Document eOqRQ687d5EjKz170wvQzMYG

Industrial Hygiene Digest - 1$ January, 1950 exert a stranger lethal action than did rotenone. From the literature soma ---- fatal cases of derris poisoning are described. Symptoms of less severe poisoning among workers In a derris factory in Java Include dermatitis and irritation of the mucous membranes, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and balanoposthltls. Less frequent symptoms are prurltls anl, loss of tase and appetite, nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain. The author cautions against the use of derris in medical preparations both because of their possible toxic effects and doubtful'medical value. -- Condensed from Brit. J. Ind. Med. 45 Weil's Disease in the North-East of Scotland. J. Smith.'B* it. J. Ind. Med. 6, 213-220 (Oct. 1949). A survey was made of 214 cases of Weil's disease which have occurred in the horth-eastern area of Scotland between 1954 and 1948. No fewer than 184 eases, or 86 per cent, occurred among fish workers, lhe overall case mortality rate was 8.9 per cent, with a mortality rate for males of l6.8 .per cent and none far females. Since penicillin became available l6 cases febrile an admission have been treated with this antibiotic'. It is believed, however, that antisera and antibiotics can influence the c ourBe of the disease only if given in the early stages of the septicemia. It is not believed that their administration can influence the toxic nephritis which seems to be invariably fatal. -- Author's Summary 46 Treatment of Cutaneous Anthrax With Penicillin. J.R. Griffin, R.Hi Shanahan and Carmelo E. DeAngells. N.T. State J. Med. 48, 1718-1721 (Aug. 1, 1948). During the past year, 17 consecutive cases of cutaneous anthrax in employees at the local carpet factory were successfully treated with peni cillin, supplemented in nine cases with sulfonamides and dn one with anti anthrax serum and sulfanilamide. All but one patient were men, mainly middle-aged, with the location of the lesions chiefly on the exposed parts of the body and on the right side. Onset of lesion, days in the hospital, . and laboratory findings are charted. -- J.. Ind. Hyg. & Toxicol. 47 Recent Observations on Chronic Changes in Joints of Divers due to Compressed Air. B; Herget. A^ch. Klin. Chir. 261, p. 550 (1948) German. - The author examined 47 divers, aged from 22 to 72, who had worked as diverB far up to 42 years at depths of up to 193 ft. for periods of up to 35 minutes. Fourteen of them had had an attack of .caisson disease before examination; in 10 there was radiological evidence of chronic changes in the .shoulder Joints, and in one case in both hips as well. Three other patients who had not suffered from an acute attack also had changes in the Bhoulders. In the hip-Joints of the one patient thus affected late changes were seen of a type differing from "ordinary" osteo-arthritis. Minute em bolism followed by avascular necrosis, sclerosis, and degenerative changes constitute a clearly defined chain of events leading to a type of osteo arthritis. The hip is most commonly affected in caisson workers; the shoulder is more often affected In divers. ' Condensed from Brit. J. Ind. Med.