaes from heating pellets in the molds, and (3) by-products formed when the solidified
product is machined. Protective and preventive measures include: (1) use of suction hoods leading to dust collectors; (2) personal cleanliness, and (3) use of protective creams or ointments and respirators. The manufacture of plastic molded bottle caps is described.
390 Specific Diseases in the Sugar Industry. E.E. Meyer. Higiene y Seguridad, 623-626 (November, 1941). (Spanish). Sugar crystals irritate the skin mechanically, and sugar In all forme has an irritating action, not only on the bare skin, but also when the clothes become impregnated with syrup or molasses. Usually exposure is followed by slight fever, chills and malaise. A localized infiltrated patch appears, end one or more extremely painful boils develop in a few days, with lymphangitis end adeiw itis. The boils open spontaneously and recovery is very alow. Apparently staphylococcus is the causative agent. The disease is frequent in new writers, but immunity usually develops within a year. Other ailmenta include a squamous dermatitis between the fingers and on the back of the hands, fermentation in the gums, and gingivitis. In extreme cases the teeth fall out after 2 or 3 years of work. Conjunctivitis and keratitis have been attributed to hydrogen sulfide vapors. The author recommends as hygienic measures, good ventilation, dust con trol, bathing .and washing facilities, drinking fountains, Instruction of work men, dentist's and medical service, adequate supply of clean clothes, and gen eral sanitation of the factory and of the workmen's houses.
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z-'sCTN 391 Elastlglass Dermatitis. I. Greenfield. Urol. and Cutan. Re?., 4, 120-122 i, u (February, 1942).
The acid gun e3ter of the resin used in chemically fabricated wearing apparel, especially clastiglass wristbands has been found responsible for cases of der matitis among persons who wore them. The principal symptoms were pruritus in the exposed area, followed by papule formation, erythema and edema. Heat and moisture were found to be important factors in the development of skin reactions. Recovery is slow, and contact of tho material with the skin of sensitized persons reproduced the disease within 24 hours.
392 Mango end Hualtcca Dermatitis. G.A, Paulson. Standard Oil Co., U.J., Med,Bull., 5^ 197-200 (February, 1942). The author describes a dermatitis caused by the mango and hualtoca plants, mem bers of the poison ivy family, found in northern Peru and other tropical coun tries. The chemical irritants are non-protcin3 and are found in the sap of the peel and the fruit stem of mango fruits and in the young leaves of the hualtaco tree. The wood may be handled with impunity.
393 Allergic Dermatitis with Small and Largo Vesicles, Caused by Parsley. K. a Huebschmann end J. Cupik, Dermat. ''I'chnschr., 115. 725-733 , 744-752, 766-776
(1941). (German). The authors found acute inflammation, of the skin of the hands and forearms, in the majority of female workers who prepared parsley in a canning factory. Purple discoloration was present in the affected parts, as were often extremely large vesicles, followed by purulent folliculitis and carbuncles. Fover and chills , were present. Rabbits were sentitized by injection of parsley extracts, and in these animals injection of tho sernrn caused a local anaphylactic reaction, only when the patients and rabbits were sensitized by the same kind of parsley.
I Methods of Detection and Determination
394 Magnesina Acetate as an Ashing Agent in Fluorine Analysis. W.E. Crutchfield. Ind. Eng. Ghent., Anal. Ed., 14, 57-58 (1942). In determining less than 0.1 mg. of fluorine in biological fluids some fluorine may be lost during the ashing of the sample. Many of the ashing agents recom mended in the literature are likely to contain fluorine. Some 2000 analyses were made with fair success when magnesium peroxide was used, but difficulty was encountered with some samples of food. Pure magnesium acetate prepared from electrolytic magnesium was found excellent. The blank is negligible and more concordant. In 64 cited results the greatest error appears to be 36.9$ in deter mining 0.284 mg. of fluorine.
395 A Portable Field Colorimeter fer Industrial Hygiene Use. T.R. Thomas and L. Silverman. Ind. Med., 11, (Ind. Hyg. Sect. 3,), 188-191 (April, 1942). A simple circuit portable photoelectric colorimeter containing combined absorber and colorimeter tubes is described. It is adapted to field or laboratory use for determinations by colorimetry, nephelometry or photometry. Examples of its applications are in the determination or detection of carbon dioxide, carbon di sulfide, chlorine, chromic acid, nitric oxides and trichlorethylene. Details cf construction and operation ere given, with illustration.
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396 The Pate of Solution of Particles of Quartz and Certain Silicates. P.H. Kitto
and H.S. Patterson. J.Ind.Hyg. & Tox.. 24. 59-75 fApril. 1942).
Experiments on the solubility at 36.9C. of quartz and silica suspensions of
particle size comparable to the dust in mine air are described, in which condi
tions of preparation of the samples have been carefully controlled and interfer
ing factors reduced to a minimum. The effects of varying pH, particle size, and
methods of preparation on the rate of solution of the particles are given. The
initial rate depends on many factors, but the final rate may be proportional or
nearly proportional to the radius. After some weeks the solution of the particles
reaches a very slow steady rate which is probably the true solubility of the un
disturbed surfaces. Experiments are mentioned on the depression of the rate of
solution and the removal of silica already in solution. The theory of the solu
tion of dusts and the results obtained ere discussed. The initial high rate of
/,----nj
solution is duo mainly to the "Beilby layer" and "edge" effects, and as these are dissolved the rate decreases rapidly. The intrinsic solubility of the finest
particles is probably higher, even when this disturbed outer surface has been
removed. -- Author's summary.
