Document b581qVvNqmYgeXpkyxeGkv2b3

FILE NAME: Metropolitan Life (ML) DATE: 1936 Aug DOC#: ML044 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Journal Article by Dr. Lanza - When and How Silicosis Can be Contracted \ 1 ! f , 'ti i -t ! Glass--Enamel--Pottery CERAM IC INDUSTRY | World's Leading Ceramic Journal AUGUST, 1936 Vol. 27. No. 2 The Robinson-Patman Bill j For index to advertisements, including ! addresses of advertisers' main and | branch offices, see pages 139-141 INDUSTRIAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. 59 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, 111. Telephone: Harrison 9462 Harold H. Rosenberg, Publisher C. R. Lacey, Ass't. Publisher Fred L. Steinhoff, Editor Herbert V. Kaeppel, Managing Editor James M. Lange, Associate Editor < H. B. Foster, Jr., Technical Field Editor J. C. Richmond W HEREVER three business men gather these days a discussion of the Robinson-Patman anti-price discrimination bill is almost sure to take place. Originally conceived as an anti-chain store bill, the act is now so far-reaching in its implications that it threatens to affect virtually every manufacturer of goods sold at retail. Unfortunately, while business men may discuss the bill among themselves, there seems to be no way in which they can find out defi nitely just what it will mean to them and how it will affect their mar keting policies. Even lawyers trained in interpretation of legislation have given the act up as a bad job for the time being. Provision on Price Discrimination Wm. C. Hirsch, Eastern Editorial Mgr. [ Rahway. N. J.--Phone: Rahway 7-1422 E. H. Sykes, Pittsburgh Editorial Rep. 905 American Bank Bldg. Phone GRant <120 F. A. Guignon, Business Manager Paul Green, Advertising Representative Undoubtedly the act is potentially serious and carries implications of revolutionary character. What its ultimate effect will be depends, in our opinion, upon two things--the interpretation which the Federal Trade Commission, policing body, will place on its provisions and the extent to which the government is determined to enforce them. District Sales Representatives R. G. Smith, Vice-President and East ern Manager. 3757 85th St., Jackson - Heights, L. I., New York. Perhaps most important of its many provisions is that dealing di rectly with price discrimination. In its strictest interpretation this provision prohibits the sale of goods to one customer at higher or lower prices than to another customer. However the bill does not prohibit reductions in price to large buyers provided such discounts are justified by actual costs and are demonstrable by cost accounting practice. Un der the wording of the law the burden of proof in matters of dispute ; CERAMIC INDUSTRY is published every lies with the accused. If a manufacturer is accused of price discrim month and copyrighted. 1936, by Industrial [ Publications. Inc., 59 E. Van Buren Street, , ination it will be up to him to prove that he has not violated the law. Chicago. H. H. Rosenberg. presidenttreasurer; R. G. Smith, vice-president; F. I* The inference is that the Federal Trade Commission, the agency Steinhoff. vice-president: C. R. Lacey, secre charged with the policing of the act, will demand to see the books of tary and assistant treasurer. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation and Asso the accused company and those books must prove to the satisfaction ciated Business Papers, Inc. I of the Commission that the disputed differential actually has a basis in SUBSCRIPTION for Ceramic Industry t service: United States. 94 a year; three years, 98. Single copies (current Issue), 50 cents. Copies 3 months old, or more. 91.00 per copy. manufacturing cost. Affect Selling Practices Contents of previous Issues may be found I by consulting the Industrial Art Index In i y o u r library. There are many other provisions which will affect accepted selling practices of many manufacturers. Again, no one can say definitely how these provisions will affect them until they have been tested in law. Basing point and delivered price systems which result in uniform prices may be challenged where such prices, because of freight differ entials, result in higher f.o.b. prices to one customer than to another. OUR FRONT COVER Advertising allowances will certainly be challenged, unless such allowances are granted to all customers on proportionately equal terms. The interesting photo is that As nearly as can be determined, practically all the provisions of the of a section in the porcelain bill aim at practices which can be used by manufacturers as a means of storage room at the porcelain discrimination against one customer and in favor of another. Ap insulator plant of General parently selling practices which extend to all customers equally and E l e c t r i c Co., Schenectady. fairly, will not be interfered with. N. Y. Photo was supplied These few remarks are not an attempt on our part to interpret the through the courtesy of GE. bill but are set forth merely to stress the importance of all manufac turers familiarizing themselves with its provisions. Legal advice and counsel should be sought. Summing it up we might say that the bill is a mess but it would be 72 When and How Silicosis Can Be Contracted Only Dust