Document a1NGjwRZ4yQrrnvk7vZ8nn0QX

FILE NAME: Owens Illinois Library (OWL) DATE: 1935 DOC#: OWL013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Article from The Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology - The Mineralogy of Asbestos Dust & Relevant Abstracts THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE EDITORS DAVID L. EDSALL, M. D., S. D., United States EDGAR L. COLLIS, M. D., M. R. C. S., Great Britain VOLUM E 17 JANUARY, 1935--NOVEMBER, 1935 ii PUBLISHED BY THE WILLIAMS & WILKINS COMPANY Baltimore, Md. SUBJECT INDEX TO ARTICLES. VOLUME 17 This is a subject index to all the reading matter in the Journal of Industrial Hygiene, and one should, therefore, look for the subject word, with the following ex ception: "Book Notices'' are indexed under this title on page 305. The name of the author follows the subject entry in parentheses. For author index, see page 307. PAGI Air analysis, air-borne infection and sanitary air control (Wells)......... 253 conditioning, air-borne infection and sanitary air control (Wells)......... 253 pollution, ultra violet radiation through a smoky atmosphere (Bar rett)................................................. 199 Asbestos dust, mineralogy of (Hurlbut and Williams).................................. 289 Bacteria, air-borne infection and sanitary air control (Wells)....... ............ 253 Benzene, determination of, in air (Cook and Ficklen)......................... 41 Blood pressure, high, lead intoxication in (Vigdortchik). v ........................ 1 Bronchitis, pneumonia, and tubercu losis mortality rates in coal miners (Stocks)........................................... 217 Cakbo.v tetrachloride, toxic nephritis following exposure to (Dudley)__ 93 Carcinoma, lupus, unusual case of car cinoma following injury and im planted lupus vulgaris on left upper extremity (Goodman)....................... 276 Chemical compounds, irritating effects of,technic lor determining (Etc hells and Fabian)...................... 298 Chromate method of determination of traces of lead, effect of salts on (Middleton)..................................... 7 Ciironaximetric examination applied to lead workers (Lewy)................. 73 examination of lead workers in dif ferent exposures (Lane and Lewy). 79 Cold, common, treatment of (Diehl).. 48 Comfort zone for school children, (Par tridge and MacLean)...................... 66 B zr m a titis, see S kin D iseases Diseases, occupational, control of, by laboratory methods (Sappington). 21 Dost, asbestos, mineralogy of (Hurlbut and Williams)................................. 289 counter, photographic, for industrial health purposes (Ficklen and Ott). 164 filtering efficiency of nose in silicosis (Lehmann).......................................... 37 samples, analysis of, by x-ray diffrac tion (Bale and F ra y ).................... 30 TAGS Filtering, dust, efficiency of nose, in silicosis (Lehmann)........................ 37 F luorine storage following inhalation of sub-lethal concentrations of hy drogen fluoride (Machle and Scott). 230 G as, illuminating, factors influencing the lethal action of (Smith, McMil lan and Mack)................................ 18 Growth and activity of albino rat, effect of high concentrations of light negative atmospheric ions on (Herrington and Smith)................. 283 H askell Laboratory for Industrial Toxicology (von Oettingen).......... 174 Heat cramps and heat prostration in hot industries (Starkov and Jikesh) 247 H ot industries, heat cramps and heat prostration in (Starkov and Jikesh) 247 H ydrogen F luoride, exposure to low concentrations (Machle and Kitzmiller)............................................. 223 fluorine storage after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations (Machle and Scott)....................................... 230 H ypertonia, lead intoxication in etiol ogy of (Vigdortchik)...................... 1 Illuminating gas, factors influencing the lethal action of (Smith, McMillan and Mack)................................ 18 Infection, air-borne, and sanitary air control (Wells)............................... 253 Injury, lupus carcinoma following in jury and implanted lupus vulgaris (Goodman)........................... _......... 276 Impinger, electrical suction device for (Angus)............................... ; ____ 114 Industrial hygiene, chronaximetric measurement in, particularly in lead workers (Lewy)...................... 73 Ionization, effects of high concentra tions of light negative ions on al bino rat (Herrington and Smith).. 283 Ionized air, observations of physical efficiency in (Yaglou).................... 280 Lead, determination of traces by chro mate method, effect of salts on (M iddleton)......................................... 7 303 288 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 6 tween the control and experimental groups. The mean activity of the experimen tal group was, however, significantly greater than that of the control group after the animals were from 175 to 200 days old, and it appears that this difference in activity was associated with the exposure of the experimental group to an atmosphere containing a high concentration of light negative ions. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. D essauer, F .: Zehn Jahre Forschung auf dem Physikalisch-Medizinischen Grenzgebiet. Georg Thieme, Leipzig, 1931. 2. K ster, E., and J anitsky, A.: Versuche ber Raumbeluftung. Ztsch. f. d. ges. physikal. Therap., 1932, 4S, no. 1. 3. Y aglo, C. P., B randt, A. D ., and B enjam in, L. C.: Observations on a group of subjects before, during and after exposure to ionized air. T his J our., 1933,16, 341. 4. Yaglou, C. P., Benjam in , L. C., and C hoate, S. P.: Changes in ionic con tent of air in occupied rooms ventilated by natural and by mechanical methods. Jour. Sect., Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, 1931, S, 866. 5. H errington, L. P .: The influence of ionized air upon normal subjects. J. Clin. Invest., 1935, 14, 70. 6. Loeb, L. B.: The nature of ions in the air and their possible physiological effects. Jour. Sect., Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, 1934, 5, 437. 7. P etersen, W. F .: The patient and the weather. Vol. 2. Nervous and Men tal Diseases. Edwards Bros., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1934. 200 days old, and it appears that this difference in activity was associated with the exposure of the experimental group to an atmosphere containing a high concentration of light negative ions. RAPHY by natural and by mechanical methods. Jour. Sect., Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, 1931, S, 866. 5. H errington, L. P .: The influence of ionized air upon normal subjects. J. Clin. Invest., 1935, 14, 70. 6. Loeb, L. B.: The nature of ions in the air and their possible physiological effects. Jour. Sect., Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, 1934, 6, 437. 7. P etersen, W. F .: The patient and the weather. Vol. 2. Nervous and Men tal Diseases. Edwards Bros., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1934. i THE MINERALOGY OF ASBESTOS DUST* C ornelius S. H urlbut, J r. Instructor in Mineralogy, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. AND C harles R. W illiams Pelrographer, Engineering Laboratory, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Boston, Mass. T HE term asbestos has no defi nite niineralogical significance, but is applied to several min erals which, under certain circum operations in both spinning and mold ing of asbestos were obtained. Micro scopic examination of the dusts revealed a most startling condition, stances, occur in fibrous form. The namely that asbestos fibers in respir hydrous magnesium silicate "chryso- able sizes make up only a very small tilc" (or serpentine asbestos) is the percentage of the various dusts. most widely used of these asbestos The generally accepted maximum minerals. According to recent figures size for dust particles which can pene of the U. S. Bureau of Mines (1) over trate into the lungs is about 10 90 per cent of the asbestos fabricated microns. As a result of animal ex in the United States comes from mines perimentation with asbestos dust, how near Thetford, Quebec. These mines ever, Gardner and Cummings (2) are the leading producers of chrysotile. state: "The experiments demonstrate Other forms of asbestos are "Croci- that fibrous structures at least as long dolite," soda-iron silicate; "amosite" as 200 microns can pass the protective and "anthophyllite," iron-magnesium mechanism of the upper respiratory silicates, but all are of minor impor tract and enter the lungs." This is tance from a quantitative point of confirmed by human lung sections of view. asbestosis victims which the writers Dusts generated in the processing have seen. Thus the percentages of asbestos arc known to be harmful given in the following tables represent when inhaled in sufficient quantities, the number of particles less than 10 and the mineralogical composition of microns in maximum dimension for such dusts is an important factor in all minerals except asbestos. In the the problem of the effects on the case of that mineral, fibers as long as respiratory system. During the past 200 microns are included as respirable year the writers secured for petro providing their maximum thickness graphic analysis dusts from six as does not exceed 5 microns. In none of bestos plants in various parts of the the dusts examined was there present country. Samples of rafter dust more than a trace of asbestos with the created by many of the different maximum dimension less than 10 ` Received for publication October 7, microns. 1935. The mineral particles which make 289 290 THE JOURNAL OK INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 6 up the hulk of the respirable portions of these dusts are the impurities found in raw asbestos. Figure 1 shows the paucity of asbestos fibers in the dust and the relative abundance of granular material. As the composition of dusts from similar operations in all plants was analogous, only two groups of data are necessary to illustrate the existing conditions. Moreover, all of operation, hut they were largely con fined to the sizes above 200 microns. The amount of respirable material in this dust was smaller than in the other two, for most of it is apparently liberated in operations preceding the spinning. Because cement is used in the manu facture of many molded asbestos prod ucts, calcite (calcium carbonate) is Fig. 1.