597 Shattering of Particles by the Imoinger. L. Silverman and W. Franklin. J.Ind.
Hyg. & Tox., 24, 80-62 (April, 1942).
A careful analysis of existing data on shattering of impinger particles by the
Greenbirg-Smith technic shows no conclusive evidence of shattering. Several
writers give results which indicate shattering, but thea. may be in error jue to
inadequate precautions against selective sampling. Other sources of error in
their observations are the failure to size all the particles and the use *t high
er than specified impingement velocity.
Experimental data obtained Shoved no
shattering of discrete small glass spherical particles and no significant change
in the mean particle 3ize of ground flint at the normal sampling rate. Aggre
/ gates were observed in both original and impinged samples. The number of aggre
gates did not appear to be significant. -- Authors' summary.
398 Immersion Method for the Rapid Approximation of Quartz in Industrial Dusts.
W.B. Wardlow. Ind.Med.. 11. (Ind. Hyg. Sect.. 3). 190-191 (April. 1942). As an auxiliary to the immersion method of quartz determination where speed but not great accuracy are essential, a method is described depending upon the change in refraction of quartz with wave length. If a quartz particle be Immers ed in a liquid having high dispersion and a refractive index for sodium light just equal to that of quartz, and illuminated by ordinary light it will appear
yellow-orange with a blue-green halo, Or vice versa, depending upon whether it is within or beyond the focus of the microscope. If a red filter is interposed, the quartz will have a higher index than the liquid, and the opposite if a blue . filter is used. In operation, two such- filters are used and there ere various
methods of comparing the particles. For particles over 20 microns, filters which transmit both red and blue bands permit the estimation to be made in one
operation and with a single filter.
399 The Occupational Disease Hazard. W.A. Cook. Ind.Med., 11, (Ind.Hyg.Sect., 195-137, (April, 1942). The author outlines the general methods of conducting industrial hygiene surveys. One point of the discussion is how much information can be obtained by general observation without instruments. The conclusion is that general obeervations on the part of experienced persons and applied with common sense serve to locate the severe exposures and aid materially in planning instrumental tests, but should not be relied on as a substitute for other tests. Obtaining information on length as well as severity of exposure is emphasized, and integrating methods
are advocated where possible.
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400 Procedure for Testing Cfra yaskj for Permeability. U.S. Bur. of Mines. Schedule 14E, 19 pp. (December 24, 1941;.
This schedule supersedes Schedule 14D, issued May 9, 19S5. It describes the standard tests for approval of the various types of gas masks, with directions for supplying and marking the material to be tested, schedule of fees, persons to be present at the tests, etc. Gas masks are classified into the following types: (A) for protection agsinet acid g\ses; (B) for protection against organ ic vapors; (C) for protection against ammonia; (AB, ABC etc.) for combinations of two-or more; (AE, BE, etc.) for protection against dusts or mists in addition
to the type of gas specified, and (N) for protection against all the contaminants
listed. The prinicipal tests given include resistance to air flow, machine tests, low-concentration and low-rate-of-flow tests, high-concentration and high-rateof-fl.ow tests, chemical stability, and man tests. Concentration, maximum leakage
and minimum life are specified for the general tests, and types of exercise end results for the man tests.
401 Determination of ^cetvL.ns. In the Air of Industrial Plants. E.A. Finkelshtein. Zavodskaya Lab., 9, 52-54 (1940). (Russian), A method was developed for determining small amounts of acetylene in concentra tions up to 0.005 cc./cu.n, of air. Two traps connected in series consisted of glass tubes 1.1 mm. in diameter and coils immersed in liquid oxygen and filled with 3.55 cc. of carbon, in grains 1-3 ran. in diameter. A mixture of acetylace and nitrogen was passed through the apparatus. Before each experiment the carbon was heated to 12Q-150C. and the gases were forced out. The temperature o# the gas over the carbon was measured with a copper-constantsn thermocouple andTkapt constant at 181-1830, The adsorption was discontinued after 1 cc. of nitntfn
had passed through the system and all gas had been expelled from the gasholder. The adsorbed gas was desorbed into Petri tubes filled with Ilosvay reagent* De
sorption took place at first on account of the heat exchange with the surround ing atmosphere, and finally the traps were heated to 100 by blowing with nitro
gen in order to obtain complete desorption, as determined by the absence of color in the- Ilosvay reagent. The quantity of acetylene was determined colorimetrically. At velocities over 10 1. per min. some acetylene passes into the second * trap. The presence of oxygen in the air has no effect on the results. The determinations require from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
402 The Rapid Polarigraobic Estimation of Lead in Urine. I.
Method.
G. Reed and V.A. Gant. Ind. Med.. 11. 107-109 (March. 1942).
Urinary lead may be obtained in Inorganic solution for polarographic analysis
(1) by ashing of the urine sample, (2) by ashing and dlthizone extraction, (3)
by precipitation of lead by entrainment and subsequent ashing, and (4) by pre
liminary electrolytic separation, according to the recent work of Baabech A
Cholak (Abstract No.831, October, 1941 Digest). The present paper Is confined
to the entrainment method. Entrainment with calcium oxalate was found more
satisfactory than with alkaline earth phosphates. The completeness of recovery
of lead by this method was demonstrated by determination of known weights of
lead added to the urine, and the possibility of an unprecipltatrable lead com
plex was ruled out by parallel experiments in one of which any complex would be
broken up by the treatment. After precipitation of the lead, the remaining
treatment consists of ashing the precipitate, dissolving In citric acid and
polarigraphing. The accuracy of the method is + 10%. Details of reagents and
procedure are given.