Containing Free Silica in Very Finely Divided State Can Cause Silicosis--Control of Dust Conditions and Periodic Examinations Essential A. J. Lanza, MX>. A ssista n t M ed ical D irector, M etropolitan Life In s u ra n c e Co. N ew YorK C ity T HAT certain kinds of dust cause damage to the lungs when inhaled has been known for centuries. Even the ancients knew that there was a definite relationship between mining in certain kinds of rock and a disease which was evidenced by short-winded ness, which they called asthma. A number of other terms have been used to describe this condition, such as min er's consumption, miner's phthisis, grinder's rot, and potter's asthma--all meaning the same disease which is now generally known throughout the world as silicosis. In modern times, the introduction of tools operated by compressed air, used for drilling, cutting, and shipping rock, has caused dust diseases of the lungs to become fairly wide-spread and to oe an important source of disability among industrial workers. There is only one kind of dust that produces a typical disease, with characteristic symptoms, which we call silicosis, and that is dust containing free silica (SiO-) in a very finely divided state. Dusts containing silica in combination, with the exception of asbestos, are not, as far as we know, responsible for any appreciable amount of disability. Nose Is Effective Filter The human body has a very efficient protective mechanism against inhaling dusts in the atmosphere. The construc tion of the nose, the naso-pharynx, and the wind-pipe is such that these pas sages filter out from the air much of the foreign material that may be in it. It is only when this protective mechan ism is subjected to continuous severe straining that it breaks down. Silicosis is a disease which comes on very gradually and, in most forms of industrial exposure, takes from 10 to 15 and even 20 years to develop. This is one of the important facts about silicosis which should be kept in mind. A great deal of laboratory research has established definitely that dust par ticles, to get into the lung, have to be exceedingly small, so fine, indeed, that they can traverse the terminal air pas sages or bronchioles and thus reach the air lobuies where the physiological process of breathing takes place. Most of the dust particles which get into the lungs are between one and three mi crons in size (a micron is 1/25000 of an inch). At the most, ten microns would be the largest size which will reach the lungs. The second important fact, therefore, to remember about sili cosis is that siiica dust must be exceed ingly fine before it can penetrate the lungs. Furthermore, a silica dust is harm ful in proportion to the amount of sil ica it contains. Obviously the higher the percentage of siiica, the more dan gerous the dust, so that we see the most aggravated, or what is sometimes called the "classical" form of silicosis, under those circumstances where the dust is almost pure silica (chert, flint quartz). We base our estimation of the severity of the silica dust hazard in any given situation upon the amount of siiica contained in the dust and upon the amount of dust in the air. For determining the amount of dust in the air, the standard method devel oped by the United States Public Health Service and United States Bu reau of Mines is used in this country. The instrument used is known as the impinger and the results obtained are remarkably accurate. Other instru ments are in use, but in this country the impinger is standard. Wnen dust samples are taken in industrial estab lishments, the result is expressed in millions of particles, under ten mi crons in diameter, per cubic foot of air. One advantage of the impinger is that it can operate continuously, making it possible to obtain very large air sam ples, which in turn tends to cut down the margin of error. The instrument is simple, can be readily moved and set up, and, as a rule, is placed on a level with and near the faces of tne workmen so as to sample the actual air which they inhale. ___ From the health viewpoint, we have no hard and fast limits of air dusti ness, with respect to what is safe or what is dangerous. The various stud ies which have been made, however, seem to indicate that if the dust con tains any appreciable amount of free silica, the dust count should be kept Ignorance, the tabloids and unethical legal practice have blown up the subject of silicosis to the proportions oi a nightmare lor i all employers who have workers operating in dusty conditions. Millions of dollars oi legal expenses have been home by the ceramic industry alone. In most cases the suits were ruled in favor of the employer and in some instances revealed the ac tions of unscrupulous lawyers. State legislators have taken up the subject and in some districts are threatening manufacturers with unfair compensation rates. Feeling that m any producers of ceramic products are seeking the truth about the silicosis menace, we have been fortunate to have Dr. Lanza present the facts from the medical viewpoint. Last winter. Dr. Lanza gave an excellent and exhaustive talk on thin subject before the U. S. Potters Association. This brief article contains all the facts. From the standpoint of preventatives and equipment con trolling dust conditions, the problem is urgent CERAMIC INDUSTRY would like to hear from manufacturers what they have done in their plants to handle the dangers of silicosis. 