--Photomicrograph of dust from preparation room. The black grains are mag netite, while the light ones are mostly carbonate and talc with some serpentine. A few fibers of asbestos can be seen. The large white fiber to the left of the picture is organic. (Crossed nicols 175 X) tilt* plants included in the investiga tion use chrysotiie as the raw material. The dust produced by the prepara tion of the asbestos contained a higher percentage of respirable asbestos fibers than any of the other dusts examined. The carding dust consisted of some coarse (25 to 300 microns) asbestos fibers and abundant respirable grains of other minerals. Asbestos fibers dominated the dust from the spinning generally the chief constituent of the dusts from such operations, "finis, all of the samples examined from this type of work contained a largo per centage of acid soluble (1:10 HC1) material by weight. The lowest was C4.8 per cent. Asbestos in long fibers is an im portant constituent of the dusts from the mixing and pulverizing operations hut is relatively unimportant in re- ST1UAL T1YGIFNH 1/7, no. G ration, but they were largely con 'd to the sizes above 200 microns, .o amount of respirable material in s dust, was smaller than in the other o, for most, of it is apparently elated in operations preceding the inning. 'lecause cement is used in the manuture of many molded asbestos procl`s, ealcito (calcium carbonate) is ration room. The black grains arc mag1 and talc with some serpentine, A few fiber to the left of the picture is organic. morally the chief constituent of the isls from such operations. Thus, all , the samples examined from this ,'po of work contained a large perntago of acid soluble (1:10 IIC1) . mterial by weight. The lowest was l.S per cent. Asl>ostos in long fibers is an iinortant constituent of the dusts from he mixing and pulverizing operations nt is relatively unim portant in re- Nov., 1935) MINERALOGY OF ASBESTOS DUST 291 spiruble sizes. Dust from the cutting room showed almost no asbestos. The small percentage of respirable asbestos is even more impressive when it is con sidered that 90 per cent of the total number of particles of all the dusts were respirable. In most of the samples asbestos is present in sizes varying from 20 to TABLE 1 D ust P roduced in the M anufacture of Asbestos T extiles PREPA R A T IO N C A R D IN G S P IN N IN G T alc.......................... C a rb o n a te ............... M agnetite................ Serpentine............... A s b e sto s.................. O thers...................... per cent 6 30 28 14 15 7 per cent 9 27 21 29 8 6 per Cent 5 21 27 27 8 12 TABLE 2 D ust in P roduced in Molding O perations t h e M anufacture of Asbf.stos B uildin g B r icks, ETC. C U T T IN G ROOM M IX IN G ROOM PU LV EB IZ E K T a lc .......................... C a r b o n a te ............. M agnetite................ Serpentine............... A s b e s to s .................. O thers...................... per cent 4 75 trace 4 trace 17 per cent trace 70 4 10 3 13 per cent trace 70 9 6 trace 15 500 microns in length and from 5 to 50 microns in diameter. Practically all particles, however, are over 100 mi crons in their longest dimension, The reason for the scarcity of asbestos in shorter fibers is no doubt due to its physical nature. Asbestos is bounded parallel to its elongation by perfect planes of cleavage which permit it to break into almost infinitely slender fibers while still retaining ils original length. The processing, therefore, splits the asbestos finer and finer with little tendency to shorten it. More over, inasmuch as the fibers tend to m at together they are less likely to be picked up by air currents. Gran ular particles, such as the foreign material present in these dusts, are easily dispersed. The talc, serpentine, magnetitite, and carbonate so abundant in the dusts are all impurities in the asbestos as mined. Figure 2 shows the raw material with these minerals clinging to the long fibers of asbestos. In all eases where the Canadian raw material was examined microscopically, the mineral assemblage of impurities is essentially the same. Talc is a mica-like hydrous mag nesium silicate, and its platy character permits it to be dispersed easily and stay suspended in the atmosphere. Serpentine is chemically identical with asbestos (chrysotile); it is the material composing the rock in which asbestos veins are found. Unlike asbestos, however, it breaks into equidimensional grains that have no tendency to m at together. Magnetite is an iron oxide which also forms granular par ticles. Carbonate as listed in the analyses includes three carbonates-- calcitc (CaCOj), dolomite [(Ca, M g)C03], and magnesite (MgCO.-i)-- all having similar physical properties; and, like serpentine and magnetite, they break into roughly equidimrnsional particles. The physical nature, then, of all these impurities permits them to be liberated from the asbestos during processing operations and thus find their way into the plant at mosphere. 292 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 6 Gardner and Cummings of the? Saranac Laboratory have for some time been carrying on experimental work in asbestosis (2). They sub jected guinea pigs, white rats, and rabbits 8 hours a day, for as long as 2} years, to air laden with asbestos than 10 microns in maximum di mension was found to be essentially the same as that below 10 microns, with the addition of asbestos, the fibers of which vary in length from 50 to 300 microns and average about 15 microns in diameter. F ig . 2.--Photomicrograph of raw asbestos used in spinning. A portion of a hair-like asbestos fiber is shown after it had been separated into many smaller fibers. Note the abundance of granular impurities that have been set free by crushing. (Crossed nicols 160 X) TABLE 3 R espir a b le M a teria l in K in g 's F loats Serpentine.... 40% M agnetite.... 12% Asbestos........ 14% C arbonate.... 18% T alc................ 12% Others............. 4% dust. The material used for these experiments is called King's Floats, an asbestos dust obtained from the Thetford producers. A petrographic analysis of this material is given in Table 3. The material in King's Floats larger S ummary Petrographic analyses of rafter dust from six asbestos processing plants, including molding and weaving of as bestos, disclosed that in the respirable sizes, asbestos is a relatively unim portant constituent. Talc, serpentine, carbonates and magnetite predominate in all of the! dusts examined. The question arises as to the importance of the part played by these minerals in lung damage resulting from dust ex posures in the asbestos industries. INDUSTRIAL H Y G IEN E (17, no. 6 0 than 10 microns in maximum die mansion was found to bo essent ially the il same as th a t below 10 microns, with the addition of asbestos, the fibers of 1 which vary in length from 50 to 300 s microns and average about 15 microns s in diam eter. Nov., 1935] MINERALOGY OF ASBESTOS DUST 293 BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Bowi.es, O.: Asbestos--domestic and foreign. U. S. Bur. Mines Inf. Cir. No. 6790, June, 1934. 2. Gabdneb, L. U., and Cummings, D. C.: Studies on experimental pneumonokoniosis. VI. Inhalation of asbestos dust: its effect upon primary tubercu losis infection. This Jour., 1931, 13, 65, 97. See alto: Ladoo, R. B.: Non-metallic minerals. McGraw-Hill: New York, 1925. Merewbther, E. R. A.: The occurrence of pulmonary affections in asbestos workers. This Jour., 1930, It, 198. ta *-'!' tos used in spinning. A portion of a hair-like eparated into many smaller fibers. Note the e been set free by crushing. (Crossed nicols S ummary Petrographic analyses of rafter dust from six asbestos processing plants, including molding and weaving of as bestos, disclosed th a t in the respirable sizes, asbestos is a relatively unim portant constituent. Talc, serpentine, carbonates and magnetite predominate in all of the d usts examined. The question arises as to the im portance of the p art played by those minerals in lung damage resulting from dust ex posures in the asbestos industries. 148 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE TSOM An ilin e poisoning, blood changes caused by (G aeta)............................. 25 poisoning, corneal epithelial necrosis1 due to, in hat industry (P ereira).. 97 Anoxemia, respiratory adaptation to (Hurtado, Kaltreider, and M cCann)............................................... 142 Anthracite dust, clinical and radio logical examination of workers ex posed to ................................................ 10 region of Pennsylvania, anthraco- silicosis, preliminary report of study made in (Bloomfield, Dalla- Valle, Dreessen, and B ritten).......... 56 Anthraco-Silicosis (miners' asthma), preliminary report of study in an thracite region of Pennsylvania by U .S . Public Health Service (Bloom field, DallaValle, Dreessen, and B ritten)................................................. 56 Anthracosis, origin of iron in (experi mental data. Pathology of dust. III. (Peissakovitsch and Kostenko) 105 Anthrax edema, malignant (Ross and Shipm an).............................................. 135 Anti-K nock agents; chemistry and technic of (B essm g).......................... 121 Antiseptic, chloramin as, for hands in machine shop workers (A b lin a)... 93 Arc lamp, visual adaptation among workers with (Chautin).................... 83 Argyria cutis, histological conditions of (Zoon)............... .............................. 39 Arsenic, biological estimation of small concentrations of, in expired air (Pleschtizer and Preobrajenski)... 108 compounds, organic, in air, deter mination of small amounts of (Jure^ek).............................................. 64 poisoning, chronic, experimental blastomas produced solely by (Cholewa)............................................. 126 poisoning, chronic occupational, or periarteritis nodosa? (K otzing). . . . 94 poisoning, hydrocyanic acid and, rapid methods of diagnosing, under field conditions (Steyn)................ 108 problem; case of probable arsenic dermatitis from wearing apparel (R euter)................................................ 95 reabsorption and by-products of, and its distribution through the body (Leibowitz).......................................... 21 Arsenical keratoses and carcinomas (Franseen and Taylor)...................... 6 keratosis, multiple epithelioma fol lowing (Schaerrer)............................. 126 Arsine poisoning, pathological-ana tomical conditions in (H ilterhaus). 78 Arthritis, chronic, in lead poisoning (Frazzetto)........................................... 4 deformans of elbow joints in molders, industrial disease (Kuhn)................ 119 traumatic, with special reference to its medico-legal aspect (B ick)........ 114 Artificial silk factories, etiology of occupational eye diseases among 0; _ workers in (Wolfson)...................... Asbestos dust, effects of inhalation of, on lungs of asbestos workers 33 (Lanza, McConnell and Feline!). Asbestosis and silicosis, injurious fac tors in (Beger)................................ 32 and tuberculosis of lungs (Martz). .. 