Document byYomrVN45qDyLEGvapeer8bO

FILE NAME: Metropolitan Life (ML) DATE: 1927 DOC#: ML057 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Newspaper Article - Company Works to Control 'Miner's Con in Joplin Zinc Mines MW7 th e intelligence i tsursoce investigation of eleven Z* SCO this Company came, not f. unsca thed b u t w ith the com- th a t would be the pride of a n in ay vocation of life? " f , because they built this great to help men of my kind to 'up from the ranks--at twenty of age I was working for $6 a They didn't grow from the top. went from the bottom and grew /a n d Goo alone knows the number [.children they have kept out of waa asylums, the number of women id men they have kept away from the doors of charity organizations. To sum up I will just use a few words of poetry to explain to you what was tlie foundation, in my judgment, of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company: "They were manned by men with integrity, With temperance no pleasure could seduce, A meekness no trouble could arouse, A patience neither insult nor loss could overwhelm. An integrity no money could buy or interests change." __ pm pany Works to Control Liner's Con in Joplin Zinc Mines to any of the "hard-rock" mines of the world, in Canada, Austxalla or the United States, the '/ African Rand or the "big hill" in Df^/Mont-, and watch thousands oi m going to the mines where gallows and mine houses, skeleton-like area, stand over well-like shafts; them enter the cages which drop sometimes thousands of feet id, and follow them to the and raises where they extract gold, , zinc or copper from the veins of ore at thread the earth. S$Soneof the miners walk slowly, hesitatf i an d once in a while they stop for a . These are the men whose lungs have "dusted," They have "miner's eon" .. f'sflicosis'' as the doctors call it, lx-cause gcldflic silica in the dust. Some of these j3pa> too, have tuberculosis as well. S?&pjeminers work in a dusty atmosphere, b r-it. is hard to ventilate underground, pcLhard rock dust arises from blasting, *" " a g and boulder popping. Much of ts-dnst is controlled by water, which is Tin drilling and in wetting down muck SJhhaling the tiny particles of silica dust a|Ures the lungs, which, irritated and in- become fibroid. A scar-like tissue which has none of the normal .icity of the lung. Breathing is imgtttcffi'aad as the disease attacks both , th e n Is a gradual lowering of vital ___ `. 'Shortness of breath, coughing, 'of weight and weakness cut into a of work when miner s licosu attacks him. ^Miner's coo" is not infectious, nor is .contagious. I t carries a great menace, ywimever, because the injured lung, to- rw ith lowered vitality in the whole afford an ideal condition for the at of tuberculosis. It is well th at men with dusted lungs are bsiHy susceptible to tuberculosis, /th is happens, not only is the miner [with early death, or at least a bbpelcB future, but he is a source of danger to others, his fellow workers, his family and the community. This infec tion is a factor of prime importance to the health and hygiene of the community. The hazards in hard rock mines arc so great that when a worker wants insurance he pays extra for it: page 391 of the Metropolitan rate book tells the story-- "Joplin, Mo. lead and zinc mines, sheet ground miners; special class B; no dis ability, no double indemnity." Several years ago the o]>crators in this particular section, which centers around l'ichcr, Okla., and extends up to Joplin, Mo., made a study of Group insurance. One clause appealed to them particularly, considering the conditions they faced in the mining industry in the Joplin sector. Group insurance could be bought without a medical examination, regardless of age. Many operators bought Group insurance, conscious of the fact that Group policies gave the miners a necessity which cost so much under ordinary circumstances they couldn't buy as much protection as they needed. Another thing that appealed to the Joplin operators was the effective work the Metropolitan had done along lines of health and sanitation. Many of the operators bought Metropolitan Group in surance, and about a year ago the Metro politan initiated a special health service, a cooperative experiment similar in aim to other investigations made by the Com pany in Framingham