93 i.N L ' U C i I\ I - v u ir u s .. i y o '. i below ten million particles. Even ten million particles of a highly siliceous dust is not a safe limit. Dust sampling requires a careful and accurate tech nique and considerable experience is necessary before consistently reliable results are obtained. Industries are beginning to train laboratory techni cians to do this work, as in order to keep a dust hazard under control, pe riodic checking is essential. It was supposed formerly that the bad effect of inhaling silica dust was due to the hardness and sharpness of the dust particles themselves. We now know that this is not so. We do not know exactly how the dust acts in the lungs but the indications are that silica is a tissue poison. Whether it causes its effects by going into solution or par tial solution in the lung tissue is still a matter for further study. Silicosis Leads to Tuberculosis Besides its direct action upon the lung tissue, one of the effects of con tinued exposure to silica dust, which has been noted in the various parts of the world where this disease has been studied, is that it causes the individual who has contracted silicosis to become peculiarly susceptible to tuberculosis. The more severe the silica dust expos ure, the more apt is tuberculosis to result. While silicosis may cause dis ability and death in the absence of tuberculous infection, it has not been frequently observed to do so in indus trial experience. While it is possible for the individ ual with silicosis to contract other types of infection, tuberculosis is the only one of real practical importance. Those individuals who die from silico sis are found, in the great majority of cases, to have tuberculosis also. Just what is the relationship between these two diseases is as yet unknown, but it would seem as if the presence of silica in the lung tissues makes a favorable situation for the growth of the germ of tuberculosis. When an individual with silicosis develops tuberculosis, the latter may be essentially chronic and run on for a number of years, but if the exposure to silica has been very severe, the progress of tuberculosis may be quite rapid and cause death in a few years after the infection has first become manifest. As would naturally be expected, sili cosis comes on gradually and insidi ously. The'first symptom is a short ness of breath on exertion. This shortness of breath increases slowly but surely, and when the disease is well established, will impair working abil ity considerably or even cause total disability. In the early and moder ately advanced stages, the affected in dividual looks well, may show a tend ency to put on weight, and aside from the distress caused by physical exer tion, feels well. This short-wind, or dyspnoea as the doctors call it, is a very clearcut and definite symptom and in well established cases, it is notable because it seems to be so out of pro portion to the general healthy appear ance of many of the patients. There is apt to be a dry cough and a tendency to "catch cold" frequently. Occasion ally, there may be some spitting of blood but it is unusual to have a frank hemorrhage such as we see in consump tives. Symptoms of Silicosis As the disease progresses, pains in the chest are common and may give rise to considerable discomfort. When tuberculosis has become planted upon silicosis, we may see the symptoms commonly associated with the former disease, that is, profuse expectoration, loss of appetite, loss of weight, night sweats, and an afternoon rise of tem perature. Sometimes these symptoms come on with dramatic suddenness and the patient grows rapidly worse. Even when it is obvious from the symptoms and general condition of the patient that tuberculosis is present, the germs of tuberculosis may not be found in the sputum until a relatively short time be fore death. Where the exposure to silica dust has not been very severe, symptoms may not show up for many years; there may be some short-wind, but it does not develop to a point sufficient to impair working ability and with this type of exposure, we frequently see men with silicosis still able to carry on their work in good shape, many of them having reached their sixties and seventies. In other words, where the silicosis hazard is mild, it may not shorten appreciably the individual's working life. However, it should be remembered that if we study the mor tality figures of those exposed to what might be termed the less severe types of silica exposure, we will find that the death-rate from tuberculosis among them is greater than that for wageearners as a whole. Examination by X-Ray If we examine a man who is in the early or moderately advanced stage of silicosis, we may find little on physical examination to confirm the diagnosis. He may exhibit no physical signs other than somewhat impaired breath sounds. If the man is heavily built, with large muscles, it is difficult to get any defi nite impression from an ordinary phys ical examination. For this reason, we have to turn to the X-ray film in order to establish a diagnosis. The appear