1,1 bodies (Beintker)................................ 33 bodies, more on (Beger)...................... 32 bodies, new studies on nature of, pathogenesis of tissue changes in silicosis, III (Koppenhfer).......... in] pulmonary (Egbert).......................... ,Vi pulmonary (Oliver)........................... 12s pulmonary (Wood and Gloyne)........ 33 pulmonary, III. Carcinoma of lung in asbesto-silicosis (Lynch and Smith) So pulmonary, study of sputum in (Page)............................................... 59 . silicosis and, a memorandum............ 1IM Asphyxia, see also under Carbon Mon oxide poisoning, Gas Poisoning, etc. Asthma in textile industry (Beintker). 31 industrial, case of, with allergy from a simple chemical substance (Bergmann)............................................... 39 Xthrol dust, effect of, on rabbits (Dal) 103 Atmosphere, see also Air Atmosphere, room and its measure ment (Vaja ).................................... conditions in hot and deep mines, 20th report of committee; experi ments on acclimatization to high temperatures (Rees). Energy out put of Coal miners during work (21st report) (Moss)...................... 141 hazards in naval life (Dudley)........ 117 pollution by residential fireplaces, investigations of (Leclerc)............ 100 pollution, investigation of street air in Munich (Ilshofer and Giese)__ 64 pollution, Rept. Building Research Board for 1933................................ 15 pollution, sulfur, measurement of by lead peroxide (Wilsdon and Mc Connell).......................................... 82 pressure, diving (Boycott)................ 67 pressure, low, influence of, on lactic acid content (Tanaka and Motobayashi).............................................. 110 Australia, medical supervision of mine employees in (Moore).......... 56 Aviators, hearing of, and bearing on safety of flying (Foges)................. 137 B. Abortus Bang, spread of human infection with, in Steiermark deter mined by serological methods (Kalbfleisch)................................... 109 Bacteria, air-borne infection (Wells). 1 determination in air, soluble dry filter for (Oesterle)........................ 43 content of Kansas dust storm on March 20, 1935 (Ritter)................. 83 DUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 5 Sept,, 1935] ABSTRACTS 105 The impression is gained from this study information on what silicosis is; how it is 1. M. Peissakowitsch and M. M. Schcinin. that foundries may be operated practically contracted; how it is detected; compensa Virchow's Arch., 1935, vol. t94, pp. 646-651. without undue hazard to the health of the tion experiences and laws; how industry can The authors produced a unilateral arti workers or limitation of their working ca protect itself and its employees from future ficial pneumothorax in dogs or produced a pacity.--Theodore Hatch. cases ofsilicosis; and an outline for the prep paresis of the thorax muscle on one side by aration of the defense of claims.--From the alcoholizing the intercostal nerve. The Silicosis and Asbestosis: A M emoran author's summary. dogs were then given extensive dust expo dum, Home Office, H. M. Stationery Office, London, 1935. The present position regarding compen sation for pulmonary fibrosis is usefully summarized in this brochure. During the three years 1932-4 there were certified 435 deaths from silicosis and 1,444 instances of disablement, and 5 deaths with 60 cases of disablement due to asbestosis. A short description is given of the origin and devel opment of silicosis; and then are stated the industries and processes in which silicosis occurs. Means of prevention are grouped inder (i) suppression of dust, generally by the use of water, (ii) ventilation so applied at the point of origin of the dust as to pre vent its access to the air of workplaces, iii) other preventive measures such as .'urnishing each worker with a separate Pathology of D ust. III. T he Origin of Iron in Anthracosis (Experimental D ata). I. M. Peissakowitsch and P. G. Kostenko. Virchow's Arch., 1935, vol. 294, pp. 643-647. The extent of the carbon pigmentation in the tracheal and bronchial lymph nodes of research animals (dogs) showed marked variation. Paralleling these changes was the extent of the blood pigmentation. It is thereby made clear that dust infiltration deranges the normal lymph and blood streams with resultant reduction in eryth rocytes and subsequent formation of blood pigments.--L. Teleky. P athology of D ust. IV. D ust Secre tion from the Lymph C irculation. sure for several months. In the treated half of the lung were heavy dust deposits and absence of self-cleaning; there was no evidence of movement of the dust towards the pleura.--L. Teleky. Occupational D iseases of the Mouth. IV. Weinberger. Zlschr. f. Stomatol., 1935, vol. S3, pp. 449-544A dust gingivitis is described and the cause ascribed to various kinds of dusts. Generally the differentiation between dis ability from dust and the ordinary gingivi tis is made with difficulty. The distinction between lead line and gingivitis is not always sharp. The author has presented a very comprehensive review.--L. Teleky. upply of dust-free air to breathe or wear;ng efficient respirators, and (iv) initial nd periodic medical examinations, under DUST, SMOKE, FUMES, AND VAPORS: THEIR DETERMINATION AND ELIMINATION vhich workers with defective respiratory Mine Air Filtration. E. P. Cowles and tion theories are discussed with special -hysique are excluded from the industry R. A. H. Flugge-de-Smidt. Discussion by emphasis on the increase of efficiency w'ith nd anyone found to have pulmonary tu- H. S. Patterson and H. L. Green. Jour. operation. The importance of sericite is erculosis is suspended from further em- Chgm. Met. and Min. Soc. So. Africa, Apr., questioned and attention is called to the iloyment. The medical arrangements for 1935, hoi. 35, p. 318. ease wdth which this mineral can be revealed xaminations and for certifying cases are Patterson and Green give here their dis and identified under the petrological micro escribed. All these medical matters are cussion of the paper by Cowles and Flugge- scope while other fine particles, not so arried out by a Board of experts from de-Smidt which appeared in September, readily identified or even revealed, may be vhom there is no appeal. The compensa- 1934 (see these Abstracts, 1935, 17, 41). entirely overlooked when samples are exam ion schemes differ in minor details for i Mr. Patterson show's photomicrographs ined solely by this method. Examination arious industries; they cover the getting of the duBt collected in the filters showing of dry-mounted samples under a high- f ganister and other highly siliceous ma- particles ranging from 30 p down to 0.25 p power microscope should also be under erials, the getting and manipulation of and consisting of irregularly shaped chips taken.--Richard Page. andstone, the grinding of metals on sand- and in many cases aggregates. The tone wheels, a long list of processes en needle shaped particles are absent. The Studt of Methods for the D etermina tiling risk of inhaling silica dust in such differences in size frequency of the dust in tion of D ust in Gases. B. F. Bal'son. 'tdustrie8 as the manufacture of pottery, the slides and in the air approaching the Abstr. as f&llows from Trans. Thermo- ttling of steel castings and sand-blasting, filter are noted and attributed to aggrega Tech. Inst. (Moscow), 1934, No. 6, pp. 16- nd the asbestos industry.--E. L. Collie. tion on the filter and the method of prepara 23, in Chem. Abstr., May 20, 1935, vol. 29, tion of the slides. p. 3262. ilicosis--An Interpretive R eview op Mr. Green stresses proper technic in tak Many methods are described. It is con Accumulated E xperience. C. 0. Sap- ing impinger samples and the probable cluded that it is best to pass the gases pinglon. Indust. Med., Apr., 1935, vol. inefficiency of the impinger with respect to through a hydraulic seal, although the use 6, pp. 173-177. particles of the order of 0.5 p in diameter of a blower in addition to the hydraulic seal A brief discussion has been given covering ! with the sampling rate employed. Filtra is recommended when dealing with highly 128 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 6 trace of albumen, acetone and calcium oxalate crystals in the urine. He re covered. T he Pathology of Chromic Acid and its D erivatives. L. Barbera. Rass. di Med. Appl. al Lav. Indust., June, 19S5, vol. 6, pp. il-S9. The author has studied cases of acute, sub-acute and chronic poisoning induced in rabbits by subcutaneous injection of chromic acid of various dilutions. Similar studies were made with intravenous injec tion of solutions of potassium dichromate. In addition guinea pigs were poisoned by exposure to chromic acid vapor. Skin ab sorption of chromic acid is confirmed. Ab sorption by the respiratory system results in inflammation, atrophy and pulmonary hyperemia. The existence of lesions of the glomeruli as well as similar lesions in the renal tubules is pointed out in the various forms of poisoning. A transitory increase in blood calcium was followed by a diminu tion in the sub-acute cases, while there was a progressive increase in the cases of chronic intoxication. Blood sugar increased mark edly during the last days of life of the animals.--Lawrence T. Fairhall. Industrial Chromism in Workers E n gaged in the Manufacture of P otas sium D ichromate. L. Barbera. Med. del Lav.. June SO, 19S6, vol. IS, pp. 209-ZSS. The author describes 24 cases -of indi viduals afiected by exposure to hexavalent chromium and suggests prophylactic meas ures for the reduction of this hazard.-- Lawrence T. Fairhall. P ermissible Concentrations of Chro mium T rioxide in Air. S. Ginsburg, A. Iljinskaja, and R. Leiles. Gigiena truda i leknika bezopasnosti, 19S6, no. S, pp. 80-86. The authors investigated in different plants five chroming vats equipped with local exhaust hoods. The determinations were made with an improved colorimetric method using the Mullin reagent (sensi tivity to 0.000173 mg. chromium). Most of the tests gave negative results or insignifi cant amounts (0.0034 mg. per cu.m, of air). There was established a certain correspond ence between concentration in the air, in the naso-pharynx of the workers, and in the condition of their upper respiratory pas sages. Low concentrations of chromium trioxide (0.1 mg. per cu. m.) produced definite injur ies in the upper air passages: hyperemia of the mucous membrane, atrophic and hyper trophic rhinitis, and pharyngitis, etc. Properly designed and installed exhaust systems can eliminate dangerous concentra tions--From the authors' German summary. Amount of Poisonous Impurities in the H ydrogen given off in Steel Etching. W. G. Gurevitsch, M. M. Javnel, and B. A. Raschkovan. Gigiena truda i teknika bezopasnosti, 19SS, no. S, pp. 60-64. The authors made experiments on steel etching with sulfuric acid (sp. g. 1.83, arsenic content 0.000332%) diluted 10-20 times, and have determined the amounts of impurities formed under various con ditions. It was ascertained that in etching a mixture of phosphine and arsine is given off--in the cases noted there was more phos phine. The least amount of arsine (0.010.2 mg. per L. of hydrogen) is liberated at a higher melting point; lowering the melt ing point 25 increases the quantity of ar sine about 6 or 7 times (to 0.09-0.15 mg.). The maximum liberation of arsine occurs at the beginning of the fusion. A reduction in the acid concentration increases the ar sine liberation. In contrast to the arsine, the maximum amount of phosphine (0.7 mg. per L. of hy drogen) is liberated at a higher temperature (80). It is difficult to establish any rela tionship at all between conditions of steel etching and hydrogen sulfide given off.