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a E E & 6 0 0 0 -0 8 H H 4 C/ FOUNDATION FACTS ------------------------------------ .TaTma-ry, 194-0.___ Thi i:> \V5.*[Mitr!- ;<s ^>r|.,J -.ruj'.lt S' UAiifrlUH'Hvilani-fSrnv.irlKloiEur:icri|mr- ..1.ns,*. its im'iiis.1*(ftiis cU<*<-.lft-pr-Tt E-ountlnliCm n-v.'ii n nviiiij .\:r Hygirii* STvtl-tinyn-eilntnior-n=-nnisi7>,:i't ?r *:.!rr;-c*vC:tiituE:Cf hinedaulthstryOf dlhn<J> ! > rniiV-n w.-irxnirn m hea\y industry No. I 3) a --. =T\ Proxy Meeting Announced; No Need to Attend Notices are being sent out announcing the Foundation's "annual meeting," which for several years has been a proxy meeting. Actually, the real annual. meeting is held in November, The situation came about in this way; when the Foundation was formed the Code of Regulations fixed the annual meeting for the second Tuesday in Feb ruary. It was soon discovered that November was a more practical time for such a meet ing, and the February meeting became a proxy meeting. This year we wish to amend the Code of Regulations to make the November data the official annual meeting. Please re turn your proxy. X-^Ray Bulletin in Press The manuscript for the Foundation* s second bulletin on X-ray has boon turned over to the printer. It will be issued in several weeks. This bulletin is the result of research supported by the Foundation at University of Pennsylvania. The Study at tempts to develop more definite standards in X-ray reading which has always been "more of an art than a science." A digest of this bulletin was given by Dr. S. Reid Warren, Jr,, at the Foundation's November meeting. Meeting Proceedings and Absenteeism Report Being Prepared The formal Proceedings of the Foundation's November meeting, including the text of all reports presented, are now being prepared for publication. The material will be turned over to the printer in the near future. The Proceedings will not in clude Dr. A.J. Lanza*s report, and th resulting discussion on sick absenteeism. So important is this absenteeism data that it will be issued as a separate bulletin in our Medical Series. It will also include a manual and forms prepared by the U.S. Pub lic Health Service and revised in cooperation with our Medical Committee. This is for the use of member companies, who will be urged to take part in the Foundation's pro jected study of absenteeism. The bulletin will be available in the near future -- more details in the next News Letter. Industrial Health "Inventories" Urged ",...I strongly urge that progressive companies currently obtain information as to dust, fumes, etc., under prevailing working conditions. It is even advisable to have this data prepared by a disinterested and recognized authority in the medical or engineering field of industrial health, because if the information is secured by the company's own employees, it is often disregarded by Compensation Committees or the Courts on the basis that it is prejudiced, just as is often the case when the data has been obtained by so-called 'experts' after cases have been filad, and when it is neces sary to prove that the conditions then found were the same as those prevailing before or at the time of the alleged 'accident.' The Air Hygiene Foundation is in an excel lent position to undertake the 'disinterested' examinations, and if harmful conditions are found, to advise what corrective steps should be taken............. " --Mr. Andrew Fletcher, Vice President St. Joseph Lead Company, Alp HYOICNE FOUNDATION 4GO FfFTiH AVCNUC FlTTflBuBGM. PA. ":3 Air Hygiene Foundation, 4400 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. January 17, 1940. DIGEST OF INDtJSTRIAL KIGISNE Lit erat ure--News--Development s News Items: 1. Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, New York City, February 12-lb, 1940. Mr. O.M. Schaus, Chairman of the Committee on Health and Safety in Mines, with the assistance of Daniel Harrington, U.S. Bureau of Mines, and R.R. Sayers, U.3, Public Health Service, has drawn up a very interesting 5) program of which the articles on Health are here listed: Pneumoconiosis Due to Certain Silicates. W.C. Drecsen, National Insti tute of Health, Washington, D. c. Sickness Absenteeism--Is Industry Concerned and What Can Industry Do a About It. C.D. Selby, General Motors Corp., Detroit. Dust Control Program at the Hiwasseo Dam Aggregate Plant, David F. Shaw, Hiwasseo Dam, N. C. Pyrophyllite Dust: Its Effect and Control. M.F, Trice, State Board of Health, Raleigh, N. C. Ventilation and Dust Control at Ontario Mines. A motion picture film. 2, X-ray treatments may be of critical value in speeding recovery from carbon mon oxide poisoning. This statement is based on results obtainod with such treat ments of monkeys and other animals. Monkeys exposed to concentrations of thi3 gas that would otherwise have been fatal recovered rapidly when treated with moderate amounts of x-rays. Young rats and rabbits can withstand six to ten times as great exposure to carbon monoxide as adult animals. No such change of resistance with advancing age was found in such higher animals as guinoa pigs and monkoys. Science News Letter, January 6, 1940. , Papers on Pu3t, Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene. 3* Silicosis Research in Ontario. Can. Min. I., 60, 478-481 {August 1939). A summary of the report of the Ontario Mining Association dealing with silicosis. More attention is being diroctod to tho reduction of air dustiness at operat ing drills. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of collaring wet. A combina tion ail* throttle and water valve is being developed to insure full flow of water through a drill at all open positions of the throttle. Air throttles having a blowing position in the valve 3hould be removed after sinking. Although of higher upkeep cost, ductless drills have shown their superiority in reducing dust dispersed. Mine managers are reminded of the desirability of protecting steper machine runners until more adequate moans of reducing dust produced by these machines is discovered. Interest is being shown in reducing dust from blasting. Progress has been made in more general use of the burn cut or "shatter Cut." There has boon a doorcase in amount of early blasting done. More minos are using the waterblast in dead ends. Definite improvement in ventilation of mines in the province is noted with detailed discussion. .3 HiiBB-UU09935 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 2. 4. Silicosis in Slate G.uarry Miners. T.W. Envies. Tubercle, 20, 543-555 (September 1939}" (British). ` At Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales slate is ninod very extensively. It contains 55$ silicon dioxide, 24$ aluminum oxide and 10$ iron oxide. Among females in this region, the rates for tuberculosis are practically the same as for '.Vales ns a whole but for males, the percentage of all deaths is 12.7 compared to 5.3 for the -vholo country. For males up to of, years of age the actual death rates v/ere 0.73 for the whole of halos and 1.20 in Blaenau Ffestiniog, whereas the rates for maJ.es over 55 wore 0.94 for Wales and 7,32 for tills region. Out of 117 quarry workers examined, silicosis in unc or other of its three stages was diagnosed in five-eighths. 5. Tuberculosis Survoy in Vermont. I.. P.abinov/itu, E.J. Roger and H.S. Slocum. Am. Rev. Tuborc., 4C_, 433-443 (October 1339). 0 The tuberculosis di.auh rut: in Washington County, the center of the granite indus try, is excessive even during recent years. For the poriod 1934-1937, the rate was 154 per 100,000 which though considerably loss than the rate for 1325-1929 (206 per 100,000), was still almost fivo times that for the rost of the state. The rate for the state, excluding Washington County, averaged 34 per 100,000. 