and in Thctford Mines. ABOUT a year ago the Policyholders jTa. Service Bureau learned the United States Bureau ofMines would be interested in expanding the Bureau of Mines clinic in Picher and in making a more intensive study of health conditions, so the United States Bureau of Mines, the Metropolitan, and the operators in the tri-State region, combined forces and rnlargcd the existing clinic. As m any of the operating mines in the lead and zinc field are covered by Group policies, tlie Company was vitally interested in a community health proliteii which definitely affected the mortnlitv and morbidity of its Groups. A memorandum which embodied the suggestion for a cooperative experiment reached the Prusidkxt. "Would tlie Metropolitan be willing to contribute an annual sum for a clinic in the Picher min ing region to study silicosis, its effects anti to formulate remedial measures?" "Yes," was the reply, and the Metro politan agreed to contribute an annual appropriation of $8,(XX). provided the United States Bureau of Mines contrib uted S8,tKM) and the local operators, S16,(XX). T HE clinic was financed for a htmmI of three years. It offers free medical ex amination to all the miners in the district. Us general purpose is to examine miners and diagnose their cases, and to carry on educational work tending to eliminate silicosis and tuberculosis. Tlie building which houses the clinic was built by the mine owners, and I)r. F. V. M iSRIWUTHBR, of the United States Public Health Service, assisted by a staff of Government physicians, is conducting it. On some days they examine eighty men, and they expect to examine 14,(Kill before their work is through. Two clerks interrogate the miners and fill in the in formation on an examination card. The miners go to the X-ray room where their chests are X-rayed by one of the best machines purchasable, operated by a skilled technician. I.ate in the afternoon Dr. MilKiWHTimR holds a conference with the other physicians, the X-ray films taken the day liefore are put on view and are read in conjunction with the man's history of clinical findings, and a final diagnosis determined.. Kacli physician has a s|>cckd field of interest in the investigations anil is gathering data for his particular branch of research. Assistant Medical Director Lanza, who was largely responsible for bringing the Metropolitan, the operators and the United States Bureau of Mines together in establishing the Picher Clinic, says that the cooperation of the operators and miners augurs well for the investigation. "The miners and their families are prac tically nil of American stock. They arc intelligent, independent and industrious. They are efficient and individually take out more rock than any other miners in the country. Many of them prosper, and it is a common saying in southwestern Missouri that every miner is a prospective operator. The wages arc good. " It is to the interest of the miners, of the operators and the Metropolitan, in cidentally, since tlie Company has Group insurance on most of the miners in the region, to Have a high degree of sanitation and good health in the region. " laick of funds have prevented making ! investigations of silicosis comparable to j if / !' / V Tni. PKs.SIDE.NT; The attached memoranda relate to a project for studying and eliminating the prevalence of Tuberculosis among miners in zinc mines in the Joplin zinc field. You annrovad. in principle, the project on my memoranaum to you of October 8. ..... ' "-- ... We have further discussed the matter with the United States Bureau of Mines and have received from them, after this discussion, a draft of co-operative agreement between the Department of Commerce and the Metropolitan, which is the customary basis upon which the Department enters into prqpcts of this character. Dr. Wright's and Dr. Lanza*3 memoranaum of January 18 attached, comprehensively covers this subject. The agreement and that memorandum requests an appropriation from tne Metropolitan for this purpose of 3,000 a year for tnree years. The direct and collateral results to be obtained from this undertaking, in my judgment, not only warrant tne expenditure, but make it desirable. It also should prove finar.ci-ily profitable. I, therefore, respectfully request your authorization to proceed in the matter and to execute the agreement, after submission to our General Counsel. January 20, 1927. jS '~ - 1 4t R / " I 'cc-.rc.'icc.'