-- From the authors' German summary. DUST HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS Pulmonary Asbestosis. T. Oliver. Bull. Mim. de la Soc. md. des Hpitaux de Paris, June 8, 19S6, No. 3. Pulmonary asbestosis is an occupational dust disease of slow development during the progress of which the spongy portions of the lung becomes gradually replaced by unyielding fibro-connective tissue, and like 80 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 4 treal. The authors urge the adoption of adequate, standardized regulations apply ing to the fumigation of buildings. The use of a warning gas, such as cyanogen chloride, with hydrocyanic fumigants prevents un suspecting persons from entering lethal atmospheres. No substance is at present known having the same physical properties as hydrogen cyanide, and consequently no warning mixture is infallible. The authors quote opinions of a number of authorities on the advisability of using hydrocyanic-cyanogen chloride mixtures. In the discussion, Williams emphasizes the need for standardization of fumigating regulations. Pratt quotes three fatalities resulting from hydrocyanic gas poisoning in fumigating where cyanogen chloride was used as a warning agent, and states that the use of any but the non-existent perfect warning gas creates a false sense of security and should be avoided.--R. T. Pring. DUST HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS Pulmonary Asbestosis. III. Carcinoma of Lung in Asbesto-Silicosis. K. M. Lynch and W. A. Smith. Am. Jour. Cancer, May, 1935, vol. 4, pp. 66-64. This man had suffered long occupational exposure to dust, some 43 years all told, about 22 in a cotton mill, about 21 in an asbestos factory, with resulting fibrosis of extensive grade in the lungs and pleura, the apparent consequences being pulmonary cir culatory and respiratory disability, with emphysema, bronchiectasis, and cardiac embarrassment. As has been observed by us in other cases of asbestosis, one of which has been pre viously reported [see these Abstracts, 1931, vol. 13, p. 241], the fibrosis of the lungs here bears the accepted characteristic mark of silicosis, that is, in addition to diffused fibrosis, there occurred the formation of hyaline fibrous nodules. The pulmonary carcinoma appeared to originate from one of the branches of the bronchus to the right lower lobe, where squamous metaplasia of lining epithelium was observed. The duration of the carcinoma cannot be specified. It was apparently of consider able time but certainly did not antedate fibrosis of the lung. A conception of its origin by reason of chronic bronchial irrita tion is compatible with the current view of the etiology of such tumors.--AufAors' summary. Silicosis and Malignant D isease. IF. S. Handley. Lancet, (Correspondence) Nov. 17, 1964, vol. 227, p. 1128. Dr. Handley agrees with Prof. Dible's paper in the Lancet of November 3, 1934, in which the latter reports one case of leukemia and three of carcinoma in 14 autopsies on patients who died of silicosis in East Lan cashire during 1930. It is worth while paying some attention to those who agree with such a diagnosis.-- H. K. Pancoast. Silicosis (D iscussion). A. J. Orenslein. Jour. Chem. Met. and Min. Soc. So. Africa, Feb., 1936, vol. 36, p. 269. This is a continuation of the discussion of Jones' paper which appeared in the above Journal in September and Octobjy, 1933 (see Tkis Jour., Abstract Section, 1,934, vol. 16, pp. 30 and 84). In commenting on Dr. Jones' theory that sericite, and not silica, is the dominant cause of silicosis, the following points are brought forward: (1) Inferences drawn from alleged ab sence of silicosis under certain conditions of exposure to certain dusts have proved fal lacious and the greatest caution must be exercised in giving credence to reports that no silicosis occurs where siliceous dust in heavy concentrations is present. (2) Sericite may cause silicosis, but un doubtedly pure silica does also. Workers in the Banting Institute of Canada have shown that in laboratory animals, silica did cause silicosis when sericite did not. (3) It is at least extremely doubtful whether it is possible to distinguish under the petrological microscope very fine par ticles of silica from very fine particles of sericite. It is most probably quite impos sible. (4) The mere presence of a certain foreign substance in dead silicotic lungs is no proof July, 1935) that this particular substance or even dominant, cause of process. (5) Facts as a result of inten mental work are required.--Ru R eaction to Inhalation of K Dusw on t h e L u n g s o f I D Beintker. Virchows Arch., 19. pp. 646-669. The author caused rabbits kieselgiihr of the usual diatomac and with low sericite content. 1 of 5 minutes were extended aftci 1hour (the dust concentration is Some of the animals died afte; inhalation, while the longer-liv< 18, and 24 months after inhaln begun. Intermissions of a week to animals having the longest The resulting formation of gian ascribed by the author to the which is characteristically causeii giihr. The migration of diatom( about the lung tissue is a mechu: closely related to the respiratory of the lungs. The reaction of : tissue results in proliferation; b< cells of the lymphatic tissue, thi enter in great numbers. Under pressure of the diatomes imbedded extensively between t (of the lymphatic tissue) the nu> lymphocytes appear elongated, are replaced by connective tis Evidence of decomposition of the was not found, nor was clearir alveoli observed later. The results apply only to rabbi conclusions referable to dusted man are to be made only with res. (See These Abstracts, 1933, li Teleky. Silicosis. Wm. D. McNally a/ Bergman. Indust. Med., Feb., 1: pp. 61-65. The entire subject is discussec cally, the signs and symptoms, prognosis, pathology, and methoi lecting dust. In summarizing th. say: 1. Silicosis is not a new disease been brought into prominence by t of unemployment. STRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 6 'e made with an improved colorimetric .hod using the Mullin reagent (sensity to 0.000173 mg. chromium). Most of tests gave negative results or insignifi*. amounts (0.0034 mg. per cu.m, of air), re was established a certain corrcsponde between concentration in the air, in naso-pharynx of the workers, and in jondition of their upper respiratory pass. >wconcentrations of chromium trioxide mg. per cu. m.) produced definite injurn the upper air passages: hyperemia of nucous membrane, atrophic and hyperhic rhinitis, and pharyngitis, etc. >erly designed and installed exhaust ms can eliminate dangerous concentra--From the authors' German summary. oNT OF POISONOUS IMPURITIES IN THE DROGEN GIVEN OFF IN STEEL ETCHING. G. Gurevitsch, M. M. Javnel, and B. A. "chkovan. Giyiena truda i teknika opasnosti, 1935, no. S, pp. 60-54. e authors made experiments on steel ig with sulfuric acid (sp. g. 1.83, c content 0.000332%) diluted 10-20 and have determined the amounts purities formed under various cons. I t was ascertained that in etching mre of phosphine and arsine is given -i the cases noted there was more phos- The least amount of arsine (0.01-- T. per L. of hydrogen) is liberated at et melting point; lowering the meltdnt 25 increases the quantity of ar>out 6 or 7 times (to 0.09-0.15 mg.), aximum liberation of arsine occurs beginning of the fusion. A reduction acid concentration increases the arberation. rntrast to the arsine, the maximum t of phosphine (0.7 mg. per L. of hy) is liberated at a higher temperature I t is difficult to establish any rclap at all between conditions of steel and hydrogen sulfide given off.-- 'ie authors' German summary. IR EFFECTS isease of slow development during gress of which the spongy portions ung becomes gradually replaced by ing fibro-connective tissue, and like Nov., 1936) ABSTRACTS 70 silicosis, its pathology has been variously interpreted. In 1900 Dr. Montague Murray of Charing Cross Hospital reported the autopsy of an asbestos worker who died after 14 years' exposure to asbestos dust. The lungs showed pulmonary fibrosis without evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Six years later Marchand and Riesal found similar con ditions in the lungs of an asbestos worker and in the same year the French Bulletin de PInspection de Travail called attention to the high mortality of workers in an as bestos factory. A few years later Profes sor J. M. Beattie of Liverpool demonstrated by animal experiment that asbestos dust was capable of causing pulmonary fibrosis. The physical signs of a typical case of asbestosis personally examined were as follows: the patient was a woman of 48 years, ema ciated and weak. She had been obliged to Btop work because of cough and dyspnea. There was no sputum, and the respiratory capacity was 1 inch. The chest showed increasing dulness on percussion from apex to base and the expiration was prolonged. At right base a small dry friction rub was heard. The heart apex was slightly dis placed up and to the left. The pulmonary second sound was accentuated. The pa tient died a year after the examination. Symptoms of Asbesiosis. After a period of 10'or. more years spent in an asbestos factory the worker who has hitherto Bhown a marked susceptibility to colds on the chest is observed to have become thinner and to be short of breath on exertion, cough is fre quent and without expectoration. There is complaint of progressive weakness, loss of appetite and pain over lower lungs. ' The heart is usually normal. Chest expansion is curtailed. Percussion elicits dulness at the bases, auscultation reveals diminished breath sounds with occasional rdles. X-ray examination shows indications of infiltration of the lung below a line joining the ninth rib posteriorly with the fourth rib anteriorly. The field presents an amor phous flocculent appearance with here and there evidences of small cavitation. Autopsy reveals asbestosis bodies in the lungs, and a fibrosis of the lower lobes. Opinions vary as to whether these bodies are characteristic of asbestosis and do not appear in any other condition. In rrrrr.i paper, E. Williams details several iartAtifr of similar foreign bodies in the lungof ro*l miners with no history of asbestoa tipn*uf and S. R. Gloyne reports a similar nprri ence. The foreign bodies vrere a!o lour 4 in cases of coal miners treated at the Rovil Infirmary at Cardiff.