0 6. Fibrosis of the Lungs. G.T. Hebert. Tubercle, 20, 145-160 (January 1939). (British). In a tost of modern opinion on the diagnosis of the different forms of fibrosis from radiological appearances -alone, thirty films wore selected from different patients, 10 of whom had, and 20 had not, an appreciable degree of fibrosis as judged from a careful clinical and radiological examination of oach case. Those were shewn to 70 individuals, including radiologists, chest hospital physicians, sanatorium superintendents, tuberculosis officers, and others with experience of radiology of the chest. The question -was asfcod on oach film whether a specified fom of fibrosis could be diagnosed confidently in 3omo particular area, ur in certain instances in the lungs as -a vmule. In the results as a whole, fibrosis was diagnosed when present in 57$ of the replios and whon absent in 55$. By leaving out the replies on 11 "difficult" films these percentages were cltored to 75 and 29 respectively. Hence on x-ray films fibrosis does nut always give recog nizable evidence of its presence, and at times evon experts find it when it is not present to a significant degree, 7* The Problam of Pneumoconiosis and it3 Relation to Tuberculosis. A. Policnrd. Rev? d'hyg. ot do mod, -prev., 61, 161-178 (1958)~ (French). (Review by Dr. L.TJ. Gardner for J. Ind. Hyg. & Toxicol., January, 1940), , Prof, Pulicard states his intention f attempting to summarize current knowledge of silicosis and related tuberculosis, indicating definitely known facts and re viewing various hypotheses that have been advanced. He points out the Internation al Labour Offico, by calling together various experts in Gonovn last September perfumed a signal service in clarifying intcmatLamlopinion upon this subject. After reviewing the evidence he o includes that there can be no question but that inhaled dust of any type is retained in the lungs, that carbon is hamlesa, that quartz i3 irritating cud that mixed dusts are dangerous in proportion to the amount of silica that they contain. On the action of silicate dusts ho finds no general agreement. Threshold values for harmful atmospheric concentrations can be established for oach particular kind of dust or mixtures of dusts. The average period necessary to produce reaction can also be determined. This period is al ways a matter of years and ho regards so-called "acute silicosis" with scepticism since it is almost invariably ass feinted with tuberculosis. To his mind al most any dust produces a pathological reaction characterized by a generalized fibrosis in the interstitial tissue. Silica norcly produces more reaction than -3 Ht#BB-OUtl9936 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 3. the other dust3 although it may form microscopic pseudo-nodules without hyaline centers, (The reviewer would point out that such lesions are extremely common in coal miners and that Professor Policard's other papers have health chiefly with anthraco-silicosls). The roentgenograph!c pattern of this non-specific pneumo coniosis consists merely of linear exaggeration of the normal pulmonary shadows. Since tho subjects have no symptoms and in most countrios are permitted to con tinue at work he believes that this conc^tion is not a disease hut merely a path ological state. (American opinion is in full agreement but most observers would go further and include in the same category a majority of cases with simple dis crete nodulation.) Policard admits that tho roentgenograms of the Rand miners may show fine nodulation which passes over into coarse nodulation with the advent of infection but he thinks that autopsy material on cases of uncomplicated silicosis is too .limited to permit evaluation of the pathology. He signals out the ex perimental observations of tho reviewer, which purported to demonstrate that sili ca would produce nodular fibrosis in the absence of infection, as immaterial be J-----J cause the nodules were not exactly tho same as those in tho human subject. He affirms that the experimental nodules were not fibrous, but this is a matter of opinion. The language diffic'iltics at the meeting wore apparently responsible for certain erroneous impressions as to the proportion of silica in dust that would cause reaction. The reviewer reported beginning fibrosis after 3 years' exposure e to ferruginous chert containing GO# silica although Policard stated that no fibro sis resulted with dusts containing loss than 98# silica. Ho offinned that none of tho silicates had caused fibrosi3 in experimental animals although the reviewer had attempted to demonstrate that inhaled asbestos would produce 3uch reaction but that particulate silicates produced no fibrosis when injected into extrapulmonary tissues. Policard concludes this reaction with the statement that while it would be preferable to test the effects of injurious dusts upon animals rather than upon human beings, thus far the experimental method has proved inadequate. The solu bility hypothesis, to explain the tissue damage from silica, he accepts in princi ple but points out that the various stages of such reaction are not understood. He reviews the data on the inhibitory effects of alumina and his own theories on in terchanges of bases in silicates in contact v/ith body fluids, which alter the capacity of such minerals to cause irritation. He reviews in detail important contributions to the subject of the relationship between silicosis and tuberculo sis. He emphasizes the frequent association of the two conditions and points out tiieir mutual interaction, the silica stimulating the growth of the tubercle bacill us and the tuberculous lesion favoring the retention of the silica. He discusses silico-tuberculosis, describing the well known features of its pathological, roent genological and clinical manifestations. He then inquires whether there can he any pure pneumoconiosis (silicosis apart from Infection) and concludes that if it exists it is morely a pathological condition and not a disease productive of symp toms and disability. 8. An Inquiry into tho Effects of Occupation on the Pulmonary Condition of Stone-Ma sons. S.R, lioore^and C.A. Kuhlmnn. Med. J. Australia, 2 , 267-274 (1939). A report of a clinical and radiological survey of 355 workers in the stone-mason industry in New South Woles, Victoria and South Australia. Inspection of working conditions and dust counts were also made. Two types of pulmonary fibrosis were found as w^ll as evidence of other more acute respiratory conditions which may be occupational in character. Of 268 masons examined. 111 or 41.4# were found to be afflicted with pulmonary fibrosis of moderate or advanced degree or from tuber culosis. Qf the eight cases of silicosis uncovered, all except one were found among workers in sandstone which had a high content of free silica (86# to 95#). These workers developed fibrosis earlier and in more severe font than those using granite or other stones with a low silica content. There was also evidence of industrial disease in other groups, such a3 polishers and sawyers. HHdH-0009937 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 4. 9. Structure and Mode of Fomation of Flbrotic Areas in Pneumoconiosis. A. Policard, L. Crozier and S, Martin. Ann. d'anat. pathol., 1_5, 97-132 (1939), (French). Report of examinations of fibrotic sections of lungs of *.oal miners who have al 30 worked in rock. The authors report that definite and characteristic signs o: tuberculosis 'wore always present and they conclude that a pure silicosis is rar if it oxi3ts at all. 10. Secondary Silica as :i Probable Factor of Silicosis in South Wales. A.H. Cox, Proc. S. Wales Inst. Engrs., 54. 