ance of siiicosis on the X-ray film is definite and clear-cut and should not be confused with other diseases of the chest. When making examinations of men, among whom it is thought that there might be silicosis, it is exceedingly im portant to get a careful, accurate, oc cupational history. Not every man who is short-winded has silicosis, even though he may have been exposed to varying quantities of silica dust at one time or another. The diagnosis is based upon a history of exposure to silica dust together with the charac- tenstic X-ray film. The physician should know the severity ox tr.e ex posure and the length of time during which the individual has been exposed. A careful weighing of these facts en ables him to make a diagnosis. If the X-ray film does not show the charac teristic appearance of silicosis, a posi tive diagnosis cannot be made. As a rule, when the silicotic has also become tuberculous, we can determine that fact from the X-ray film. Occa sionally the examining physician will see films from which it is not possible to state with certainty whether tuber culosis is or is not present. It should be remembered that the absence of tu berculosis germs in the sputum does not rule out tuberculous infection. For accurate and satisfactory X-ray diagnosis of silicosis, it is essential to have a good apparatus and to use it properly. In the same individual we can obtain films quite dissimilar in ap pearance by varying the time of ex posure and the intensity of the cur rent; consequently, a correct technique is all important. Much experimenta tion and study have indicated that, for uniformly satisfactory results, an X-ray apparatus should be used which is capable of taking a film at a dis tance of from forty-eight to seventytwo inches with an exposure not slower than one-tenth of a second. We cannot obtain satisfactory films unless the patient holds his breath and the faster we can "shoot" him, the more apt we are to get a good film. While a well-advanced case of silicosis can generally be determined from a single film, it is better to obtain stereo scopic films. With stereoscopic films, we are able to view two exposures in a suitable viewing box which gives us the third dimension, namely depth, and greatly lessens the chance of error, es pecially in early cases where precise diagnosis is so important. It should be remembered that most of us who are past our fortieth year will show various lines and shadows in the X-ray films of our chests which do not indicate disease and are compatible with good health. Consequently, he who takes it upon himself to interpret X-ray films of dust diseases of the lung should be thoroughly familiar with the variations in the appearance of the ordinary, healthy chest. Early Silicosis May Clear Up If a man has early silicosis and is removed from further dust exposure, his disease may not progress and may clear up somewhat. If the silicosis, however, is well established--that is, if there is any considerable amount of damage to the lungs--there is a tend ency for the silicosis to progress even after removal from further dust ex posure. There is some question as to whether in these cases the silicosis ac tually does progress unless the patient is also infected. Where there is a marked progress, after exposure to dust has ceased, it is probable that tu bercle infection is present. I *> ( > / ' & V Ir-r f ' \ in a paper puo.isned in 1934. Lanza and Vane endeavored to estimate the number of persons exposed to the sil ica dust hazard m industry. It was not possible to make an accurate esti mate, but from the statistics avail able, it would seem that there are at least a half million persons so exposed and that this figure is quite conserva tive. Among tnose trades and indus tries having a siiica nazard are found those included under the general head ing of ceramic industry in this coun try. In fact, some of the earliest studies of silicosis were made in Eng lish potteries where the disease was known as "potter's rot." A compre hensive report on silicosis in the pot tery industry tvas published in Eng land in 1926. Recent studies have also been made in Danish potteries. In the United States, Dr Paul A. Quamtance published a study of pottery workers in the American Journal of Public Health in December, 1934. Glass, porcelain enamel, pottery and refractories all present silica dust haz ards in some phases of the work. All in all, it may be estimated that the number of persons exposed to siiica dust in the ceramic industry is roughly 75,000. Much of this hazard is mild or moderate, some of it is severe, in any instance, the method of dealing with the hazard is the same. 1. Every possible effort must t>e made to prevent silica dust from get ting into the air where it can be in haled by the workman. Tms implies controlling the dust at tne point of origin eitner by exnaust systems or en closing the process. It is very seldom that engineering skill cannot cope with any situation that presents itself. It may De expensive but in the long run is less so than damage suits and claims for total and permanent disability. 2. Where the dust cannot be entire ly eliminated, respirators, of a type approved by the Government, should be supplied and their use insisted upon. For some types of work, a positive pressure face mask is desirable. 