--IF. /. Clark. Sand B lasting. Its T echnoloot, Cu b i cal Classification, H ygiene, and P*ophylaxis. G. Pancheri. Rost, ii If<4 App. al Lav. Indust., June, 19SS, tot. e, pp. m-tio. Sand blasting with particular referenceto its use in cleaning foundry castings it de scribed in detail. Numerous cases of sili cosis in the industry are discussed and at tention is drawn to means of industrial control tending to minimize tbishaiard -- Lawrence T. Pairhall.. Silicosis and Carcinoma of the Lcnq. L. Maxwell. Abstr. as follows from lltd. J . Australia, 1934, rol. t, pp. 168-169, in Am. J. Cancer, Aug., 1935, vol. 34, J>.896. A man of fifty-nine lmd spent 10 yean of his earlier life as a driller in a gold mine. About 2 years before hospital admission he began to suffer from dyspnea on exertion, dry cough, and increasing weakness. Xrays showed a dense shadow in the apical lobe to the right lung. Lipiodol gave nor mal filling of the lower lobe, but did not enter the dense area of t lie upper lobe. Bronchoscopy revealed an ulcer in the mouth of the right lobe bronchus, and biopsy of this showed thickening $f the surface epithelium and some downgrowth, giving rise to a suspicion of carcinoma. The later history is not given. Silicosis and Silico-Tcbewt-losis Cen sus. D. M. Brumjkl and L. V. Gardner. Am. Rev. Tuberc., Aug., 1935, rol. S3, pp. 308- 210. " Actuated .by a desire to get a fair idea of the distribution of silicosis and silicotuberculosis in the United States, and also of the behavior of such patients when sub jected to the treatment that prevails for uncomplicated tuberculosis, a preliminary survey has been carried on by mail during the past several monilis M 32 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 2 P ulmonary H eart D isease in Pneumo coniosis. J. M. Dyson. Am. Heart Jour., Aug., 1984, vol. 9, pp. 764-770. 1. Pulmonary heart disease is described, together with its diagnosis by roentgen ography and electrocardiography. 2. A series of 18 cases of its occurrence in pneumoconiosis is presented to illustrate incidence and symptomatology. 3. The disability and incidence indicate that pulmonary heart disease is not a rarity in anthracite coal miners, and must not be neglected. 4. It is urged that pneumoconiosis, be cause of its great economic and industrial importance, be more generally considered an important cause of pulmonary heart disease. 5. No attempt is made to explain why pulmonary heart disease occurs in some cases of marked pneumoconiosis, but not in others equally marked.--Author's sum mary. Injurious F actors in Asbestosis and Silicosis. P. I. Beger. Med. Klin., Sept. 14, 1984, pp. 1922-1927, and 12681261. The author attacks the question from a mineralogical point of view. He points out that a key to the reactions can be found in the asbestosis and begins with a discussion of the crystal structure of chrysotile asbestoB, describes its progressive decomposi tion in the body, and the destruction of its silica lattice. It is not mechanical irrita tion but silica set free through solution which produces fibrosis, the formation of which does not cease when the inhalation of asbestos Btops, but continues as long as the asbestos bodies already present remain in sufficient numbers. All such cases would appear quite hopeless. However the reason that it has not affected everyone may be explained possibly by the fact that there is a different concentration limit for different people, below which the silica content is too small to produce fibrosis. The con centration can also remain below the limit, when the number of asbestosis bodies pres ent is relatively small or only slightly sus ceptible to decomposition. This latter will be the case only when the body fluid is weakly acid or intensely alkaline. The formation of the bodies depends upon the pH of the blood; it can also hinder the development of the asbestosis bodies. It is possible for the asbestos needles to be discharged, without entering into the structure of the bodies. There follows the solution of the silica through surface attack, and this free silica produces fibrosis. Thus it follows that asbestos dust caused the silicosis. Dis solved silica is always the cause, whether originally in quartz or in a silicate. The harmfulness of a mineral depends upon its silica content and its solubility. Quartz has a large silica content and extraordinar ily slight solubility; chalcedony is more easily soluble, and the most soluble are opal, diatomaceous earth, and tripoli. The Bolubility of flint lies between those of diatomaceous earth and tripoli. Feldspar, occurring in eruptive rocks is rich in silica, and through their decomposition are formed sericite (a type of mica) and kaolin. Both of these minerals are very resistant to natural weathering processes; in the lung, however, because of the minute size of the dust particles with their relatively large sur face area, and the large excess of solvent, they do dissolve. However, these "secondary" minerals are approximately in equilibrium in the lungs and dissolve only very slowly. These stable types thus remain in the lungs for a long time. This explains Jones' re sults on the question of sericite. While feldspar, quartz, etc. break down in the lungs to dangerous poisons, sericite remains in large quantities and produces the false impression that it alone had caused the damage. However, it should not be stated that sericite causes no damage. The cause of the disease, nevertheless, is only the dissolved silica in the cases of asbes tosis and silicosis.--L. Teleky. More on Asbestosis Bodies. P. I. Beger. Virchows Arch., 1984, vol. 298, pp. 680-689. The mechanical irritation of the lung through breathing asbestos dust does not seem to be important, for the symptoms of the disease appear after the irritating effect has diminished or completely stopped. The harm in the case of asbestosis as in ordinary silicosis is caused by the solution of the silica lattice of the asbestos fibres. From >DUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. S The formation of the bodies depends upon the pH of the blood; it can also hinder the development of the asbestosis bodies. It is possible for the asbestos needles to be discharged, without entering into the structure of the bodies. There follows the solution of the silica through surface attack, and this free silica produces fibrosis. Thus it follows that asbestos dust caused the silicosis. Dis solved silica is always the cause, whether originally in quartz or in a silicate. The harmfulness of a mineral depends upon its silica content and its solubility. Quartz has a large silica content and extraordinar ily slight solubility; chalcedony is more easily soluble, and the most soluble are opal, diatomaceous earth, and tripoli. The i solubility of flint lies between those of ) diatomaceous earth and tripoli. Feldspar, ; occurring in eruptive rocks is rich in silica, and through their decomposition are formed sericite (a type of mica) and kaolin. Both of these minerals are very resistant to natural weathering processes; in the lung, however, because of the minute size of the lust particles with their relatively large sur`ace area, and the large excess ofsolvent, they lo dissolve. However, these "secondary" I minerals are approximately in equilibrium .n the lungs and dissolve only very slowly. These stable types thus remain in the lungs or a long time. This explains Jones' re mits on the question of sericite. While aldspar, quartz, etc. break down in the < jngs to dangerous poisons, sericite remains n large quantities and produces the false npression th at it alone had caused the amage. However, it should not be stated nat sericite causes no damage. The cause of the disease, nevertheless, is ily the dissolved silica in the cases of asbes:>sis and silicosis.--L. Teleky. ore on Asbestosis Bodies. P. I. Begcr. Virchows Arch., 1934, vol. SOS, pp. 6S0-6S9. The mechanical irritation of the lung rough breathing asbestos dust does not em to be important, for the symptoms of e disease appear after the irritating effect s diminished or completely stopped. The rm in the case of asbestosis as in ordinary icosis is caused by tbe solution of the ica lattice of the asbestos fibres. From s March, 1935] ABSTRACTS 33 there the asbestosis follows a course more rapid and more severe than ordinary sili cosis. The solution of the silica lattice is the preliminary condition for the resorption of the bodies. Fibrosis first becomes sig nificant after the destruction of the asbes tosis bodies has begun. During the solu tion of the silica, a process which retards or stops the formation of the bodies, the decomposition of loose asbestos dust is sufficient to bring out the symptoms of the disease. At this stage, the asbes tosis passes over into normal silicosis.--L. Teleky. Asbestosis Bodies. E. Beintker. Vir chows Arch., 1934, vol. S9S, pp. 5S7-5S9. In disagreeing with Beger, Beintker takes the view that asbestosis bodies are of inorganic nature. He sees in them (also in opposition to Beger) not the cause of asbes tosis, but in their origin a protective reac tion of the organism.--L. Teleky. Pulmonary Asbestosis. W. B. Wood and S. R. Gloyne. Lancet, Dec. 2, 1934, pp. 1S8S-1S85. The authors now add to their previous studies by giving a review of 100 cases, all of whom had been exposed industrially to asbestos dust, most of them at the same factory; 67 were women and33 men.;53 were without tuberculosis; 21 with active tuber culosis; 9 with obsolescent tuberculosis; and 17 were doubtful cases. Carcinoma of the lung was present in 2 cases. Dyspnea is the first and last symptom of which the patient complains; indeed, the distress occasioned by constant breathlessness is so great that the disease might be described as monosymptomatic. In advanced cases the "earthy" character of the complexion and a violet tinge in cheeks or lips are noteworthy. Cessation of exposure to asbestos dust does not usually check the progress of the disease; nevertheless, patients have been seen wherein the condition appeared to remain stationary after stopping work at the factory. Septic bronchitis, broncho pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis are the commonest terminal complications of the disease. The shortest exposure to d u st was 6 months (2 cases) and the longest 15 years. Fibrosis is best seen in the lower lobes; adherent pleura is common; no sili cotic nodules have been encountered. The condition is characterised by a cellular reaction of mononuclear phagocytes and asbestosis giant cells followed by the forma tion of a reticular fibrosis. Although active tuberculosis was present in 21 cases, this risk seems less than that associated with silicosis.