161-167 (September 1938). (British). It is the author's opinion that tho high incidence of silicosis in the South Wales anthracite field is due. to the free silica, and particularly the secondary silica in tho shalo3 'which accompany the coal. It has been observed that much shale overlying the coal was ripped to make height in vrorking places. Being in an exceedingly fine state of subdivision, this secondary silica is difficult to detect microscopically and practically impossible to determine quantitatively, 11. A Cutaneous Tost for Tissue Reactions in Animals with Dusts Causing Pneumoconio sis. 2.R. Gloyne. Tubercle, 20, 561-562 (September 1939). (British). The author uses a compromise betv/con intro- and subcutaneous routes which might be described as a cutaneous inoculation. The tG3t may be useful as a simple e routine technique for lust-testing. The advontago is that the lesion is not spoiled by any natural intorcurrcnt diseases of tho animal, such as pneumonia or pscudo-tuberculobis. Study 12. Report of Dust/Conductod in Granite Monument Cutting Plants In South Carolina* R.M. Brown. Bulletin, So. Carolina State Board of Health, Ind. Hyg. Div, (1939). In this survey of twelve monument and tombstone cutting plants, high concentra tions of dust were found in ovary 3tono cutting operation. Tho average concen trations for the majority of the plants and for tho industry as a whole were f'und to be dangerously above the limit of 10 million particles per cubic foot of air for granite dust. ' 13. The Chemical Properties of Siliceous Industrial Pust3. H.V.A. Briscoe. J.Roy. Soc. Arts., 38, 104-122 (December 15, 1939). (British), In the author* s opinion, there has been no clear proof that the causative agent of silicosis is silica. Since substances other than free 3ilica, such as asbes tos, or tho silicates present in anthracite coal dust, can also produce disabling changes in the lung similar, according to the author, to those produced by free silica dust, he feels that both "free silica" and these silicates have some con stituent in common which i3 the roal cause of damage. As evidence that soluble silica i3 not to blame, tho author quotes tho examples of exposure to cement dust or coal dust containing silice. us ash which produce no lung disease. In his opinion, the accepted methods of dust collection 3uch as wetting, produce changes in tho samples which load to erroneous conclusions as to their chemical reactivity. His c.jsatisfaction led him to doviso now methods of collection which ho divides int,. threo classes: (a) volatile crystal filters; (b) soluble crystal filters; end (c) the "labyrinth." Using dust collected by the latter moan3, it was found tnnt du3t of the magnitude of le3S than 1 micron was three timos as soluble as dust of 2-3 microns. It is believed that there may be a selective solubility effect on the various mineral dusts 30 that methods of col lection using wator as a medium do not give a true picture of the dust as it is broathed. Little value,according to tho author, can be placed on findings obtained by examining minerals in the lung at autopsy; these may have been con siderably changed. He fools that further experiments need to be undertaken vdth artificially prepared dusts using careful cuntrol of its characteristics so that any resulting effects could be absolutely attributed to thorn. I F=3 > a n Jigc.3t cf Industrial Hygiene - 5 14, Method of Neutralizing the Condition Producing Qualities of Finely Pulverized Siliceous Materials. J.J. Denny ana V..D. Hot son. O'.S. Patentee, 378 (May 2, 1939) . That silicosis can be prevented by introducing finely powdered aluminum dust i quartz-laden air, as in mines, is the claim of these authors. The method for dispersing the aluminum is by mixing it into the blasting charge. They else sug* gost that silicosis can be "neutralized" by -allowing silicotics to breathe the 'C aluminum dust by means of some inhalator device. id. Dusts Produced by Mining Processes. H.3. Patterson. J.Chem. Mot. & Min. Dec. So. Africa (way 1939). Following a survey of the difference in dust clouds in mining operations and other means of production, the author who is engaged in dust researches at the Physico-Chemical Investigation Department of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, discusses the particle-size distribution in dusts produced by wotdrilling, dry-drilling, hand-hammer drilling, ore-bin tipping, blasting and shov elling, and reports briefly on the dust concentrations inhaled by various opera tives in the gold nines in V/it watersrand. IS. Servicing Respirators and Goggles. M.K. Krononberg and H. Guilbert. National Safety News, 401 66 (October 1939). To clean, sterilize, inspect and repair their large investment in goggles and respiratory protective equipment, the Pullman Company has provided a central agency for tills purpose. If necessary, the attendant can service one hundred men a day with this type of equipment. However, a larger supply than is needed is kept on hand to allow for passage through this storeroom. This now arrangement is very popular with the men since they have more confidence in their protective equipment and value it more highly because of the Company's efforts to keep it in perfect condition. 17. Breathe Freely. K.P. Biggs. Safety E^ineering, 78, (November, December 1939). A discussion of the various typos of respiratory protective equipment with com ments on care and use. The author is Safety Engineer of the U.S. Navy Depart ment and mentions the special tost3 such as resistance to sterilization, to cor rosion, freedom of materials from skin irritants, etc., which are required by that organization. 18. Ohio Industrial Hygiene Bulletin. Ohio Department of Health, 1, 2 pp. (November 1939). , ~ Contains a discussion of lead poisoning in Ohio and reports a large proportion of the total number of occupational disease cases to bo of this disease. A brief article considers the basophilic aggregation test warning that in chronic load poisoning this test nay bo positive, but usually is not. In persons exposed to lead and other substances such as benzol, toluol, xylol, etc., abnormal percent ages of basophilic-containing colls nay not be caused by the lead alone, but by those other .substances or both. The anemias, other diseases involving the red blood corpuscle and occasionally certain infectious diseases may cause the norraal range to be exceeded. Further consideration is eivon to the subjoct of vapor determinations and control of the halogenatcd hydrocarbons. 19. Ohio Industrial Hygiene Bulletin. Ohio Department of Health, 1, 2 pp. (October 1939). "' Contains a discussion on halogenated hydrocarbons dealing mainly with their chem istry, physical properties and industrial uses. There i3 also a general report on carbon monoxide pwie.ning for the statistical period, October 1, 1938 to September 30, 1939. ija QiiO09938 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 6. DO. Role of Engineer in Air Sanitation: Typical Problem in Industrial Sanitation. JT; aicorafield. Proc. Am. Soc. Civ, Shigrs., 65, 1484 (November 1939).' Sg A discussion of the role of the engineer in industrial sanitation studies, indi-i* W eating the trends in this field of public health. After the physician has recog nized the existence of those diseases associated v.ith tho working environment, g is the engineer's function to study the conditions that may be detrimental to * health, and by precise quantitative measurements, to determine tho extent of the hazard. Once the nature and degree of tho hazard have been demonstrated, it is also an engineering problem to devise methods for minimizing or controlling tho dangerous condition, and lastly to estimate the effectiveness of these measures. 