403 A Rapid Method for the Mlcroanalvsis of Lead. L.T. Firirhall and R.G. Seaman.
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 63, 3076 -3079 (1941).
'
The dithizone method has proved its usefulness in the determination of lead in
urine and other biological materials and in drinking water. However, * study
of the natural lead content of a sample of urine sufficiently large so that it
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Industrial Hygiene Digest - 13.
could tie determined by standard chemical procedure, as compared with, dithizone readings with small individual samples, indicates a notable disparity between the apparent quantity as measured colorimetrically and the actual lead content. *9 The aithizone values in a series cf experiments varied from 3.6 to 13.5 times the chemical value. A rapid micromethod for the determination of lead is des cribed which permits the objective separation and precise evaluation of minute amounts in drinicing water end in urine without the necessity of ashing. Full d tails are given. (Reprints are obtainable from the Division of Industrial Hy giene, National Institute of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.)
Control Methods ,---- i4
404 Sulfonamide Drugs as Protective Agents Against Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning. B.E. Leach & J.C. Forbes. Proc.Soe.Exper.Blol. &tfed. 48 . 361-563 (1941). The authors found that the oral adminietration of sulfanilamide reduces the
a mortality rate of rats and protects against liver necrosis in acute carbon tetra chloride poisoning. Sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine were also protective while sulfanilic acid afforded no protection. The last fact indicates that the pro tective action is in some way a function of the sulfonamide group.
405 The Removal of Carbon Dioxide from Rebreathing Apparatus. J. Adrlanl. J. Avia
tion Med.. 12 . 504-509~(December.r1941).
"
Hebreathing apparatus consists essentially of a closed system equipped with a
method for removing carbon dioxide efficiently. Two types are described, with
) special emphasis on the canister and the properties of its contents. Comparative
data are presented end considered from physiological, chemical and physical view
points.
406 Humidity as a Health Factor in Air Conditioning. F.W. Hutchinson. Heat. & Vent. 39, 22-24 (April, 1942). The present state of knowledge concerning humidity and health is very unsatis factory. There would seem to be little justification for the advocacy of humid ity control as a health measure. On the other hand, the possibility that unusual humidities may be decidedly unhealthful is sufficiently well founded to warrant the greatest hesitancy cm the part of the engineer in using air conditioning methods which result in unusually high or low humidities even though they may be within the so-called comfort zone. Within the comfort zone, the most important influence seems to be the inverse relationship which exists between that intan gible quality called "freshness" and the humidity of indoor air.
407 An Outline of Industrial Exhaust Ventilation. F.F. Kravath. Heat. 9t Vent., 39.
36-58 (April, 194277 A comprehensive guide (in outline form) to be followed in the deslgi of an indus trial exhaust ventilation system of any type, an explanation of each heading and subheading in the guide explained, profusely Illustrated, discussing the proper combination and sizing of the elements comprising a system. This Reference Sec tion is divided into two parts; the first being devoted to the technical phases of the subject; the second is made up of brief illustrated descriptions of a num ber of actual installations of various types of exhaust systems and covering a
fairly wide scope of industries and equipment combinations. A limited number of reprints of this 24-page section are available at 25 cents each, postpaid, from Heating and Ventilating, 148 Lafayette Street, New fork City.
._
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408 Ventilation and Dust Problems Associated with Deep Tunnel Operations in (Vtiwitn.
R.J.Owens. Presented at Amer.Ind.Hyg.Assoc.Convention, Cincinnti,0.,April,1942.
The Carlton Drainage Tunnel located at Cripple Creek, Colorado, and the Big
Thompson Water Diversion Tunnel located between Grand Lake and Estes Park,
Colorado, have held the attention of tunnel and mining men throughout the United
States for the pest few years.
The Carlton Tunnel was designed to "under
water" the famous Cripple Creek mining district. The bore was started at an ele
vation of 6,890 feet above sea level and extended underground for a distance of
31,600 feet. This is the longest tunnel that has been driven from one portal
without any addits rising to the surface for auxiliary ventilation. It wa3 anti
cipated that four years would be required in order to complete this project. How
ever, with modern equipment, the tunnel was completed two years and two days
after drilling began. Practically all existing world records were broken in
drilling this tunnel through solid Pike's Peak granite.
On two occasions the
tunnel was advanced 78 feet in 24 hours. The average dally advance for the month
of September, 1940, was 63.1 feet. The diameter of the bore was roughly 10 feet
by 11 feet. On February 20, 1941, after the tunnel had been driven 28,970 feet
a water course was struck which flowed 20,000 to 25,000 gpo for several days.
This water was saturated with carbon dioxide gas which diluted the air under
ground to such an extent that there was not sufficient oxygen to sustain life.
Changes in the ventilating system were made and "cracking" of the air line was
necessary to continue the operations. Shortly after this water was encountered
an epidemic of boils spread among the miners. A dermatologist from the Deia-
toses Investigation Division of the United States Public Health Service waitde
tailed to Colorado for the purpose of assisting and making a study of this
problem.
An underground filter was developed and installed to control the
gases resulting from the detonation of dynamite. Carbon monoxide ocncentmtlens
in certain parts of the tunnel exceeded 0.150 per cent and oxides of nitrogen
were found to be as high as 450 ppm. The filter temporarily controlled the gas
problem underground.