--E. L. Collis. E ffects of the Inhalation of Asbestos D ust on the Lungs of Asbestos Work ers. A Preliminary Study. A. J.Lam a, Wm. J. McConnell, and J. W. Fehnel. U. S. Pub. Health Repts., Jan. 4,1938, vol. 50, pp. 1-1S. A preliminary report on the health hazards in asbestos mines and fabricating plants is given. The study included a dust survey in asbestos mines and mills in Canada and in five fabricating plants in the United States, physical and x-ray examina tions of 126 representative workers having more than 3 years' experience, and finally a special study of exhaust systems designed to eliminate asbestos dust. In addition, the death and permanent disability claims listed as due to pulmonary tuberculosis were investigated in one plant. The findings of this study are well summarized by the authors' conclusions and recommendations: " 1. Prolonged exposure to asbestos dust caused a pulmonary fibrosis of a type differ ent from silicosis and demonstrable on x-ray films. Clinically, from this study, it ap pears to be of a type milder than silicosis. "2. Cases of definite cardiac enlargement were frequently found to be associated with asbestosiB. "3. A predisposition to tuberculosis due to asbestos dust was not indicated in this study. "4. Asbestosis as observed in this series of cases had not resulted in marked dis ability in any case. "5. It is not known how much asbestosis may add to the mortality of pneumonia and acute nontuberculous pulmonary infections. "6. It is not practicable as yet to estab lish standards for the asbestos dust con tent of air. "7. The amount of dust in the air in the 34 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 2 asbestos plants studies can be substantially reduced. "I t is recommended-- " 1. That the industry seriously face the problem of dust control in asbestos plants. "2. That new employees be examined physically, including x-ray examination of the chest, and rejected for employment if they show tuberculosis or pneumoconiosis. "3. That employees be examined physi cally, preferably every year, but at least every 2 years, this examination to include an x-ray examination of the chest. "4. That the industry sponsor studies on known cases of asbestosis, as well as studies on effects of asbestosis on the heart and circulation."--Theodore Hatch. Asthma in the T extile I ndustry. E. Beinlker. Arbeitsschulz (Reichsarbeitsblalt III), 1934, pp. 235-237. Respiratory disturbances were reported in a cotton spinning plant. The author himself, after making the survey, suffered an increase in temperature, exhaustion, and irritating cough. The cotton was very dusty, was yellow, and contained various impurities. A survey of the whole industry showed only a few cases of asthma and of those, only isolated cases could be traced directly to the work, since the attacks ap peared especially after Sundays and holi days. Also the trouble in the aforemen tioned plant disappeared after the poisonous cotton stock was used up.--L. Teleky. DUST, SMOKE, FUMES, AND VAPORS: THEIR DETERMINATION AND ELIMINATION D etermination of B enzene in T oxicol ogy. I , P reliminary Study of the Colorimetric D etermination of Mdinitbobenzene. II. D etermination in the B lood. III. D etermination in the Organs. M.Pkronnet. Abslr.from pharm. chim., 1934, vol. 20, pp. 145-149', 195-206; 244-248, in Chem. Abslr., Nov. 20, 1934, vol. 28, p. 7287. T he E xamination of Cotton, Coir, and E sparto-grass D ust for H istamine. A. D. Macdonald and H. B. Maitland. J. Hyg., Oct., 1934, PP- 317-321. The asthma which occurs as an occupa tional trouble among operatives after years of exposure to the dust of card-rooms in cotton mills has been ascribed to the possi ble presence in the dust of histamine. The investigation reported was to ascertain how far histamine may be present in such dusts. It was found in most samples of dust from card-rooms and especially in the finer particles which would most readily reach the lungs. While histamine was a fairly constant constituent of card-room dust, the histamine content of the various samples differed. On the other hand samples of coir dust and esparto-grass dust were practically free from histamine; workers exposed to considerable amounts of these dusts do not suffer from aBthma.--E. L. Gollii. R ecent D evelopments in M ethods of S ampling D ust. II. L. Green. Paper given at the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. (London). Nov. 15, 1934. From a critical study of the three dust sampling instruments in common use today --konimeter, jet dust counter, and impinger--the author concludes that none of these instruments gives accurate data concerning either the number or size of industrial dusts. Compared with an "abso lute" instrument such aBthe direct counting ultra microscope or the author's settlement chamber (see T his Jour., 1934, 16, 29) their efficiencies were 50% and less. As a universal instrument, sampling with perfect efficiency over a size range from 0.2 to 20ft, the author proposes a thermal pre cipitator which deposits the dust sample on two cover glasses in a condition suitable for immediate microscopic enumeration and measurement. The efficiency is reported to be 100% compared with the ultramicro scope. The sampling rate is 7 cc. a minute; this is obtained by water displacement from a reservoir to which the instrument is connected.--Theodore Hatch. Control of D ust in Sandblast A ppara tus. E. A. Vigdorlschik, N. F. Sloshkowa, ' and M. A . Goloschlschokina. Gigiena truda i tekhnika bezopasnosti, 1934, no. 6, pp. 40-46. Investigation was made of the dust con tent of the room air in the operation of the principal types of sandblast apparatus; (1) their equipment (type of apparatus, venti- I USTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. 2 STHMA IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY. E. Beintker. Arbeilsschulz (Reichsarbeitsblall III), 1934, pp. 235-237. Respiratory disturbances were reported a cotton spinning plant. The author iinself, after making the survey, Buffered in increase in temperature, exhaustion, and rritating cough. The cotton was very lusty, was yellow, and contained various impurities. A survey of the whole industry showed only a few cases of asthma and of those, only isolated cases could be traced directly to the work, since the attacks ap peared especially after Sundays and holi days. Also the trouble in the aforemen tioned plant disappeared after the poisonous cotton stock was used up.--L. Teleky. US: THEIR DETERMINATION AND ATION given at the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. (London). Nov. 15, 1934, From a critical study of the three dust sampling instruments in common use today --konimeter, jet dust counter, and impin- , ger--the author concludes that none of these instruments gives accurate data concerning either the number or size of industrial dusts. Compared with an "abso lute" instrument such as the direct counting ultra microscope or the author's settlement chamber (see T h is J o u r ., 1934, 16, 29) their efficiencies were 50% and less. As a universal instrum ent, sampling with perfect efficiency over a size range from 0.2 to 20g, the author proposes a thermal pre cipitator which deposits the dust sample on two cover glasses in a condition suitable for immediate microscopic enumeration and i measurement. The efficiency is reported to be 100% compared with the ultramicro * scope. The sampling rate is 7 cc. a minute; ! this is obtained by water displacement from j a reservoir to which the instrument is ; connected.--Theodore Hatch. | t Control of D ust in S andrlast Appara tus. E. A . Vigdortschik, N. F. Slosh- kowa, ' and M. A . Goloschtschokina. Gigiena truda i tekhnika bezopasnosti, 1934, no. 5, pp. 40-46. i Investigation was made of the dust con tent Of the room air in the operation of the ^ principal types of sandblast apparatus; (1) 1 their equipment (type of apparatus, venti- ! March, 1935] ABSTRACTS 35 lation, room control, etc.), (2) air pressure (4) installation in the working zone of ven in the nozzle, (3) type and grain size of the tilation for exhausting the contaminated abrasive. air, in doing which the greatest possible air The determination of the dust was made change and a high air velocity in the spray at the same time gravimetrically and with ing area are to be attained; (5) working out the Owens' apparatus. The effect of ven definite regulations for the installation of tilation and of the dust helmet were also the ventilation equipment on account of the tested. hazard from explosive mixtures and the The hygienic improvement of the working discharge of static electricity in the exhaust conditions were summarized in the follow ducts.--From the authors' German summary. ing manner; (1) apparatus with stationary nozzles permitted the best dust removal, T he Schoop Method ("Metallizing"), apparatus with movable nozzles and with its Hazards, and T heir Control. N. out individual protection are not to be F. Sloshkowa, E. A. Vigdortschik and M. permitted. (2) The dust helmet with an A . Goloschtschokina. Gigiena truda i lek- air inlet which introduces not less than 170 hnika bezopasnosti, 1934, no. 5, pp. 59-62. L./m. is to be available. The air for this The so-called Schoop method ("metalliz line is not to have an unpleasant odor. A ing") consists generally in placing a thin, spherical air distributor can be applied. fused layer of a non-corroding metal (zinc, (3) There must be more investigation in lead, aluminum, etc.) by means of a special regard to substitution of quartz sand in the spraying apparatus on the surfaces of the sandblast apparatus with a metallic abra metal to be protected (for example, iron). sive.