21. Twenty-Five Years Progress in Prevention of Accidents and Silicosis in Witwatersrand Mines. S.H.A. Joseph. J, Chem. Met. & Min. Soc. So. Africa, 40, 34-50 (August 1939). A review of measures adopted to reduce the risk of accidents and silicosis; legis lative control of safety and health in mining; and the results achieved. A dis cussion of silicosis prevention work and the prosent organization is also given. 22. Disabling Illness in Slaughter and Meat Packing Industry. H.P. Brinton, H.E. Seifert and E.S. Frasier. U.S. Pub. Health Reports, 54, 2196-2219 (December 15, 1939), ' This is another of the reports covering statistical material collected by the Occupation Morbidity and Mortality Study of the National Health Survey of 1935 1937, Tho data was transcribed from the sick benefit organization records of the participating companies. The highest frequency rates for illness lasting 8 or more days were found among cold moat workers, among white males; scalers, wrappers and packers, among white females; and by-products workers, among Negro males. These high rates were due in large part to an excessive number of respiratory dis eases. Rates for rheumatic diseases were high in warm and cold meat workers, sausage and casing workers, and curing workers. Exposure to high humidity and wet conditions showed the highest rates in environmental analyses, while of the ' material hazards, hides and wool, glue and entrails, appeared to be the most dangerous, with digestive diseases as the apparent sequelae. 23. Evaluation of the Industrial Hygiene Problem of the State of Maine. E.W. Campbell, Director, Dept. Health and Welfare, Bur. of Health, Div. of Sanitary Engln., Augusta, Maine, 1938. This publication has just rocently been made available. It is a survey, accom panied by numerous tables, of the potential health hazards of this State. It re commends the formation of a state bureau of industrial hygiene. 24. Industrial Medicine in 1938. Internet. Labor Office Year Book, 1938-1939, Chapter IV, pp. 107-126. A general article on various industrial maladies, studies made, and laws passed in various countries. The nutrition of workers is widely studied and the problem of rest pauses, lunch periods and factory meals investigated. Lead, mercury, chromium and other toxic agents are considered; pneumoconiosis is given special attention. Eyesight, X-ray3, ankylostomiasis and cancer are briefly considered as well a3 the position of the factory doctor, medical care, hygiene in special trades and medical inspection. 25. Survey of Industrial Disease. W.J. Connell. Safety Engineering, 78, 37-38 (December 1939). An outline of a lecture delivered at New York University's Center for Safety Edu cation. The author discusses very briefly dusts, gases, fumes, toxic substances and other general problems of industrial hygiene. ii#8H-BOU99'tO Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 7, 26. Preliminary Industrial Hygiene Survey of Indiana Industries. L.W. Spolyar. Indiana State Board of Health, Bur. Ind. Hyg., Indianapolis, Ind., pp. 162, 1939 This is another of the series of surreys undertaken under direction of the U.S. Public Health Service. It evaluates the potential problems of industrial hygien found in this state, A convenient type of chart presents the frequency distri bution of plants according to the number of workers omployod. 27. Occupa:ional Diseases of the Pharmacist. E.R. Hayhurst. The Merck Report. Culy 1939}. Occurrence of occupational disease is rare among pharmacists, only 31 out of Ti 3,303 claims being reported for six year3 in Ohio. Of these, fifteen were fe males, chiefly employed at soda fountains. Of the 31 cases, twenty-two were for dermatitis, cleaning solution accounting for 9; various othor ahemicals for 9; two of impetigo and epidermophytosis, probably from handling money; one from hand ling labels and wrapping paper and one duo to irritation from a starched apron. Two cases of constitutional poisoning occurred in women from filling capsules with dinitrophenol. Tenosynovitis of the wrist joint occurred in a labeler, also in a wrapper and prepatellar bursitis in a man who wa3 trimming windows. Three cases of chronic, low-grade carbon monoxide poisoning were reported in clerks checking stock in the basement of a drug store. Most of the afflictions of this trade fall in the partly occupational group, 28. Minas Inspection in 1958. Colliery Guardian, 159, 866-868 {December 15, 1939). (British). The nystagmus figure for 1937 showed a considerable reduction compared with other years. The incidence of beat knee increased by over 5OjJ in the period reviewed. The rates for silicosis for the Northern division are extremely low. There is an apparent lack of progress in the uao of protective equipment, 29. Efforts to Use Workers who are Chronically 111. J. Am. Med. Assoc. {Berlin lattor), 113, 1748 (November 4, 1939). Attention is being directed in Germany toward the employment of the chronically ill, because of the shortage of workers. It is the factory inspector's respon sibility to find tho right Job for the right person and to see that the health of those workers is not undeiminod.. 30* Artificial Sunlight tor Miners. J. Am. Med. Assoc. {Stockholm letter), 113, 1653 (October 28, 1939). Associated with the use of a solarium for underground workers for two years, is a decrease in frequency of 1-day illnesses and of catarrhal diseases of the respir atory tract, the latter very marked. There was also a reduction in the morbidity rate from 9.7 days per head to 8.5. After three months use, the average calcium content of the blood serum rose frem 9.9 mg. to 10.5 mg. per 100 c.c. 31. Miners' Health and Welfare. S.W. Fisher. J. Roy. Inst. Pub. Health and Hyg., 2, 476-484 (August 1939)'. (British). This article deals with the health and safety of coal miners in Great Britain. A description of the existing statutory requirements for first aid is given. Other subjects dealt with are rescue work, miners' nystagmus, incidence and pre vention of silicosis, beat hand, knee and elbow, boils and carbuncles. Boils as well as generalized dermatitis occur mostly in mines where the air temperature is high and the velocity low. HNBH-O0099U . j3 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 8. 32. The Employment of the Deaf in the United Kingdom. M.L. Clark and G.P. Crowden. Joint Report. National Institute for the Deaf and the Department of Industrial Physiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, 1939. This study investigated the difficulties of the deaf in securing employment and ways in which these obstacles might be overcome. The data covers 6155 individ uals in 345 occupations. Tables are shov.m listing occupations successfully fol lowed by the deaf--the skilled worker has no difficulty in holding a position in the industrial world, the difficulty comes -with the older unskilled workers. The replies from industrial firms reveal that there is a definite belief that the employment of a deaf person is an additional risk, placing an unjustified liability on the employe 33. The Effects of 'Working Conditions upon the Health of London Central Busmen. Re port of Conferences. Ministry of Labor. H.M. Stationery Office, London, 1929. (British). The conferences were held to investigate the complaints of bus workers that their work was unduly exacting and injurious to their health. Comparison with a previous study showed that these workors had about 15$ moro days of gastric ill ness than might ho expected from their ago groups. Stress was laid on two gener a al factors in the causation of these gastric distrubances: (1) irregularity of hours of work and meal times; and (2) nervous anxiety and temperament. It was suggested that consideration bo given to the desirability of introducing a system providing for a longar interval between shifts of work, shortening of spoils of work before a meal relief, increase in time allowed for meals, etc. While it is obvious that there is some nervous strain involved in operating a passenger ve hicle! through congested traffic, there is no means of estimating its importance as a contributory factor in the observed excess of gastric illness. 