.t ; ; j- > 1-r J. ::vTJ: C?t .-r-en-ih r *. ' - I TC g Thi; c-oiaorandum. is sup..li!2X-r.tar; to th/ t of Ccrtcrhor l'-'G ragr-rd- lu e h er I t k conditions in the Joplin lcr.d end rir.c mining districts. The President .uidics.tc.-d to you his willingness to consider c defii.itc proposal for t h e maintenance, in cooperation trith the 3urec.\i of Hines, cf & clinic in this region. On December 10, 1926, Dr. R. h. Ssyor3, Chief Surd on of the U.S. Dureru of /ilinrc, visited this office end tv question of cooperative activities in the Joplin district was throughly discussed between Dr. Snyers, Mr. Er:erc, Dr. Lansu end Dr. bright. It rcc agreed that on his return, to Vk.shingtor., Dr. fryers would licvr prepared a contract outlining terns or. which cooperative irork bct~?c-r. the Metro politan Life Insurance Conpeny and the U.f. Bureau of Hines might he u. 'rtrk.en. The occupational disease present with unusxu-l intensity in the Jvplin district is nSilico3i3" or '`Hiners* Phthicis". It has been Intersivoly studied in the pest *" years. The first investigation of silicosis in the United Etr.ter. wr.-s carried out by Dr. Lanse., then Chief Surgeon of the Bureau of Hines, ir. the Joplin district in 1915. Later Dr. Frederick Hoffro nTs book on "iiortnlity fr - Tuberculosis in the Bu3ty Trades", served to dratr further attention to the general .ucrtlon of the du3t hazard emcr.g industrial workers and its relationship to tubereulo.-rie. In vestigations, mostly of a preliminary nature, mere carried or. by the .uroau of ?.!inc3, tho U.S. Public Health Service, Professor T.`iri3lon and a cmr.ll group of assis tants (U.P. Public Health Service) at Yale; end Dr. Pancoast, Dr. I r r c i r r.r.d the Phipps Institute group in Philadelphia. Thd. investigative - tfc has race .crersi"r-ly aprerc: t ire m p o r ce of oilier-Ir.dei: curt -if an industrial health :r.sr.rd. Sut. dust not ~v.ly 7 :.-oc-ices true silicosis, which is itself disabling - but also, for ro: sons r.'r.Lc'r. ;r "ot yet entiresli clear, greatly prcdirposcs it3 victims to tubci-culoslr. T-x f'ct tint deaths of miners arc reported as duo to tuberculosis has served to rank the importacc of the underlying fctors of silicosis as a predisposing cause of iuborculoais. rilicosis 2a is found among hard rock (metal) miners, occasionally among coal miners, and .iso among :-*:39 I M e r y makers, cutlery makers, quarryneti, subway construction Korkcr3 In Jltv York City,; ang among the multitudinous occupations which involve grinding through the use of a oandstona ur other grinding wheels. In the light of our experience in the Joplin c1i3trict with both Life and Health claims, the importance of silicosis from an insurer ance standpoint ia apparent. Uo ihQure all but one of the larger mining groups oper-^ ating in this field, and Insure"other properties of this exception cineshore. Tio liavti numerous Industrial end Ordinary polioyh- 'ders who must incidentally "oro the of this industt *1 situation*^!... v ., *sa1i/H ou minors iii this tp w ' l e e t V.; H incurx'C-rl on 11. but, s i x rn r.ll -'ontr. etti, a toU-1 d e f i c i t , n fii crri.cc premium o f fil? ,6 S O , t e *.**-b ray { added fH C s V id ,;.cr. to t w pvnqa. The A ctu arial V siex. ... c o t iix lu o th a t the lone ' , ..::ount.:c to - ' bed tiio Groups bc-er. ariti.- u ^ n the en rrcal r tie ir c tlr .g ). ., S ' *'*10 Groups* civ* : o.. .a y i o pre-niur. varying fr.,n stardM-d plus : -'"; id r f 1 Plu c ihoul the previous exp erien ce ecr.Lir.uo, ; nriuning no 'r r..i rr on Group? now in f o r c e , th e crtirrati.d lor-r fo r I f f 7 io The r.:cr. p* '~r* /tn rtv nr- 57< o f ` ho l i years exposed v.r.re c.t age 50 or I cds ego 59 or -- or.. The clr-in /.rr fl co 25, i? fi'ff if the expected: ; t aper Zl to 55, ?SDr* o f the- expected; r t ' npcr- ` 6 to 4C, of the o x > ctcd ; vo for i l l ngea, 210$ o f the criv s t u h It ir f i n e s t <xioratic liii.t there young miners die within ton years o f t h e ir in-, undergrov '. 0. the o:v hundred death or permanent tot 1 'sabi.' 'ty eie inn incurred, 52 (r.r death, 29 P.'i.D.) liavo teen for tuberculonis (bd) or e.hor ree* '.-story o:occ.ccb . 