Many dust counts were made during drilling and
operations. Dust concentrations, while mucking was being done, were effectively
lowered from 325 mp/cfa to 10 mp/cfa by wet methods. Silica content of the gran- --
ite through which this tunnel was driven averaged SO per cent SIO2 or free silica
and 64 per cent total SiOg*
The drilling, mucking and other underground work
as well as surface operations are described, as is the method of taking blood
saturation of the miners and a close-up view of the bolls that developed during
the driving of this tunnel.
The Big Thompson Water Diversion Tunnel desired
to divert water from the western slope to the eastern slope under Cootinaatal
Divide, is discussed. This tunnel when completed will be 15.2 miles In length.
The method of driving this tunnel is comparable to that of the Carlton Drainage
Tunnel. Engineering data obtained from the Carlton Tunnel is being used to ad
vantage in driving the Big Thompson Tunnel. The Big Thompson Tunnel may be con
sidered as two individual tunnels which will meet approximately six and one half
miles underground, each half of the tunnel being similar to the Carlton Tunnel
insofar as method of drilling and problems which are confronting the operators.
409 Exhausting Asbestos Fiber and Dust in Wire Insulation Manufacture. Penna. Dept,
of Labor and lad".'f Safe Practice Bull., No.93, pp. 6 (April, 1942).
A description of the dust control system used in a plant producing asbeStoe-
covered wire. There are two general types of asbestos application here, one in
the spool form (to be used for braiding the outside of the finished wire), and
the other the ball or lap form of asbestos which is lossely wound on a reel (used
on the carding machines) and applied to the wire in the form of a felt. The re
sulting dust, if uncontrolled, is not only a health hazard bit, since it has a
decided abrasive action, is also deleterious to machinery and other plant equip
ment. The dust control installation described is considered a model of its kind
and has proved not only a safeguard for health bit has produced some revenue
from the salvage of waste fiber which previously had been lest.
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Industrial Hygiene Digest - 21. 410 Regearehes on the Prevention of Industrial Anthrax; the Disinfection of Animal
sur>-9y* iZass>
w ^ Hair by Steam. E. Hailer and K. Heickeru Zent. f, Sakt., 147. 209-252 (July "
7, 1941). (German).
=*
The efficiency of two types of steam disinfector for treating bales of animal *
hair was tested by thrusting into the bales a "spear" carrying a thermal element
and a capsule containing anthrax spores, the viability of which was tested at
the end of each trial. Bales of hair from various animal species from 20 sources
were examined. Under the ordinary working conditions the spores remained alive
in 72 of 127 tests, largely because the interior of the bale was not always heat
ed to the temperature at which sterilization is effective. The authors' recom
mendations involve unpacking the hair and sterilizing it at 104C in wire baskets.
This procedure increases the danger to the worker, and protective clothing should
:e worn.
411 Problem of Harmless Cleansing of Skin, ff. Burckhardt. Schwei2. mediz. Wchschr., 71. 1037 (September 20. 1941). (German). Abstr. from J.A.M.A. 118. 849 (March 7, 1342).
A discussion of the role of alkaline substances in the pathogenesis of eczemas. The results of experimental patch tests are reported and observations on patients with eczema caused by soaps show the offensive substance is not the perfume but always the elk&li. A sdarch was made for neutral skin cleansers to replace al kaline soaps. The author describes the properties of a skin cleanser the Active constituents of which are fat alcohol sulfonates. It ia effective and hairless. It is helpful in preventing eczema, particularly in persons whose skin. Is hyper sensitive to alkali and whose occupation involves frequent cleansing of the hands.
412 Cutaneous Detergents. C.Guy Lane. J.A.M.A. 118. 804-817 (March 7, 1942). An extensive article on the cleansing of the skin. Many points concerning the
mechanism are still controversial but an attempt is mads to indicate the most satisfactory explanations at the present time. In spite of the large amount of . material existing on the subject of detergents, many fundamental problems remain to be solved. Further elucidation of the process of cornificatioo of the skin would be valuable, as well as a study of the factors affecting penetration of detergents and other substances into the various layers of the skin. The exact action of detergents in the removal of soil and on the skin Itself calls for further investigation. The pathogenesis of a dermatitis from the use of deter gents especially, and the development of a reliable standard patch test or other tests to aid in the proper interpretations of the causal factors of such a derma titis, are subjects for consideration by laboratory and clinical workers. With further research on some of these subjects there would undoubtedly be developed
more effective and safer detergents and perhaps a more"effactive method of skin
sterilization without injury to the skin.
413 Dermatitis Control in a Mass Production Industry. T.F. Mooney. Ind. Med., 11. (Ind. Hyg, SectT, 3)," 191-193 (April, 1942). The four factors in dennatitis prevention -- personal cleanliness, elimination of irritant material from contact, use of protective clothing, and application of protective creams -- are discussed briefly, with special reference to their use in the Ford plant at River Rouge, These control measures, together with good housekeeping, have lowered the incidence of dermatitis to less thm 1 1/2
cases for each 1,000 of plant population per month.
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Industrial Medical Practice
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4l4 Dental Status of Adult Mine and Smelter Workers. H.P. Brinton, D.C. Johnston
and E.O, Thompson. Pub.Health Rents., 57, 213-228 (February 13, 1342).