34. "Huwood" Dust Collector. Colliery Guardian, 159, 547 (October 20, 1939). (Brit ish). A description of a device which acts in a manner similar to a vacuim cleaner. From a spociol collar on the drill steel, a rubber hose leads to a cylindrical tank which is filled with a bag-like filter cloth. An injector worked by com pressed air is providod and the tank cover is fitted with a system of baffle plates through which the injected air escapes. 35. Formation, Collection, and Treatment of Coal Dust in Mines. D. Harrington. U.S. Bur. Mines, Inf. Clrc. No. 7089 (September 1939). The author points out that a combination of watering methods around working faces on loading piles, on the floors of main haulage ways, etc., together with rock dusting all other dry surfaces, maintenance of circulation of freah air, and pro hibition of open flames or electric arcs "will ultimately solve the combined health-safety problem in coal minos, as regards prevention of widespread explo sions and fires, as well as the avoidance of diseases of workors through breath ing of harmful quantities of dust." 36. A Standard Air Filter Tost Dust. F.B. Rowley and R.C. Jordan. Heating, Piping & Air Conditioning, 11, 633-638 (October 1939). This dust*is made up of 80$ Pocahontas ash screened through a 200-mesh sieve plus 20$ double bolted carbon dust of 100 mesh. Variations of this could be made to conform to the type of dust the filter would meet in practice. In the described tests, dust was fed at the rate of 40 grains an hour and the face velocity at the filters was 300 f.p.a. @ a c=_5H Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 9. 37. Flow Pattern and Pressure Drop in Cyclone Dust Collectors. C.3. Shepherd and C.E. Lepple. Ind. Sag. Them., Indust. Ed,, 31, 972-904 (1939). The results of experiments conducted in a 12 inch glass cyclone arrestor indicat spiral flow patterns vrithout evidence of secondary eddy currents. A theoreti cal analysis of flow characteristics correlates data on pressure drop with voria tion of design, proportion of inlet width, inlet height and exit duct diameter, on the assumption of primary energy loss in the high velocity upward spiral of the exit duct. Formulae .ire presented for such calculations in practice. The use of straightening vanes in an extension below the exit duct results in an appreciable reduction of pressure drop, which 'was also reduced by heavy dust loading. 38. The Time Factor in Deep Mine Ventilation--Some Deductions from Borehole Temporetures and Allied Observations. J.P. Roes. J. Chca.ilot.liin.Soc. So. Africa, 39, 311-312 (April 1939)'. The rate of roclc cooling and the heating effect of the rock on air have been mathematically analyzed. A discussion of the general measures for combating the heat problem is given. 39. Ozone in Ventilation--Its Possibilities and Limitations. W.N. Wltherldge and (J.P. Ysglou. Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning, 1^, 648-653 (October 1939). A concentration of 0.015 p.p.m. of ozone which can barely bo smelled is suffi ciently effective in reducing the smell of body odor to permit a reduction of at least 50^ in the requirement for fresh air. Higher concentrations wore irritat ing to tho upper respiratory tract, while lower had no effect on body odors. Its action appoars not to bo by oxidation on the air of the room but on the nasal mucosa by masking. Tho main objection to the application of ozone to ventilation is lack of control. Until adequate moan3 arc devised for controlling the ozon ators from the actual concentration in occupied spaces, the use of ozone should be discouraged because of its groat toxicity. 40. On the Seasonal Variation of Forehead Temperature and its Relation to Feeling of Comfort. W. Liose. Gesundheita-Ingcnieur, 62, 545-50 (June 24, 1939). (German). A study made on a number of persons in 1938-39 giving relation of the temperature of tho forehead to gocoral physiological feeling of comfort. A bibliography is given. 41. Air Conditioning. D.O. Shiels. Health Bulletin, Dept, of Public Health, Victoria Australia, Nos. 55 and 56, pp. 1553-1560 (July-Deeember 1938). A discussion of the physical and physiological principles of air conditioning and its application to offices, schools, industries, hospitals, etc. 42. Air Conditioning and Comfort at Altitudes between 1500 and 8700 Meter3. it. M. Hottinger, Gesundheits-Ingonlour. 62. 193-197 (April 3, 19397. (German). A Swiss survey of atmospheric conditions and physiological comfort at varying altitudes. Comfort curves are given. 43. Sunnaor Cooling Requirements in Washington, D.C., and Other Metropolitan Districts. F.C. Houghton, C. Gutborlct and A.A. Rosenborg. Heating, Piping ana Air Condi tioning, 11, 587-591 (September 1939). An effective temperature of about 71F. is the most popular in warm weather after the occupants have become adapted to tho cooled atmosphere. This has been con firmed by recent comfort studies on 73 men and woman working in the cooled offices of the Federal Reserve Building, V/a3hington, D. C. ?=i e ^0 _ CN js Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 10. 44. Subjective Impressions of Freshness in Relation to Environmental Conditions. T, Bedford"and C.G. Warner. J. Hygiene, 39, 498-511 (September 1939). Results of observations made upon the relation between subjective impressions of freshness and the temperature, velocity and humidity of the air. It is shown that maintenance of a suitable degree of warmth is not the only requisite of a really satisfactory system of heating and ventilation, even though the index of warmth considered makes adequate allowance for the thermal effects of air voloci ana other variables. The room should bo as cool as is compatible with comfort, chore should be adequate air movement which should be variable, the relative hu midity should be kept well below 70$, the averago temperature of the walls should not be lower than that of tho air and, lastly, the air should be free from objec tionable ouors. 45. Spectro-Analysis la tho Diagnosis of some Occupational Diseases. Experimental and Clinical Investigations Employing Hectrolytical Methods. F. Capelli. Med. del lavoro, 17,' .706-21611939). (Italian) . This is an account of experimental work with mercuric chloride with animals and also on a female hat worker. The author shows tho advantage of electrolyticol and spcctroanalytical methods. He also reports on a study of tho literature re garding cadmium sulfate and experiments on rabbits. 46. Methods for tho Detection of Toxic Gases in Industry! Chlorine. Leaflet No. 10. Dept. 3ci. & Industr, Research, H.M, Stationery Office, London, 1939. (British). Exposure to chlorine occurs chiefly during its manufacture and use, generally as the result of accidents in which large quantities escape. Dangerous concentra tions may bo found in alkali, bleaching and chemical plants, dye-making and dyeing 'works, the tinplate industry, at water purification systems, etc. Acute poison ing is unusual as its physical qualities make it easily detected. As low as 1 p.p.n. can be recognized by smell. It i3 possible that there is some degree of tolerance acquired hut chronic effects such as chronic bronchitis, eye affections, chronic gastritis, and sleeplessness have boon described. The effects of var ious concentrations (parts by volume) are: 1 to 1000, brief oxposure rapidly fatal by asphyxia; 1 in 10,000, exposure of few seconds is intolerable; 1 to 20,000, exposure for 30 minutes causes acute pulmonary edema; 1 in 100,000 will cause bronchitis in ono hour; and 1 to a million, prolonged exposure is permissible. A simple method of detecting and estimating is describod. Samples of the air to be tasted ure drawn, by a hand puap of known capacity, through a bubbler of o-tolidino until the depth of color is equal to that of ono of a series of stan dards prepared from potassium dichromate solution. By referonco to a table, the number of pump strokes will give tho concentration. 