--From the authors' German summary. The investigation of this process in a group of Leningrad plants has shown that 30 to Hygiene of Spraying Operations. M. F. 70% of the covering metal is dispersed into Sloshkowa and M. A. Goloschtschokina. the air. In the application of zinc and lead Gigiena truda i tekhnika bezopasnosti, by the "metallizing" process, a large num 1934, no. 5, pp. 46-50. ber of highly dispersed solid particles were Spraying operations (according to exami found at the breathing level of the worker. nation of the process in the Leningrad These consisted of 90 to 95% of the covering works) are described in which lacquer, pig metal. With the pressure of exhaust ments and mixtures of them are applied. ventilation equipment, the dust concentra Special attention is given to nitrocellulose tion is appreciably less. The dust content lacquers. The results are presented of an in the air passages of the worker is not very investigation of workroom atmospheres great (from 3 to 10%) and the fraction from where different lacquer pigments are 1 to 5 microns in size is retained. But even sprayed under various fixed conditions. this small percent of dust retained com All air samples were taken during the spray- prises a large absolute amount, namely ing process at the breathing zone of the 5,728 to 14,200 particles per cu. cm. worker. The determination of the solid In spite of the fact that zinc is principally particles was made gravimetrically and appiled, fever was not in evidence among by means of the Owens' counter. The the workers. The chemical and micro testing for the content of volatile sub- chemical analyses of dust for zinc oxide stances was made by the combustion me- gave, however, negative results. Appar thod for determination of the general con- ently the conditions under which the zinc tent of organic materials, while the deter is melted and the following rapid cooling mination of the benzol content was made by are not favorable to oxidation of zinc in the the nitration method. On the basis of the air. The danger of the lead dust is sub analytical data the following industrial stantiated by symptoms of lead poisoning hygiene measures are suggested: (1) Con- among the workers. ducting the painting in closed isolated Local exhaust ventilation serves as the rooms in which the worker is not present; principal means of protection. I This, as the (2) d istinct directions for conducting the investigation has shown, is highly effective spraying operations; (3) immediate removal for dust and gases. of the painted objects from the workroom; Of importance also is individual protec- May, 1935] ABSTRACTS 59 while the amounts of dust and the size of the particles are considered to present a definite dust hazard. Then a medical investigation was conducted at 19 factories during which 915 workers were clinically examined, in some cases with x-rays. On the whole no clear signs of any prevalent silicosis were detected. Nor would it ap pear that "potters' rot" is expected to occur in these factories as in the Jinglish potteries. However, powdered flint does not seem to be used which is the principal cause of trouble for potters; on the contrary, coarse sand is mentioned as being employed to separate the ware in the saggers. Possibly the absence of flint accounts for the absence of prevalent silicosis.--E. L. Collis. The F unction of the State D epartment of P ublic H ealth in the Conthol of Pneumoconiosis. Frank J. Jirka. Illi nois Med. Jour., Nov., 1934, vl- 66, pp. 414-417. Laboratory Methods for the D etermi nation of Atmospheric P ollution Causing Pneumoconiosis. C. 0. Sappinglon. Ibid., pp. 417-421. The Health of Workers in D csty Trades. R. R. Sayers and J . J. Bloom field. Ibid., pp. 421-427. The Clinical D iagnosis oj^Silicosis. J . R. Head. Ibid., pp. 428-431. The Pathology of Pneumoconiosis. R. H. Jaffe. Ibid., pp. 431-437. Radiographic Visualization of F ibrosis Produced by D ust I nhalation. F. Flinn. Ibid., pp. 437-440. / A Study of the S putum in P ulmonary Asbestosis. R. C. Page. Am. Jour. Med. Sci., 1935, vol. 189, pp. 44~55. A brief rsum6 of pulmonary asbestosis is presented, with particular emphasis on the role played by asbestosis bodies and clumps. The technic for the demonstra tion of asbestosis bodies and elastic tissue in the sputum is described in detail, to gether with microscopic sections. A series of 38 cases of asbestos workers have been studied and kept under observa tion for a period of at least 5 years. In the 11 cases that died, the diagnosis of asbes tosis was verified by autopsy findings. Asbestosis bodies were found in every case but one. The "weathered" type of body was found in those exposed over a long period and those exposed for a short inter val showed small, thin bodies which empha sizes the point th at the number of bodies merely indicates the exposure to dust and that the type of body found is of pathologi cal significance. The presence of asbestosis clumps in the sputum is diagnostic of lung destruction but a negative finding does not rule it out. This has been confirmed by clinical and x-ray evidence. The presence of elastic tissue in the sputum signifies lung deterio ration and may be present in pulmonary asbestosis both with and without clumps or in asbestosis associated with tuberculosis. The incidence of tuberculosis in this series of cases was 21% which is in accord with other workers. The author suggests rou tine examination of the sputum in suspected cases of asbestosis.--L. M. Morse. P ulmonary Asbestosis. D. S. Egbert. Amer. Rev. Tb., 1935, vol. 31, pp. 25-34Necropsy findings on a case of asbestosis with 13 years exposure in the carding room of an asbestos factory. A clinical diagnosis of this case was reported by Soper (these Absts., 1931, vol. 13, p. 49). Death occurred suddenly from heart failure 4 years after the onset of symptoms and 3J years after dis continuing work. No evidence of infection was detected. Pleural cavities were ob literated by fibrous adhesions. Lungs re tained their shape, were firm and non crepitant. The interlobar fissures were obliterated. On section entire right upper lobe and apex of left upper lobe were dry, firm and mottled black and grey. The remainder of the lungs were abnormally firm, mottled red and grey. Smears of the cut surfaces showed large numbers cf asbestosis bodies. On microscopic exami nation pigmented hyalinized fibrous con nective tissue deposits were observed around the bronchioles and bronchi. Sec tions from the right upper lobe revealed a diffuse obliterating dense fibrosis with only an occasional recognizable air space. Asbestosis bodies, described in some detail, were numerous throughout the areas of fibrosis. The tracheobronchial lymph nodes showed some proliferation of the 60 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [17, no. S reticulum, pigmentation and rare asbestosis bodies. The heart, weight 375 gms., showed ventricular hypertrophy and dila tation of the right side. The discussion of this case report contains a table summariz ing the anatomical findings from 28 cases of asbestosis collected from the literature.-- L. U. Gardner. Asbestosis and T uberculosis of the Lunqs. L. Marte. Zlschr. f. Tbc., 1935, vol. 73, pp. 11-15. A woman was employed in an asbestos factory from 1920 to 1925 and again from November, 1931 to September, 1932. In November, 1932, she showed the first signs of illness, and in 1934 was shown to have asbestosis and tuberculous cavities in the lungs.--L. Telehy. Calcium Content of the B lood of Workers in the Cement Industry. I. D. Michenine and E. 1. Sweinek. Md. du Trav., Nov., 1934, vol. 6, pp. 311-333. The calcium content of the blood of work men employed in the dustiest parts of cement plants is increased and sometimes reaches 18.8 mg. per 100 cc. The potassium and sodium content is about normal; there is an increase of magnesium in some workmen. Determination of the blood calcium may serve as an aid in estimating the quantity of dust in the lungs of workmen. The presence of calcium in the blood makes indispensable a thorough study of the problem of cement from several aspects, especially with regard to the other constit uents.--Authors' summary. P rotective Action of B eryllium A gainst Certain I ndustrial D usts. S. M. Fabrcni. Med. del Lav., Dec. 31, 1934, vol. 35, pp. 441-444Experiments with animals (rabbits) poi soned with lead acetate and with arscnious acid lead the author to the conclusion that beryllium hydroxide has some protective action.--L. T. Fairhall. C hronic Manganese P oisoning in I n dustry. J . Dantin-Gallego. Abslr. as foliotes from Rev. San. e. Rig. Pblica, 1934, vol. 9, pp. 370-378, in Bull. Hyg., Jan., 1935, vol. 10, p. 18. The author reviews the condition of man ganese poisoning for the past century and gives a general account of its symptomatol ogy. He then describes the case of a man of 27 years whose work entailed the mixing of pyrolusite (MnO-OH), graphite and other substances. This man and two colleagues dealt with "30-50 quintals" of pyrolusite daily (1i--2^ tons). Early in the second year after he started this employ ment he experienced a sense of fatigue and somnolence and of insecurity on walking, especially if he moved backwards. Once he fell as he was getting on his cycle to go to work. At the hospital, examination showed red blood cells 5,350,000 per cmm., and blood pressure 115/80; Wassermann negative. His face had the Parkinsonian mask-like expression; no alteration of sen sation. A few days later he had attacks ol marked muscular rigidity and retraction of the head lasting about 10 minutes and end ing in tremor. Urinary examination yielded no manganese, but there were 7.5 mg. in 1<>' gm. feces. Other authors have shown that manga nese tends to accumulate in the lungs, liver, intestines, and kidneys. Some have re corded lesions in the corpus striatum and the caudate nucleus. Prevention consists in the use of mask* and the avoidance of dust in the mixing rooms. Treatment is said to be purely expectant. T he E ffects of E xposure to D ust in T alc Mills and Mines. W. C. Drectt. and J. M. DallaVallc. U. S. Pub. Htn.UK Repts., Feb. 1,1935, vol. 50, pp. 131-143. Two talc mills and mines in Northern Georgia were studied to determine the eon nection, if any, between talc dust exposure and tuberculosis mortality. The talc, con taining 10% tremolite and traces of frrr silica, is used in the manufacture of uteri marking pencils. Milling is incidental ir order to salvage waste. Sixty-six person, were given physical and roentgenologira! examinations. Of these thirty-six were employed and the others had been previ ously exposed. Dust samples collected by impinger and the U. S. Public Health Serr- , ice technic of counting showed exposure* ranging from 1672 million to 17.1 roillio* particles per cubic foot. A median parlit! USTRIL HYGIENE [17, no. S May, 1935] ABSTRACTS 61 The author reviews the condition of mananese poisoning for the past century and ives a general account of its symptomatol* gy. He then describes the case of a man ,f 27 years whose work entailed the mixing pyrolusite (MnO OH), graphite and iher substances. This man and two oileagues dealt with "30-50 quintals" of .rolusite daily (1J-2J tons). Early in the jcond year after he started this employ* ient he experienced a sense of fatigue and imnolence and of insecurity on walking, pecially if he moved backwards. Once e fell as he was getting on his cycle to go > work. At the hospital, examination lowed Ted blood cells 5,350,000 per cmm, >d blood pressure 115/80; Wassermann 'gative. His face had the Parkinsonian ask-like expression; no alteration of senition. A few' days later he had attacks of arked muscular rigidity and retraction of .e head lasting about 10 minutes and endg in tremor. Urinary examination yielded >manganese, but there were 7.5 mg. in lt>'< a. feces. Other authors have shown that mang::- se tends to accumulate in the lungs, liver, estines, and kidneys. Some have rc"ded lesions in the corpus striatum and i caudate nucleus. Prevention consists in the use of mask.