Dental examinations were made on 2,365 adult male workers in 3 industries in
Utah. The D.M.F. (number of teeth with untreated dental caries, plus filled
teeth, plus missing teeth,) per 100 men was 1.446 among coal mine workers, 1.485
among metal mine industries, and 1.542 among smelter workers. The data for each
classification are arranged according to age groups. Missing teetti were frequent
among these adults; 15.5$ of all miners were toothless. Gingivitis affected
about 40% of the group aged 35 to 65. Pyorrhea shows a prevalence of more than
F3
30$ for the 15 to 34 age group and slightly over 65% for the men of 34 to 65 years. Forty persons employed in a lead mine showed a lead line,and all but one
of the 40 had gingivitis, and pyorrhea was present in 72%. The D.M.F. rates
3 for the younger miners were leas than for a group of 3351 employees of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company studied previously, but the difference is
-55 not significant when all factors are taken into account. There were some dif
e
ferences between the D.M.F. rates and between the incidences of the diseases, favorable to the young coal mine workers. The probable reason is the exposure
to lead of members of the other group.
415 Dental Services in Industry. H.A. Hooper. Xnd.Med., 11. 157-163 (April,1942).
The foremost cause of industrial absenteeism Is the common cold, and the second
is defective teeth and gums, accounting for about 25%. Several instances of the
prevalence of bad oral conditions are expressed in various ways; the number of
persons having defective teeth varies from 42% to 95% of the total included in
, > the particular survey. Some industries have made progress in correcting such conditions among their employees, but in the main, too little is being dona. The
average X-ray examination' does not include the teeth, and follow-ups when teeth -
ere considered are usually more desultory than insistent. A table of various
occupations shows the ratio between carious teeth and septic roots, on the one
hand, and common colds on the other, to be nearly constant. Another table shows
several other diseases to be more prevalent when mouth conditions are bad. A
long list of diseases attributable to bad teeth are given. A table of noa-occu-
pational causes of absence includes only a small percentage attributable direct
ly to dental conditions, but three types of disease directlv traceable to dental
conditions (arthritis, gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary), caused 67% of the
total days lost. Great improvement in general health of employees of one com
pany followed elimination of their mouth infections, and such clinics are urged
for all industries. They will reduce compensation because they will prevent dis
ease. Such a program requires the action and cooperation of the industrial
executive, the industrial physician, the private practitioner and the worker him
self. The greatest difficulty is in interesting the worker. Posters will help,
but education is necessary.
03ULS190
416 Periodic Physical Examinations in Terms of Results. R.M. Graham. Xnd.Med.,
11, 112-115 (March, 1942). Beginning in 1922, annual examinations of all the operating employees of the Pullman Company were conducted, and the author reports on the 1940 survey and a comparison with the earliest surveys. Comparisons are given for 16 wlasses of disease. Some of the most striking features of the report arei 10% increase
in defects or chronic diseases in spite of pre-employment examinations and per
iodic check-up; a decrease of active tuberculosis cases from 14 to 2; increase in hernia from 5 to 7%; and in general when there has been an increase, the con ditions are usually ttie result of chronic degenerative changes, or the diseases of aging.
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Industrial Hygiene Digest - 23.
417 The Influence of Vitamin B (Complex) Surplus on the Capacity for Muscular and J Mental Work. . Simonson and N. Enzer. J.Ind.Hyg. & Tox.. 24. 93-90 {Ap-rTiaaefr
The effect of vitamin B (complex) surplus (6 mgm thiamine, 80 mgm nicotinamide]! 8 mgm riboflavin, etc.) on the capacity for muscular and mental work was studied in 12 normal, healthy subjects and compared with a control group of 11 normal subjects. No effect of vitamin B intake was seen in 5 different types of ssus- S cular work. Vitamin B surplus increased the fusion frequency of flicker in 9 oP 12 subjects. The first measurable increase appeared after 3 weeks intake; the effect reached its maxi gum after.5 weeks vitamin B intake, and dropped to the
initial values during 4 to 6 weeks after cessation of vitamin B intake. All of the experimental group and only 1 member of the control group experienced sub
jective improvement of working capacity. A favorable influence on the capacity for all types of work characterized by fatigue of the central nervous system,
may be expected in the majority of normal healthy people if a considerable sur
plus of vitamin B (complex) is added to the normal diet. -- Authors' summary.
418 Cardiovascular Survey of Supervisors. H.L.Cook. Presented at the Amer.Assoc.of
Ind. Phys. St Surgeons, Cincinnati, 0., April, 1942.
This survey was begun to determine the incidence of cardiovascular disease in a
group of actively working executives and whether such a limited type of examin
ation could detect such disease processin its earliest stages.
The incidence
of abnormalities were:
Electrocardiograms
- 11.2? abnormal.
Blood pressure determinations - 7.6? abnormal.
Fluoroscopy
- 9,2? abnormal cardiac contone,
Auscultation
- 4? with significant munnui^.
Urinalysis
- 4? with positive finding__s*5
There were 13.1? of the entire group with one or more findings which deviated
from the normal. Individuals, presenting bundle branch block as the only abnor
mality or those exhibiting hypertension alone are certainly susceptible th aar-
diovasculer accidents. The eight cases with glycosuria should have definitely
benefited from this discovery. The knowledge that 37? of this group were, fit*
this limited examination, not candidates for cardiovascular accident# it comfort
ing knowledge. It is believed that the value of this work will be enhanced by
repetition because certain borderline cases can be checked for eonparlsoo and
the progress of definite abnormalities can be observed.