4?- Is Gas Present? E.G. ileiter. National Safety News, 41> 24 (January 1940). An able review of modem methods for tho control of industrial gas hazards. The writer discusses tho flame safety lamp; the Hoolamite and ampoule-type carbon monoxide detectors, the carbon monoxide indicator, alarm, and recorder; the hydrogen sulfide and hydrocyanic gas detectors; the portable gas interferometer; the halide refrigorent gas leak detector; and the various devices for the detec tion of combustible gases. 48. A New Method for the Mipredetermination of Manganese In Bilogical Materials. A.C. fiicse end B.C. Johnson. J. Biol. Chan., 127. 203-209 (1939). This method is based upon the oxidation of benzidine by poimongate in the pre sence of nitric acid. The yellow green color i3 road with the photoelectric colorimeter with a 4200 A, filter. It is possible to perform 6-8 filtrations through tho samo filter and then read the colors developed, in this way reading 30-40 determinations in an hour. From 0.1 to 100 gamma (micrograms) can be esti mated and recoveries range from 92 to 106$. 4N8B-00tJ99*t3 .3 HWBB-0009944 Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 11. 49. Apparatus for Tailing an Average Sample of Variable Flow of Gas. A. Blackie. J. Soc. Chem. Ind., 58, 293-296 (September 1959). . /-\Vn A description of two typer, of apparatus for sampling gas (or liquid) flowing in pipes. By utilizing a pin hole orifice and appropriate containers and weights in the lines leading from venturi tap3 on the pipe, samples of the gas are ob tained which are proportional in composition to that flowing. This arrangement tnkes into account variations in velocity, pressure, and density in the main stream by virtue of the similarity of pressure drop through venturi and orifice. 50. Atmospheric Pollution. F. Drinker. Ind. & Eng. Chcm., 31, 1316 (November 1939). >ay departure from normal air may be regarded as evidence of pollution. This nay toko the form of any abnormal concentration of gas, mist, 30lid or even radium emanations. It may ba harmful to plant and animal life, it may bo a nuisance, it may form explosive mixtures with air or it may le ctrimontal to machinery or manufacturing processus. Such pollution is usuu-ly the product of man'3 acti vities but may ho, as in the case of fogs and dust storms, of natural origin. These of human production are in the main preventable; tho control of those of climatic nature aro in the experimental atage. The solution of many pollution problems has been speeded because of economic rocovcries of valuable materials but too often it requires tho throat of damage suits to initiate change. The article discusses tho various types of contaminants and tho methods of determin ing and controlling them. 51. Influenco of Repeated Physical Effort on the Function of tho Suprarenal Capsule in Man. G. Bonetato. Travail human, _7> 153-162 (1939). Examination of the suprarenal glands of young rats that had run for a month in a turning drum were found to be largor and heavier than normal. Injection of his tamine showed a stronger function in trained students. In the author's opinion the better function has an important effect on the development of the constitu tion and favors tho production of the pyknic type. 52. Chronic Systemic Diseases. H.W. Garton. Industrial Medicine, 8_, 459-464 (November 1939). ~" The author urges concerted effort in the detection and treatment of the chronic systemic diseases as an integral part of an industrial hygiene program. Increase in health and efficiency of workers; decrease in absenteeism end mortality; im provement in health of the community; and reduction in costs of compensation are all dividends which should be tho reward of an intensive program of preventive medicine in industry. 53. Diffuse Scleredema and Raynauds Phenomenon from the use of a Pneunatlc Hammer. D. Leys, Brit. Med. T.t p. 692. (October 23, 1939). This man, a mason, worked with a compressed-air hammer for a period of six years. He first noticed numbness of tho fingers during cold weather when using the ham mer. A fall, some nine years after stopping use of the hammer, brought him to medical attention. His faco was immobile and expressionless with a small mouth, the aperture of which was about 1-1/2 inches. The skin of the face was tense, thin and inelastic. Both hands showed Raynaud'a phenomenon. Though scleroderma and Raynaud's disease are commonly associated, there is a question hero whether the cold or vibration of the hammer which brought about the condition of the hands, also sot up tho scleroderma. 54. Cases of Human Infection with Brucella Abortus Bang Reported During 1938. Reich3gesundhfeitbl., 14, 764-765 (1959). (German). There are between 500-600 cases of this disease reported each year. In 1938 there were 600 cases; in 380 the cause remained unknown; 145 were traced to contact with 3ick cattle, 13-, to ingestion of raw milk, and 45 to these causes together. Most of the cases are found in the farming and dairy industry as might be expected. HUitB-UQ099itS Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 12. 55. Tissue Reactions to some Carbon Arc Dusts. S.L. MacQuiddy, J.P. Tollman, L.W. LaTowscy and S. Schonberger. J.Ind.Hyg. & Toxicol., 21, 498-512 (December 1939) Animal experiments showed that peritoneal injections o? dust in white rats gave more marked reactions than those given by the skin or lung of the rabbit. Some of tho high intensity carbon arc ashes give mildly proliferative- reactions and the authors suggest that it might be deduced that if they were inhaled over a long enough period of time, a proliferative type of pneumoconiosis might be pro duced. However, no conditions whore sufficiently high concentrations to produce such a lesion are known to exist. Novartholess, proper ventilating precautions must be taken as recommended by Drinker and Snell. 56. The Reduction of Noise in Buildings. Building Research Spoc. Report No. 26, K.M. Stationer1/ Office, London, 1939. (British). As tho result of intensive research on the problem of noise in buildings, certain, broad principles have emerged. The technique of insulation against "contact" or 0 "impact" noise is different from that required for "air-borne" noise. The relation between weight and reduction of air-borne noise in simple structures has been found to vary as the logarithm of the weight of the floor or partition. A useful start has been made on the evaluation of tho importance of "flanking" sound transmission. Numerous tables arc given on the sound insulation values of various materials, 57. Physical Efficiency and Service Flying. A.F. Rook. J.Roy.Naval Med. Service, 25, 203-217 (July 1939), (British). This contains a discussion of tho relationship of physical efficiency to the pro blems arising in tho selection and care of Service pilots from a medical stand point. Nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular stresses are considered. Signs of hypernervousnoss at facing medical exaninors do not, the author feels, pre clude the candidate from flying. Respiratory difficulties have largely been eli minated by the use of air-tight suits or cabins. Above 15,000 feet the diastolic pressure falls to an extent which may embarrass tho cranial circulation. In high speed flying, the centrifugal effects may cause serious symptoms. Al though freedom from organic disease is essential, in the author's opinion, temper ament is more important. S8 The Distribution of Electric Current in the Animal Body: An Experimental Inves tigation of 60 Cycle Alternating Curront. A.W. Weeks and L. Alexander. J.Ind. Hyg. & Toxicol., 21. 