'orrtoon have beoti for accidente, 9 of occupciticnol origin, or a .otcl of 61$ rll oleins incurred attributable to working oonortions. ;?cn' t. The experience undor Group Health policies is scarcely lees ciscstivms. Since August , 1924 there havo been placed 21 Group Health contract-E (2 have boon cancelled) with a neon umber of life yours exposed (December 51, 1926 or cate of cancellation) of r,352; livc3_in force 1,456. The actual deficit at the end of 1926 was 11,Oil on an earned premium of ^55,591. Six Group Health contracts . only showed t- surplus. Dividends cxcunting to 907 v.-orc paid to six Groups, including 1 of those snoring profit.* The Actuaries estimate that upon the h- sis of the '1020 minimum rate the loss would have mounted to ;11,157. Almost ell of the Groups are uovi upon e rate of from f1.97 to Al.75 per 10 of weekly benefit, but even upon this basis the estimated Io e ' ! for 1927, with promeut esperie -o, amounts to f ,164. he have in c few years incurred n total loe* of almost The. rotes have beer., generally, rdvt-rccd. There 13 in sight an annual deficit of over ',;,9>9 . on less than 2,500 lives, with the only roal hop-- of betterment lying in improvement of the health situsti' and in the institution a..- operation of proper noclicnism for the control of health and permanent uotal disability claims. .. The mining corapan*--o in the "Joplin Field" arc eager to remedy tho rii J ion. Th.oy have organized -the .,.1-2tate Lend and fine Producers' ArrocintIon which :kis acoorap1 d encollent results in the soy of safety and underground rrnatation. This Associa tion employs a competent cod well trained safety rngir.oc-r yu.o is in clr-rgt- of tho saf< activities for tho district and who has about 20 inspectors under him who visit t.ho oir.en constantly and whose efforts arc directed toward safely and dust control. ith this phase of tho industrial health situation coming iunior control, `hrough tho in itietivo and on+''vprioo of tho compt.nioc thomoelves, tho cooperative project liorein outlined bocono rforth vdU.lc. Ono c? tho unties of tho bureau of Minos (Department of Commerce) in to in- ... veatigntc hntilth conditions in tho mining industry. For tho past +~o yoriv tho Duroaij*1 of Minos lias maintained a nodical office in Fiehor xu.Jor tho dlroction of Dr. Sayers, J with n pliyolcian, x-rny equipment and n elork; tho intont of tho bureiiu's work is .:,j. i4* rw if ,r: " ^ T 0^ 110 t b ^ r t he2 ftid dlwr to th0 tact and. [orgy of Pr. Korrinothcr/ physician in^Srco, o n o ^ ^ w 1 r 0Ur Gr< ^ luvvc ^ ^ e ^ L P i S q t i c a n y l O ^ of^thedr emPl6j-c<33 :to b o ^ m i ^ V e s ~-- 7"C\v 3^_r`orna anu of PQrr 1T'q1 qfiyo_prcvontc-d _tho accumulated experience of thioofficQ P in.`ho forn of t h rpcorug^t^X-ijajrplato',-' iron bbing ^compiled Z" : .1L. ... ..je&exs*~gmr&>iH f f l s a K K M f t H n t e a & M i & ^ in an effort that the V~*. a contract (tec. -centering around puojcct is to _ ___ _____ tj service' to the miners; end to. ' a ' ^ * t & ^ r & U 3 ;'&3 trof` tri ---so ^t-l-u-it v".>c *no:!'* crystal! !rc. our es^riow: in definite forn dnd'makQ''a ''cdntributo^j^ undoubted value to tho industrial alters. ..^S.tn.'i.ssi-_:_;_.' Thero;would-be |cliidinc:X-rc excux'rationaTi^I t ^ 8 e ^ imt't^ihai;ev^tolly^ifeten';igtQQ,aiijl5^(^f;f non would be''o3^jningd',.tfflc^^yoorJ^^dvlFe^a ^ ^ ffilp /.^ th : a in era_\To\fl^l^fcooi^nft1J iyritiC.the Ketropolitsn ntursihg^sw^cot^Thre^d^i^x^^hultscwotiia^feiforScomiS^I rm ill population _ xvrati'va' r"oTr~r#-r;+h*' utSofter'1aboutiha--l1f-t<hogv'.mTitat1 _ plans'providing g g r ^ i ^ . - ^ :. _______ _ 2y4` -At present 'the'offido"'o?jbho'Bfu~of j&noo\i__^ which is also used by thb"i,n:o^.iiti5]^iitan`n;rrBB^4Ti*Bu^att.' . tho work without -further: gr Sayors proposes to add* m vnm m n ,1il.tlUU-LU4.WKUVo.UaUD*-.V;iIHJ fia.U( hdlltird o f : $10i 't o .'& *QQ0 h i imiVi i ii - -ri9 * j * * mH i L ^WJux MW --xfus!s-yfy w * rr 5 r )-$ ^4$ lm W S b area .It is probable that the mining conrenieo in the Tri-Stste Zinc and Lead Association uo'old also give financial sup;ort. The Ascoeiaxion does not trish to participate in the management of the project; they prefer to bo in the position of being able to c ute to tlicir employees that the Metropolitan Life Incur; ice Company and the officials of thr U.S. Government jointly advise then ;nb tbrir employers to do thus end so. The C tatc o f ru.ns.