419 Hypertension in Workers over Forty fears of Age. Preliminary Report. A.M.
Master and S, Pack. Ind. Med.. 11. 145-147 (April. 1942).
The authors report an analysis of the data of blood pressure of nearly 5300 workers over 40 years of age. In 3665 males the Incidence of hypertension (150 cystolic or 90 diastolic or more) was 25.7? between 40 and 43 years rising to 35.7? between 50 and 59 years, and 52.8? between 60 and 90 years. The respective incidences in the 1788 females were 40.2, 51.3 and 71.4. These percentages are considerably higher than any published heretofore, but It is probsble that at least this incidence of hypertension holds for the general population. Hyper tension within certain limits is concomitant of the aging process. Since the span of life is increasing yearly it will be found that millions of peopl# in the general population have some degree of hypertension. Since hypertension is such a common finding over the age of 40, it should not be considered e sole cause of rejection for employment, unless it is excessive. This should serve to reassure both industry and labor.
420 Aphonia in Telephone Operators. Queries & Minor Notes. J.A.M.A. 118. 857,
(March 7, 1942). Loss of voice does not commonly occur as an occupational disability in telephone operators. There is no significant change after three years or more of service, careful inquiry reveals. Instances do not occur frequently enough to be e cause ff)T concern in the industry.
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Industrial Hygiene Digest - 24.
421 The Treatment of Face and Eye Burns with a Sulfhvdrvl Solution. A.E.Cruthirds.-a'
Ind. Med.t U, 109-112, (March* 1942).
Favorable results were reported in 43 cases of burns involving injury to the
eyes and other parts of the face, treated with, an aqueous solution of sulfhy- s
dryl, as described in Abstract No.13 (February, 1342). The outstanding advan-m
tages of this solution are: (1) the prompt alleviation of pain; (2) the foroa-f
tlon of a flexible eschar; (3) a minimum of scarring and contractures; (4) pre-ar
vention of infection; (5) complete lack of toxicity; (6) ease of application and
low expense, end (7) a rapidity of healing vastly more prompt than any other
bum treatments used by the authors.
422 Education in Industrial Heelth. S.J, Seeger. J.A.M.A., 118. 1017-1019, (March
21, 1342).
The objectives of industrial medicine may be in general beyond the field of the
average practitioner. There has been a lag in the absorption of the progress
in industrial hygiene and medicine on the part of practicing physicians due to
two factors: the extremely rapid development of industry and the failure of
medical educators to give proper emphasis to the training of students, both
undergraduate and graduate, and to assign to preventive medicine the place which
its importance justifies. There are shortages of personnel in the three pro
& fessional channels of medical service to industry. The medical and profession
a
al schools and medical societies are under heavy obligation to create or im
prove opportunities for training.
-
423 War and Industrial Health Control. D.E. Cummings. Ind.Med.,
(Ind. H^g.
Sect., Z) , 186-187 (April, 1942).
Many new workers are taking the place of those recruited for service, working
hours are being lengthened, and new toxic materials are produced* Therefore
the need of health guidance and protection of workers is greater than la normal
times. Government agencies have expanded their industrial hygiene divisions
during recent months. However, little has been done to Improve health service
within many essential industries, or even to insure the continuation of exist
ing facilities. Competaitly trained industrial physicians, hygienists, chemists--
or nurses should not be diverted from indispensable positions in industry to
types of military service which do not fully utilize these practically irreplace
able skills.
424 Interpretation of the Patch Test. O.L. Levin. Ind. Med.,
177-179 (Apr.1942).
This is an editorial calling attention to some of the precautions to be used
in making patch tests. Careful training in the technique is necessary. Differ
ent parts of the body of the same person differ greatly in sensitivity, so the
results on one portion of the skin are not necessarily conclusive as to the sen
sitivity of another portion. The areas tested should be as sear as possible to
tiie site of the inflammation but it should be remembered that the part of the
body may have been, further sensitized. A worker should be patched with all the
materials used in his occupation, and if all the responses are negative, other
materials used in his hone should he tried. The insulating material between
the chemical and the adhesive plaster which affixes it Miould be non-irritating.
Unvarnished cellulose and thin mica have been proved most innocuous. Whether
the tests are negative or positive, other factors besides the results must be
considered*
425 Why Industrial Disease Control is Important to Women Workers. M.T. Mettert. Occup. Haz rda, j4, ID-13, (January, 1942). The heavy influx of women into industry presents new problems in industrial dis ease control. There is a definite sex variant in illness. The National Health Survey showed that among men wad women workers 15 to 84 years old women
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experienced a higher sickness rate In every age group, the difference increasing
with age. Women are more susceptible to certain industrial poisons, especially
C' ! lead and benzol, the latter even producing a different reaction than in men, eo
Young women are also particularly susceptible to poisons affecting the nervous S
system, such as carbon disulfide. Among hazardous processes employing more x
women recently is dial painting with radioactive paints. There is some evidence
that women* s susceptibility may in part bo due to poor nutrition because of
lower wage scales,
426 Occupational Diseases of Bones and Jolnts> L. Teleky. Ind.Med., 11, 164-169
(April," 1942).
"
The author discusses all the bone diseases of any importance that are wholly or
partly occupational in origin, including phosphomecrosis osteitis of mother-of-
pearl, mottled enamel, and other effects of fluorine, the skeletal lesions of
caisson disease, skeletal injuries from overexertion. In the last category are
a number of deformities that are obsolete or unimportant industrially, but
g
"shovol.sickness" is cosmos and is discussed at some length. The effects of use of pneumatic tools are also discussed.