517-525 (Decoaber~959). A know!edge of current distribution is of importance in evaluating the effects of shock because it has an important bearing on the type and severity of damage. The paths can be fairly accurately determined if the points Gf contact are known. Electric current passes through the body in the shortost path from contact to contact without deflection by anatomical structures. ff 59. Influence of Work on Osmotic Reslstanco of Erythrocytes. A.L. Relwiez. Pflugers Arch, f.d.ges. Physiol., 242, 35-46 (1939). (Goman). Influence of Bodily Work on the Calcium and Potassium Content of the Erythrocyte. A.L. Relwiez. ibid, 49-53 (1939). (German). Heavy work will increase the resistance of erythrocytes, although the change is only slight in well trained animals. Work done repeatedly and for a long time will, as a rule, diminish the resistance. Aunentod resistance, it is thought is duo to the increase in potassium content. 60. The Physiology of Water Exchange. E.R. Reay. New Zealand Med. J., 38, 79-90 (1939 The Physiology of Water Exchange. N.L. Edison, ibid, pp. 266-270 (1939). Reviews of the present knowledge of water interchange between man-' and environ ment, and of the functions of water and salts in metabolic processes. a< Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 13. 61. A Study of the Hazard from Tubercle Bacilli in Environmental Air. R.P. Sim and-a- F.B. Flinn. Am.J.Hyg., 30. 135-140 (November 1939). Tubercle bacilli, because of their size, tend to fall out of the atmosphere g rapidly. As expelled from the mouth, they are coated with albuminous material ta which tend to stick wherever it strikes and is thus not stirred up into the atm^- phere again. ;a Papers on Industrial Poisons, Cancer, Dermatitis, etc. s 62. Acute Poisoning in Animals after Intraperitoneal and Intratracheal Administration of Dusts. J.P. Tollman, E.L. MacQuiddy and L.iV. LnTowsky. T.Ind.Hyg. & Toxicol., 21, 514-516 (December 1939). In the experiments reported in Item 55, certain of the injections caused the acute death of the animals. Upon investigation, this was found to be due to a soluble cupric ion. The authors warn against the possibility of errors arising out of the presence of toxic foreign substances in mixtures used for tissue re action experiments. 63. Qsseus Changes in Experimental Chronic Fluorine Poisoning. F.I. Lang. Klin. Wcfanschr.. 18, 1Q35 (1939). (Dorman). The conclusion is made that fluorine produces disturbances in the mineral metab olism, especially in calcification of the basic substances, changes in the bonos and cartilages, which resemble the osteosclerosis seen after healed rickets. This is based on the results of experiments published by Kellner (Arch. f. exp, Pathol., 192, 546, 1939). 64. Severe Acute Anemia with Slight Kidney Disturbance after Absorption of Metallic Tin and Lead. A. Laporte, A. Mayor and I. Bouser. Bull, et man. Soc. hopit. do Paris 55, 955-961 (1939). (French), A man treating himself for furunculosis took twice daily a 3izeable amount of ground tin which contained a "remarkable" amount of lead. He became very weak, unconscious and vomited. Blood examination showed 40# hemoglobin and two million erythrocytes. In a month he recovered, but one year later developed edema and albuminuria, 65. Poisoning from Thallium Dust. W. Schwerte. Munch. ked.Wchnschr., 86, 1299-1300 (1939). (Gennan). A typical case of thallium poisoning evidently caused by a woman inhaling a con siderable amount of thallium dust while cleaning a drawer in which Zellocorns (grain impregnated with thalllua acetate) had been placed. 66. The Occurrence of Atmospheric Lead Resulting from use of Colored Blackboard Crayons. K.W. Ruf and W.Z. Fluck. Am.J.Pub. Health. 29, 1149-1153 (October 1939) Lead was found present in only various shades of yellow, orange and green in the 27 samples analyzed. The maximum quantity of lead found was equivalent to 12# by weight. 67. Chloropicrin as a Frowaraing Gas in Ship Fumigation. G.C, Sherrard. U.S. Public Health Reports, 54 . 2297 (December 29. 1939). The use of lethal gases in the fumigation of ships presents hazards to himan life which necessitates the utmost care and the use of any end all chemical or mechan ical devices in prevention of fatal accidents. This i3 an account of studies undertaken for the purpose of developing a practical method of applying a prewarn ing gas preceding the introduction of the lethal gas. Of the various gases stud ied, chloropicrin seamed to offer the greatest possibilities for the reason that an irritant effect could be produced which was unbearable in a concentration far below the lethal dosage. 63 z Jl ^ZJ c^n *2< Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 14, 63. Studies in Lead Mobilization. S.L. Tompsett and J.N.M. Chalmers. Srit, J. Exp,.? Path., 20, 408-417 (October 1939). { A further investigation by these authors on oases of clinical plumbi3m and (2 increased lead absorption, especially on the influence of diet and medication ones the blood level of lead. The experiments showed the extreme mobility of lead: high calcium diets produced a fall in blood lead, while low calcium diets with without ammonium chloride produced a rise in blood load. Increase in blood lea<e docs not necessarily mean parallel increase in lead excretion: this raises the question of the wisdom of de-leading, as tho procoss may result in largely in creased lead in the soft tissues and circulation without compensatory increase in excretion. Single estimations of blood lead may produce erroneous results in diagnosis due to the influence of diet. In suspicious cases, if the blood lead is normal the estimation should bo repeated after a course of low calcium therapy, preferably with ammonium chloride. If possible, lead excretion should be examin ed at the some time. 69. Acute Tunnel Gas Bronchitis. M.G. Henry. Industrial Medicine, 8, 477-480 (Novem ber 1939). ~ A case report of acute tunnel gas congestion with comparative x-ray photographs. The construction of tunnels through volcanic*deposits is complicated by the pre sence of irritating gases which in combination with the gasea produced by explo sions are sufficient to produco severe and acute gas poisoning. 70. What We Don't Enow About Carbon Monoxide. M.R. Mayors. National Safety News, 40, 38 (November 1939). A discussion of the problems in carbon monoxide poisoning which still remain tc bo solved. The subject is handled from the viewpoint of the toxicologist discuss ing exposures to low concentrations, carbon monoxide headache, mixed gases such as illuminating gas and automobile exhaust. Of interost in the proper diagnosis of instances of poisoning and in just settlement of compensation cases. 71. Safe Practice in Viscose Rayon. Industry. W.H. Chestnut. Rayon Textile Monthly, 20, 632 (November 1939). Tho toxic gases involved in this industry are carbon disulfide and hydrogen aulfido as tho result of a reaction in the spinning bath. At the plants described in the article, measures have been taken for protection by ventilation. Designs for two types of automatic recording equipment for these gasea are shown. 