-? ;x-3 a Ire; dy r<- v ested th a t th e Eurcwi o f f in e s pro <re mining h t e ; n.d r e f l a t i o n s Cor th a t r U U . Dr. fr y e r s at; ted t b t the aecc s o r t o f : rc-'y:r-rt m ill tc*. forthcom ing from the ft; to o f horn: . Thin r iv e s f: i r l y ic fi. iic `'S8,'T; i - i l , t t 're t^ rvi; i t :'*?> o f o'zr ; e t iv il. ion t!i-y voi-vt hw rr>ntimn under -.ffin-! i r-'~ -.?- -- . Dr. fiyers :.r.a ir. h r n onulu visit Jo-lin early Ir. Fobmu-ry to determine w'nnt assistance night U expected from the r.ir.ii.g conpanios. If such rsrIrtanco is not available, the cooper; tLve project coulc rd shoulci, re heli.ve, u-.vertheless, go ahead. iith the lialp of the .ctu; rial Division and tie Itatistical Div isions, records would be devised so as to nahe possible the collection of infor mation considered desirable to meet insurance :xsods. Disc past losses under Group Life and Health contr: cts have beer, great, those under Ordinary' and Industrial policies not determined but presumably great also. The prospective loss is large unless there be instituted sound measures to remedy responsible conditions. / most favorable plan of cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Hines is presented, the cost to be $-8,000 annually for three years. This would be the most complete and far-reaching project in industrial hygeiene ever undertalrezr in this country. 1. iT. Imiszi, *..B. Assistant IScdicol Director A * n a o r a o u ' TO: Lr. Tffright P fKCM: hr. Lan.i LATE: Larch Cl, 1 SUBJECT: Fropress or worK 6t Tri-Si*to Lead and Tint Matrlct. & h" I was In the: vicinity of Richer.. Oklahoma from the 11th to the ?lst of March, visiting various mine operators and endeavoring to secure their participation in our cooperative venture with the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The first four days Dr. R. R. Sayers, Chief Surgeon, U.S. Euretu of Lines,was with me and I was ir. constant contact witUp Dr. F. V, Merriwether, wh.oo is in / charge of the Bureau of Mines clinic there, and with Mr. Ageton of tthhe Tri- j ^ State Zinc and Lead Producers Association. The present mining fiel[dd extends/ fron Kiarri, Oklahoma, 10 miles south of Richer, Oklahoma, t,o Baxter Suprlinr.gcrsf,l. Kansas, about 1? miles north, the greatest concentration being around Picher. After a preliminary visit to some of our Groups, a meeting was arranged with some of the larger operators.' This meeting ;vaS held cn March IS at the office of the Tri-State Lead and Zinc Producers Association, and representatives of the following mines end local orgenirations were present: 'i") The Cortea-King Ersnd Lining Company Consolidated Lead and Zinc Company Crystal Mineral Trust Federal Mining and Smelting Company Beck Mining Company Vinegar Hill Zinc Company Elack Eagle Mining Company Anna Beaver Mining Company L. &. G. Mining Company Golden Rod Mining fend Smelting Corp. Eagle -Picher Lead Comjany Commerce Mining Company Rialto Mining Company Tulsa Lead and Zinc Company Raroage Mining Company American Zinc Institute Tri-State Lead and Zinc Producers Asfl'r,. Both Br. Sayers and myself addressed the meeting, making ex planatory statements end answering questions. Jfs asked for the cooperation of the mine operators. The response van unanimous end gratifying* ifter a general, dlsoussion, the chlr#n,.Itav Devis of jh^ Tineger B U I Zino Com- , ' tnstsd .* .to.|HiyfiOy ^ . -- g g " " I - 2- e TO: Dr. Wright SUBJECT: Tri-State Lead and Zinc District. ? * Consolidated and the Efagle-Ficher iutert.stsj ILr. A. T. St. Clair, r-Lr.1r-ii the federal Mining and Smelting Compaq; Mr. a. C. Mills) r^.prrirg the Golden hod Companyj iir. J. A. Sctlrson, the Cornuerce Miring and Smelting Compfu.y; ond Mr. S. II. L'avis,.the Vinegar hill Zinc Com;ar._.. To I M e committee was added Hr. Scott Thompson, a Miami attorney, who is the Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. All of the above committee represented Croup policyholders, except Mr. Hendelari - (the Metrojolitan, however, covers the Eagle-Ficber properties at- other places). I travelled over the entire district .interviewing the principal '**' mine operators and explaining our plans. Among others, I interviewed Mr.Dike, *' fi representing the Interstate d Woodchuck Mines; Mr. Wallower, the head