427 Report of a Joint Session Between the Subcommittee on Industrial Health and
Medicine. Federal Security Agency, and the Council on Industrial Health, Ameri
can Medical Association. J.A.M.A.. 118. 1228 (April 4. 1942).'
'
If it seems in the interests of workers and industry, an agency for the dissemin
ation of industrial health information will be created which will probably* bo
directly attached to the subcommittee. If industry is to absorb the products of
accelerated industrial health education, seme concomitant program of training
industry in the advantages of medical supervision over workers is iattepeaable.
The principal problem relates to small plants which are, or consider themselves,
unable individually to support medical and nursing programs.
423 Plant Hygiene Studios. Council on Industrial Health* J.A.U.A,, 118. 818-819, . (March 7, 1942).
This is the fourth article on a series on medical service in Industry. Ths prim ary function of the industrial physician is the location, identification and control of unhealthful occupational exposures. Plant hygiene studios have proved to be a reliable and inexpensive method of obtaining dependable data on which may be based a program of adequate control. The technic of making such a survey is outlined for the physician.
429 Occupational and Compensable Disease with Special Reference to Tuberculosis. LT Brahdy. ~Ind. Med.7 11, 147-15G"( April,~ 1942). The author compares the canpensation laws at the various states according to whether occupational diseases are ccmpensable and if so, whether by schedule or by blanket coverage. Compensation for tuberculosis is summarized as follows: ccmpensatlon is payable for tuberculosis (1) when it is caused by an injury which is itself is compensable, wherever there is a compensation law; (2) when caused by an occupational disease which in itself is compensable, whether blan ket coverage or a schedule prevails; and (3} when caused by occupational contact with tuberculous patients or bacilli. The last appliesifaere there is blanket coverage and in Massachusetts where occupational contact is specifically includ
ed. The methods of extending compensation laws are listed. The whole structure of compensation law and occupational health rosts with the medical data. When physicians fail to recognize the occupational origin of a disease, or incorrect ly class one as occupational, its prevention is impossible. All compensation laws acknowledge that physicians are the sole authorities in the field, and they
must accept the responsibility,
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430 Urology. Sane Industrial and Caapensatlon Aspects. A,,J. Greenberger and 11.E.
Grconberger. i'nT.Med^'. 11. 123-127 (March. 1942).
The authors discuss various phases of urology m relation, to compensation cases Thorough, examination and history taking have in many cases danenstrated non-occ pationsl causes, often infection, for injuries believed by the patient to be of occupational origin. The relationship of bladder tumor and renal calculi to trauma is illustrated with case presentations. Other subjects covered are tho relation of trauma to tuberculosis and to epididymo-orehitts.
431 Instruction in Industrial Medicine for Medical Students. T.L. Hazlott. Ind.Med,,
11, 115-116 (March, 1942).
'
---J The industrial medical profession in general has suffered from lack of respect
and has not assumed the responsibility that it should have, mostly because in
dustrial practice has been conducted by physicians who have had no training in
y--r-j
the field and who regard it aa secondary to private practice. The remedy lies in greater attention to industrial medicine in medical school curricula. A
separate course in industrial medicine should bo given all undergraduates, and
should include lectures on placement of the worker, routine role of the physi
cian in the plant, hazardous occupations and care of employees, both under haz
ardous conditions and in a general health program. Pield tripe should be made
to a vrell-organized industrial medical department. Such a course, preferably
a in the senior year, and covering even as little as 20 hours, would give a stim
ulus for future work. Graduate courses for specialists in industrial modicine,
on a par with other specialized courses, should be given.
432 The Status of Medicolegal Testimony. R.T. Johnstone. Ind. Med.,
104-106,
(March, 1942).
Before the advent of industrial medicine the service of tho ethical physician
was rarely demanded in matters of litigation, and the charlatan was more often
soon a the witness stand. How, however, a medical opinion is required in every
occupational disease case before an Industrial Accident Connission or similar .
body. Thero are three groups of cases roquiring medical testimony: (1) those '
in which the extent of disability from trauma Is questioned; (2) those involving
diagnosis of industrial poisoning, and (3) those involving tho speculative rela
tionship between an alleged traima and a subsequent disease. In compensation
litigation, medical testimony is derived from two sources, tho claimant*s physi
cian, usually the family doctor, and tho Industrial physician. Since the latter
appears more frequently in court, he is often accused of prejudice in favor of
the employer or insurance carrier. The author presents statistics and evidence
to disprove any contontion of prejudice, and to show rather that he ronders an
equitable decision in favor of the claimant in 98# of the cases ha examines. The
statistics, free California records, reveal that in consideration of the large
number of industrial cased in which he is engaged each year, he appears before
the Industrial Accident Commission comparatively few tlmea, thua dispelling any
insinuation that he is comparable to tho "professional'' medical witness of the
common courts. Finally, from the analysis of tho survey by the American Medical
Association, it is apparent that the insurance carrier la limited in the choice
of a medical witness in any given community when the medicolegal problem involves
an opinion regarding the industrial origin of tho claim, simply by the compara
tively small number of physicians -- 1,283 out of 120,000, who can be recorded
as competent in industrial modicino.