3. Applicants for work should be examined to make sure that men with tuberculosis are not exposed to a dust hazard. 1. Employes who are or have been exposed to a silica hazard should be examined from time to time to guaid against serious lung damage and to detect possible tuberculosis. The ceramic industry must attack dust and dusty processes with the same energy, determination and intelligence with which they have attacked -afety Hazards. Tnere is no reason wny tne> should not be as successful m dealing with dust hazards as with safety haz ards. Potters to Discuss 20% W age Demand on Oct. 11 The labor committee of the United States Potters Association will begin negotiations with the National Brother hood of Operative Potters for a new wage agreement without specific in structions from the parent body. This agreement was announced following the July 2S meeting of the general ware potterv manufacturers at Con gress Lake Country club near Canton, Ohio. Charles E. Goodwin of East Liver pool, secretary-treasurer of the asso ciation, said tnat the brotherhood's 71 resolutions, headed by a demand for a general 20 per cent wage increase, were ignored at the sessions. Thirty-four plants in Ohio, Wes: Virginia. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and New York were represented. The majority of those in attendance were executives of major pottery plants in the upper Ohio valley. It is said that the 20 per cent blanket HIGH JINKS AT THE CHICAGO SECTION A.C.S. GOLF TOURNAMENT SPORTSMAN GOLF COURSE I 1. Bob Claeysseus, as usual, wins first prize. 2. That broad grin of "Woody" Woodruff's is in appreciation of the zipper bag he won. 3. Right to left, Sherman Goble. Mundy and Zelenka. 4. The host, Charlie Lechner, Inland Glass Works, manager of Sportsman Golf Course. 5. Ken Strong couldn't hold still for the camera. 6. Bart Fenessy teeing off. 7. Fairlie, et al., relaxing after dinner. 8. Barney Radeliffe and George Arras alibiing-- 9, 10 & 13 First Tee 11. Aydelott, Dana Chase. Bert Sweely and Ken Strong. 12. Fred Buck giving advice. t T h e back, sides, upright drum and b o tto m o f this b arb er chair are m ade o f T oncan Iron Enam eling Stock. R epublic produces p lain car<n s t e e l , c o p p e r - b e a r i n g steel, copper bearing iron. 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That is why we have set up special laboratories to srudv enameling piohhin-. wicnnhi ail and to maintain rhe consistently high quality of American V itri n a m k l Sheets. Researches like those pictured heie point our clearh rlu- causes ol detects, whether ill the steel or 111 the enameled coat, and show us how to make finer enameling sheets in a variety ot different grades. -- each the best tor its particular enameling job. Safeguarded by this ics eur ch. vou can standardize on American V i t ri. nvmi . i. Sheers with the assurance that your stock will withstand the most sew cue di awing and forming o p e i . m o i l s , anneal properly, weld cleanly, t u r n o u t flatware free from warpnge, and always present a clean uniform surface with the right tex ture tor maximum enamel adherence. Let us help you reduce defects and turn our better porcelain enam eled products. We invite you to consult our laboratories about any enameling problem -- and suggest vou standardize on American V i t r envmkl Sheets ot the correct grade tor whatever type of enameling vou are doing. ILLUSTRATION N o . T - - ^ " ~ " ~ A w h ite Bnished article was refected be* cause oi black loots, i s this cross-section photo-m icrograph the white coat is seen to continue intact beneath thedefect. W ith this knowledge the rem edy is plain -- simply to exclude the dark partteiea which are becom ing em bedded during the firing operation. D arkheld illnnuoation. 50x. ILLUSTRATION No. 3 T hese tiny eracks in a formed article opened during draw ing because of a seam y condition in the steel. In making A m erican Vitrenam e) Sheets, we clip ali dirt and segregated t r e u from the ingot Deiore the steel >s ro lled . T h e resu ltin g s h e e ts are sofr.ductile end uniform throughout.ready to take the m ostdrastie drawing and form ing w ith ns cracktat. O b iiq n e lig h t. 10x. ""V :>- \-. ' V*>r---' t / -v-W * ILLUSTRATION No. 2 A rough enamel condition viewed " heado n ." T his defect it the result of white refrectory particles in the fired ground coat enamel. Isolation and exclusion oi this m aterial will prevent further delects of this k in d . O b liq u e light. 50x. ILLUSTRATION No. 4 A recen t developm ent in the m icroscopic exam inaiion of enameling defects. A small section containing the detect is mounted in a block oi transparent plastic, so that many croea-scctions through the defect may be polished end examined m icroscop ically. Tw ^-third* size iU axtratioas / r e a r " The Praperttes a n d M anafactara a f P a ru lain E n a m tlsa t S k t r t t " by H . . MaaUaa, Sc. . A capy w ilt tla d ly b* m I m ratwtf. AMERICAN VITRENAMEL SHEETS CARNEGIE-ILLINOIS STEEL CORPORATION With which has been consolidated American Sheet and Tin Plate Company Pittsburgh llpr3 Chicago C olum bia Steel C om pany, San F rancisco. 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