of -- the uolderi Eac Company; Mr. Coleman, of the Commti'ce Company; Mr. Barter, cf the1Kansas Exploration Company (St. Joseph Lead Company); Sir. fiHus of the Anna Beaver Company;-iir. Childress of the Childress Lead and Zirr Company; Mr. Wolf of the New ChieagocCompany and iir- Johnston of the African Zlr.c ^ Company. Every person we interviewed promised the support- of his company and there was no question but that the fact that the Metropolitan was actively concerned in this venture helped to put it'"o*er. I was impressed with the general appreciation of the attitude of thevMetropolitan,to which several of the managershbf the largdji companies referred in a very complimentary manner. Hie managers of the four or five largest companies stated that they would be lad to underwrite" the whole business themselves if the smaller companies were unable to come in. Am After several meetings of the committee of five, a general meet ing was again held!.,at which plans were presented and adopted.The operators decided to contribute a sum equal to that.put up by the Bureau of Mines and the Metropolitan, so that their contribution would be $16,000 a year, making available $3J?,000 n, year to carry on the work. This money i`3 to ft- raised, by assessing the companies on the basis of 5 per man per year of the average annual payroll, provision being made for corrections and readjustments at the end of the year. Kecessary legal documents were prepared by Mr,Scott Thompson, and the next move in order at the time when I left was to secure the signature of the various companies to an agreement with the Trl-State Lead and Zinc Producers Association which acts as the agent of the operators. The Tri-Stute Association will in turn make a contract with the Bureau of.Mines similar to that now existing between the Bureau and the Metropolitan. Work will immediately be started on the construction of suit able quarters to house the clinic, It being necessary to increase the sire of the present quarters*. Plans for this were drawn up by Dr. Sayers and nyself. The clinical.staff will Q-ire^tgalljr consist.of the medical officer in charge, ;4 a$s^sth% .^eohnlcian, a laboratory assistant A" ` >54 TU; Dr. fright - 3 SUBJECT: Tri-State Lead and Zinc District, clerks. It will take at least six weeks before the new quarters are com- "Vted and the personnel will be gradually increased as circunstunoes may requl re. * In the meantime the various companies will sign their agree ment. At the last meeting of the operators, managers representing a total of ,*0C employees definitely' stated that theywould com? into this project on the basis of per man per year. ` The committee itself thought it best . the per capita assessment from j2 to J3 sc that they tculd be- cer tain not to have a deficit' and'the agreement therefore provides for pro rate return of surplus funds at the end of each year. v; Comments I visited; seme of the representativenires of the district and find that underground working conditions sre a"'great deal better than ,, they used to be. Wet drilling is now the rule, and constant attention i&Vl given to allay injurious robk dust and*io the promotion qjt safety. The Tri-State Producers Association has a very competent safety engineer and-, has about 20 men la- the various mines whose duty it is to constantly chc-'ck dust conditions. "The fact:that- many of the mines in this district are be ing gradually consolidated "under 4 or 5 large companies tends to promote ^ood working conditions and increased attention to ventilation and sanita tion. A movement Is also on Toot to provide sanitorium facilities. Dr. Kerriwether has made about 3,000 examinations to date, and is experienced in this type of work.- He informed me, confidentially, that he had recently examined the entire'.personnel of two mines belonging .. to one of our groups* totalling 800 men and found ?.Z% tuberculous and 58i // with'silicosis.I I expect to visit rich er from-time to time ffo ar> to keep in- active t,ouch with the work. > The two Metropolitan nurses in Ficher are doing very good work ana are very well thought of by the mine operators. They will con tinue to havfe their office in the same building with the clinic. - - *-wr "jif ; >`> i i r %- it Mbdical Direc^pT . , y .V i.tr. ,- --. -,y U : V >i S-*tt#-rR>WjwW.-JO m