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433 Tho Nurse in Industry. R.Belden. Conn. Health Bull,, 56, 39-41 (February,1942). Tho functions of the industrial nurse, all leading to reduction of absenteeism, arc discussed b-.cfly; (1) knowledge of the raw materials used and products made, their potential hazards, and what workers are oxposod to that; (2) attention to illness from causes not associated directly with employment; (3) keeping accur ate records of absenteeism.
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434 The ScCTiomic Effects of Industrial Care qf Health, A. Marcus, Sentralbl. f.
Oewerbehvg.. 28. 113-119 (1941L (German).
The author first discusses the American data cm costs caused by illness and
accidents, showing that there are about 5 days disability through sickness and
non-industrial accidents annually per person in the'U.S.A.' The sickness insur
ance in a largo German plant shows 17 days of illness per worker. The author
estimated, the total loss of work time in Germany to be 1,5 billion work hours,
and the loss of production to be 15 billion R.M. The employment of factory
physicians is the most hopeful means of decreasing thi3 lost time. The regula
tions for industry and workers* organizations issued in Germany outline the
tasks of these physicians, who should be appointed in every factory. Their
duties include first aid, periodical examinations, advice to the management on
sanitary problems and to the worker in every question of health. They aro not
expected to treat workers except in first aid and certain physical treatments,
and should cooperate with tho family doctor. Yearly roports are sent to the
""Office of Health and Worker's Protection."
'
435 Diagnostic Procedure in Evaluating Industrial Dematosos. L.Tullpan and ?.A,
Glass. Ind. Med. ."ll."101-104 (March. 1942].
'"
The authors recommend definitions and tabulations for procedure in diagnosing
dermatitis, based on extensive experience. They define an occupational derma
tosis as any disease of the skin arising out of, during, or in the course ef a
person's work. This definition avoids tho word "injury". The procedure ifc eval-
1 uating causal relationship is presented in outline fcim. Pirst, the past mid
present history are to be taken, Sfcipbasis should bo placed on whether improve
ment of the eruption occurred on cessation of exposure and exacerbation occurred
on resumption of exposure. Consideration should be given to household and avo-
caticnal exposures. The next step, the physical examination. Include* examina
tion of the entire skin, and the mouth, and demonstration by the patient of his
daily work routine. A number of characteristics of the eruption are to be noted.
The technique, precautions and interpretations of patch tests are next discussed,
with consideration of "false positive," "false negative" aid "delayed" reactions.
A list of 21 classes of substances for patch tests, with recommended concentra
tions, is presented. Pinaily a careful evaluation and impartial opinion as to
causal relationship should tako into account all cf the findings described.
436 Tho Health cf the Worker in Industry In War Time. J.G. Cunningham. Caaad, Pub.
Health J., 32, 562^564 (November, 1341). In peace time about 25$ of all workers in industry have important physical de fects, and the number is now increased by the enlistment of fit persons and the
employment of hnndicappod men and wouon. Accidents are increasing, partly on account of new worisers, supervisors and methods of production, but they also in crease in seme industries whero these conditions do not exist. Sickness is more important as far as output loss is concerned, reaching 6$ of working tine. Pro
duction, howover, is a much more sensitive index cf ill health than lost time, as is shewn especially in the effect of Increased working hours* Tho Canadian Government is considering limiting men to 11 hours a day or 60 a week, and women to 54 hours per wock with 1 day's rest in 7. Night work is increasing, but fortnightly changes of lay and night shifts have increased output of production and decreased sickness absences. Occupational disease is increasing, due to in creased exposure. However, non-occupational illness remains the most Important curb on output. Tho incroosod noeds of modical inspection, preamploymont and
periodical examination, supervision of first aid and education in personal health arc stressed.
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INDEX (April, 1942)
determination. 401
394
Anthrax
410 . Gas mask testing 400
Aphonia, in telephone
operators
420
Asbestosis
366
Aspergillosis,pulmonary 360
Benzol
385-386
Bone and joint. occup. disease 426
Bums, therapy 421
Husidity, affect 378-406
Hydrogen selenide 371
Hypertension
419
Impinger shattering
397
Industrial medicine
economic aspects 434
education
422-431
report
427
testimony
432
Carbon dioxide 405
"Lasters' disease" 359
Carbon monoxide in mines
in tunnel
370 368
Lead
determination in printing
402-403 357
Carbon tetrachloride
Magnesium, casting
effect of Titamin A
363
381
sulfonamide protection Methacrvlato resins
404 369
Colorimeter, portable 395
Nursing, industrial 433
Dental service.
Paint industry, hazards
industrial 414-415
384
Dermatitis control cyanide diagnosis ' clastiglass mango parsley plastics
solvent
Patch tests
413 424
388
435 Phosgene
391 374
392
393 Physical examinations
389 cardiovascular 418
387 periodic
416
Fatigue
376-377
Fluorides, metabolism. 364
Plastics industry, hazards 389
Pronvlcne glycol
380
Quartz
Determination
398
rate of solution 396
Silicon
365
Silicosis
chemical examination.
362
coroner's problaas 356
tuberculosis
367
Skin cleansing 411-412
Steel mill health hazards
361
Sugar industry, hazards 390
technic
3#9-428
Talc
366
Triortbssaesd. ohesuhete 373
Tuberculosis compensation
429
Turpentine
372
Ultraviolet bums 375
Urology, industrial 430
Vitamin B effect on capacity 417
Ventilation 407-408-409
War industries, hazards 362-383-423-436
Wome in industry
425
Zinc 379
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