* J the avoidance of dust in the mixing ms. Treatment is said to be purely oeetant. *izc of 0.8 microns was found in 2 Owens atory manifestations were not more samples. Sanitary conditions and venti numerous among the quarrymen than lation facilities were very poor. among the others; nor, indeed, than among In the group exposed to the highest dust the general population. Of the quarrymen concentrations, comprising 33 men, 16 were 38%, and of the others 46% were free from found to have pneumoconiosis and five of any lung trouble; they coughed not, neither these also showed tuberculosis. No tuber did they spit, nor could any signs be found culosis was found uncomplicated by pneu in their lungs. The slate only contained moconiosis, and no pneumoconiosis was from 6 to 7% free silica; the rest consisted found in the group exposed to low concen of complex silicates, but sericite was plenti trations of dust. The high tuberculosis ful. This last point is of interest as being mortality rate in the county could not be against the idea that sericite is particularly attributed to the talc industry, but this harmful in dust.--E. L. Collis. sludy appears to show that Georgia talc is more injurious than tremolite talc, i.e., talc Chromium and its Compounds in Indus containing 40% or more of tremolite, as trial H ygiene. M. Dribr. Ann. reported in a previous study.--R. Page. d'Hyg. Pub., Indust, et Sociale, Jan., 1935, pp. 7-16. Is Thebe a P neumoconiosis of Slate A summary of the metallurgy and increas Workers? F indings from an Investi ing uses in industry of chrome and its com gation at Slate Quarries. A. Feil. pounds. The toxic effects of these sub Bull. Acad. Mid., Jan. , 1935, pp. 105- stances is reviewed. The article contains 109. nothing new.--E. L. Collis. An inquiry was carried out in Mayenne and Anjou in which 251 workers were ex Canceb of Skin and Increase in Inci amined; 70 worked in the quarries, and 181 dence of Primary Tumours of Lung in on the surface dressing slates. The quarry- Mice Exposed to D ust Obtained from men had far the greater exposure to dust. T arred Roads. J. A. Campbell. Abstr. Notwithstanding careful clinical examina from Brit. Jour. Exper. Path., 1934, vol. 15, tion with x-ray films, no definite signs of pp. 87-94, in Am. Jour. Cancer, Feb., ; any pneumoconiosis were detected. Respir 1935, vol. 3, p. 560. \ *ff DUST, SMOKE, FUMES, AND VAPORS: THEIR DETERMINATION AND ELIMINATION ie E ffects o f E xpo su re to D ust ix T alc M ills and M in e s . IV. C. D r e w . ;nd J. M. DallaValle. U. S. Pub. Htal'.K lepls., Feb. 1,1935, vol. 60, pp. 131-143. [Vo talc mills and mines in Northern orgia were studied to determine the con tion, if any, between talc dust exposure 1tuberculosis mortality. The talc, con ning 10% tremolite and traces of frer in, is used in the manufacture of tec! rking pencils. Milling is incidental tr. !cr to salvage waste. Sixty-six person -e given physical and roentgenologic! .ruinations. Of these thirty-six wrr* ployed and the others had been previly exposed. D ust samples collected by linger and the U. S. Public Health Serr* technic of counting showed exposure# ging from 1672 million to 17.1 milliaa tides per cubic foot. A median panic)* * Dust Control--P resent and F uture Design Considerations. T. Hatch. Stech. Engr., Mar., 1935, vol. 57, pp. 54-156. The need of revision and clarification of the legal aspects of the dust problem is discussed; and it is stated that the hygienic nd economic aspects of the problem can be tiled only through permanent elimina tion of dust from industry. Most pint design has been based on empirical formu la, unsubstantiated by a systematic correla tion of actual results with the details of design, coupled with an understanding of the physical properties of dust and the laws governing its dispersion and behavior in air. The value of a dust control system should not be measured in terms of the percent efficiency of the system but in terms of the concentration of dust at the breathing zone of workmen and in the air discharged from the equipment. The author discusses the physical proper ties of dusts, their motion through gases, the forces causing this motion, and the means of dispersion of dusts into the atmos phere. He shows that in dust control, the problem is the removal of dust laden, air from the source of dust generation, not the removal of dust from the air. Conse quently it is desirable to keep the dust in the least possible volume of polluted air. The area of throat, size and shape of hood, and volume of air exhausted are more important than the "static suction" at the throat of the hood in determining the hood's effectiveness in capturing dust.--R. Page. Y G IE N E [17, no. 5 osphine -were detected, but re so small that acute poisphorus smoke is scarcely nburned phosphorus vapor id. ew of the R ecent Liteba- Sturgis, R. Isaacs, S. M. . H. Bethell, and G. E. Farrar. . Med., June, 1935, vol. 55, '.%*** - of this review deals with ^ Metals, Drugs, and Radia- 7-1039), and covers lead, ar- _^ , gold, other metals and poi- ition.--H. N. Lawson. t* ECTS i'fl osis of the perilobular tissue ip , later changes to silicotic nodver becomes cirrhosed; one | | tr changes in the portal lymph ` liver, the spleen, and in the , all of which latter changes i ire slowly. In the lungs dur- * 1 of observation no distinctly mation occurred. The author it no mechanical action by the akes place b ut that the quartan l the resultant colloidal silicic"* nsible for the tissue prolifer**.' Hypothesis was confirmed by; a colloidal silicic acid in the1 aqueous silica-sol free of ele<j . protein.--L. Teleky. t&f the P athogenesis of T issue] in Silicosis. II. T he Qua* of Silicotic T issue. G .: fer. Arch.}. Gewerhepalh,, i9$SJ, i 8 ~s 7 - .r . ie practice with Timm's method ' ling abstract) one may detWjgW.-, ature of the dust deposits; thai^i detected by the Berim-blu* eanng red m the dark field, iron particles appear blue in tb* V* Especially.easy are the section*''1' / Kockel's method (Virchow**^; ,), 77, 856) with carbon tot***^, saturated with chlorine. T bt v.`>- lied also 3-5/* ashed paraffin **" " hioh the carbon disappear* 4* ashing while the iron imparts a rosy red with the chlorine-saturated carbon tetra color. On further treatment with aqua chloride there is obtained finally the silicic 'regia the silica residue alone remains. The acid shell and what Beger called the al technical procedure used is given in detail. buminous sheath (Eiweisshiille). (Cf. these The lungs of men who have been exposed Abstracts, author's name mistakenly given to various kinds of quartz dusts were ex as Berger, 1934, 16, 56). In spite of a t amined and quartz particles found in lung tempts with various strong reagents the sections and in sections from the liver, author could not cause these sheaths to spleen, and kidney which ordinarily would shrivel up. Ashing was attempted without have been considered quartz-free. In the success and the author finally concluded silicotic nodules were vast numbers of that the sheath of the asbestosis bodies is quartz particles generally less than 1 t not albuminous. Beger's theory explain while the silicosis-free portions contained ing the construction and destruction of the larger particles, 3-5 /*. This fact indi these bodies is felt to be incorrect and in cates a specific corrosive process which is contradiction to the evidence the author probably due either to direct solvent action has presented.--L. Teleky. of the body fluids on the dust particles or to (The photomicrographs in these three colloidal silicic acid. Colloidal silicic acid papers are unusually good and the technics is known to produce diffuse fibrosis (Gye & are given in considerable detail. We regret Kettle). that space does not permit more detailed The nodule formation is due to mechani abstracting.--Ed.) cal blockage of the lymph circulation by the dust deposits. The tissue around the de Modern Views on Silicosis. W. E. posits has a higher silica concentration, and Cooke. Jour. Hyg., May, 1935, pp. 207- proliferation of the connective tissue re 18. sults. The allegedly different effects of dif The author points out how silicosis is ferent kinds of rock dusts are thus ex caused by silica dust gaining access to the plained, for example, clays may decompose lungs. Such particles are fairly readily with varying degrees of colloidal silicic acid soluble in alkaline fluids; and the finer the formation. The author believes that particles, the more quickly are they dis neither Beger's nor Jones' methods (see solved. Other dusts, although sharp and these Abstracts, Beger (whose name mis angular, do not set up a fibrotic reaction. takenly appears as Berger), 1934, 16, 56; There is no sound evidence that silicates Jones, 1933, 15, 129), let them see the finest produce silicosis. Sericite, which has been quartz particles which can be seen by his blamed, occurs generally in the dust of Lan method, and he disputes both Jones' and cashire mines; but no silicosis occurs among Bcger's theories.--L. Teleky. the miners, except those men employed in drilling through sand-stone rocks to get at Studies on the Pathogenesis of Tissue the coal measures, Sericite particles are 'C hanges in Silicosis. III. N ew Stud plentiful in the lungs of the coal-miners, ies on the Nature of Asbestosis but fibrosis is absent. Other dust particles Bodies. G. F. Koppenhofer, Arch. f. found in coal may form the bases of "curi (h u-erbepath., 1935, vol. 6, pp. 38-62. ous bodies,'' similar to those seen in the By Timm's procedure (cf. Parts I & II lungs of asbestos workers. Asbestos is of this study) the author found vast num- unique among silicates in that it originates hi-rs of very fine needles in asbestotic lungs fibrosis; but possibly its bases are dissolved far in excess of the number of asbestosis by the tissue fluids and eliminated, leaving bodies. Their length was 2-3 /* and their behind a free silica fiber to be the true cause idili (1.0(16 (*-0.01 a- Since the asbestosis of the fibrosis.--E. L. Collis. bodies may be 10 a in length they cannot I">.-sibly be formed from these tiny needles. Some Roentgenological Observations By Knekcl's method (cf. Parts 1 & II of Regarding Pulmonary Silicosis in 'hi-- study) iron is found in all, including the P orcelain Workers. G. Jonsson. Ada Joung asbestosis bodies. By treatment Radiol., 19S5, vol. 16. pp. 431-538. y . . . ..