Document ay4gdkoDEaEjeeepoN9peRGa

4 The Right Hon. J. R. Clynes, M.P., His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department. * Home Office, Ylth March, 1930. Sm, I submit herewith a Report by Dr. E. R. A. Merewether and Mr. C. W. Price on their inquiries into the health conditions of the asbestos industry. Dr. Merewether's investigations on the medical side are of great scientific value. They establish the facts that the inhalation of asbestos dust over a period of years results in the development of a serious type of fibrosis of the lungs, that the development of the disease varies in direct proportion to the length of the exposure to dust, and that susceptibility to the disease is not affected either by age or sex. The remedy for these conditions is to be found, as in the case of so many industrial diseases, in the suppression of dust. The second part of the Report indicates that this point has only recently been appreciated. In the non-textile section of the industry, no serious difficulties arise as regards the application of exhaust ventilation. For the textile section, it is evident that a good deal of experimental work will have to be carried out before completely successful ventilating appliances are evolved effectively to remove all the dust. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, GERALD BELLHOUSE, H.M. Chief Inspector of Factories.