72. After-Effects of Exposure of Men to Carbon Dioxide. W, Alexander, P. Duff, J.B.S. Haldane, G. Ives and D. Renton. Lancet, 419-420 (August 19, 1939). (British). This work arose out of the disaster of the submarine "Thetis," when it became de sirable to determine the effect on men of breathing oxygen in an escape apparatus after prolonged exposure to air containing high carbon dioxide and low oxygen concentrations. The tests were made in a steel chamber which was brought to 1.1 atmospheres, with carbon dioxide between 6-7% and correspondingly low oxygen. Of the six persons who breathed such air for an hour, there was headache when air or oxygen was breathed later and half of the subjects vomited, which latter reaction suggested the reason for the lo3a of some of the victims of the disaster. It is concluded that air or oxygen should be breathed for 30 minutes before attempting to uso the escape apparatus. 73. Plghtine Fires Involving Toxic and Irritant Gases. W.W. Stephen. Eire Eng., 92, 98-100'(1939). A discussion of the following hazards and incidents related where they were en countered in fires: ammonia, benzene, bromine, carbon monoxide, carbon tetra chloride, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, sulfur dioxide and smoke. A review of the use of proper gas masks in fighting chemical fires is also given. 2'2 f=3 -- s\ Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 15, 74. Poisonings with Hydrogen Sulfide In Cleaning of Sulfuric Acid Tanks, T. Bauer.oo Arbeitsschutz, 241-244 (1939)" (Germanj~ Two cases, one fatal, of hydrogen sulfide poisoning in men who cleanod sulfuric' acid tanks. An investigation, made 16 hours later, gave negative results, but |j additional study showed that hydrogen sulfide developed when the sludge was 35 scraped off. It was caused by the presence of iron sulfide and sulfuric acid, sa The latter should have been neutralized with lye before cleaning. This shows tj$ importance not only of testing enclosed spaces for toxic gases, but also of con sidering what reactions may be brought about by the processes for which they are entered. 75. Carbon Monoxide: A Public Health Hazard. L.B. Franklin. Minn. Med., 22, 623-635 (September 1939). Occurrence of carton monoxide is so frequent and widespread that it may be con sidered as a public health hazard. It is generated in burning building, in many industrial processes, in mine explosions and, perhaps most commonly, by automo bile engines, the exhaust gases of which may contain about 7$. if 0.03$ be considered as the dangerous concentration, surveys have shown that 5^ of the cars tested have toxic amounts at the driver1s breathing levol. Wider education of the public regarding this common hazard and legislation covering its control aro needed. 76. Systemic Effects from Exposure to certain Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. L. Groonburg, M.R. Mayors and A.R, Smith. N.Y. State Dept, of Labor, Industrial Bulletin, 18, 343-346,367 (October, November 1939). A report with case histories on systemic poisoning by the chlorinated naphthalenes and diphenyls. These compounds evaporate in Industrial practice and condense on the clothing, tools and skin of workers, producing a rather characteristic acnefora skin eruption. However, systeanically it causes acute yellow atrophy of the liver and there are reports of three fatal cases in the literature. This article discusses in detail three deaths in persons exposed to these known hepatoxic sub stances and in whoso cases no other etiological factors could be discovered. The authors warn that persons suffering from the acneform eruptions should be removed at once from the exposure; that persons with any past liver disease, no matter how mild, should not work with these substances; persons being treated with arsphenamine or taking drugs believed to be injurious to the liver or who are pregnant should not bo exposed. Workers who have been exposed, if requiring a general anesthetic for an operation, should not be given chloroform or avortin, and vice versa, individuals who have received these anesthetics should not immed iately thereafter go back to their fomwr work, or work with any other substances believed to be toxic to the liver. 77. A Study of the Fato in the Organism of some Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. S.M. Barrett, J.G. Cunningham and J.H. Johnson. J.Ind.Hyg.&Ioxicol., 21, 479-490 (December 1939). `: A study wa3 made of the quantitative sensitivity of the Fujiwara reaction, given by dilute solutions of many halogonated hydrocarbons or their derivatives. Methods were devised for studying the fate in the organism of some of these compounds. Five to 8% of the trichlorethylene absorbed by dogs was excreted in the urine, probably as a salt of trichloracetic acid. A substance giving a positive Fuji- wara tost appeared in the urine after exposure to tetrachlorethylono. Carbon . tetraciiloride, 1,1, trichlorethane and chloroform aro evidently not converted to trichloracetic acid. It appears that the liver damage following administra tion of S-tetrachlorethnne is not due to hydrochloric acid as believed by some workers. The authors foel that further investigation is necessary before conclu sions regarding the metabolism of these compounds can be drawn. Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 16. HUBS^euQ9949 78. Benzol Poisoning. Safety Engineering, 78, 40 (September 1939). A brief summary on benzol poisoning; the occupations most likely to be exposed; how it occurs; signs and symptoms and eight points on prevention. " 79. Hemepathies Caused by 3enzene. ?. Mignolot. Sang, 13_, 268-281 (1939). (French Workers in a heliographic shop wore exposed to a solvent containing 80$ benzene and 20$ toluene. At first there were nervous symptoms, acceleration of the pulse, insomnia, headache, petechias, bleeding of nose and gums. Of 26 cases, 14 were severe and 1 fatal. The latter case showed a red cell count of 600,000 and 1100 leucocytes. Seven showed occhymoses, 5 bleeding of the gums and one hemoptysis. Other losions were: ulcers of the cheeks from which noma and agran ulocytosis developed, enlargement of the livor, etc. In some cases the red count fell more than the white count. Mostly there were hyperchromic anamias and there was no parallel between the latter and the intensity of leucoponia, which was a neutrophilic granulopenia. It is the author's opinion that thrombopenia and not decrease in number of leucocytos is the first sign. Bleeding time was found to bo not as reliable a guide as coagulation time. The best therapy is transfusion. 80. Fatal Intoxication Following the Use of Carbon Tetrachloride as a Fire Extinguish ers G. Castrovilli. Mod, del lavoro. 3QV 195-206 (July 1939). (Italian). This is the report of a fatal caso of a workman 49 years old who had boen exposed to vapors of carbon tetrachloride and of buraii^ oil, benzino and gasoline, in an effort to extinguish a fire in a closed room. The clinical history is very scanty. He suffered, soon after hi3 exposure, from symptoms of mild narcotic poi soning, but accompanied by anuria. Thore was evidently no autopsy. The article is chiefly devoted to a review of the literature in carbon tetrachloride poisoning and to a discussion of tho possibility that other vapors may have been Involved, phosgene by heat decomposition of carbon tetrachloride, or metallo-organic com pounds, formed by the union of carbon tetrachloride and metallic fines. The author concludes, however, that carbon tetrachloride alone is capable of produc ing such a clinical picture. 81. II. The Effect of Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning on Experimental Animals. P.Y. Slytnik. irYhysiol.26, 120-127 (1939). (tf.S.S.R.) The results of prolonged poisoning of rabbits by daily intramuscular or subcutan eous injections of 0.3 cc. of carbon tetrachloride are suppuration and necrosis at the site of Injection, anemia, loucocytosis, cirrhotic and fatty degeneration of the liver, pleuropneimionia and death in 46-50 days# Increase of the daily dose to 0.4 cc. reduces the time of survival by one-half, but tho blood is not significantly affected and no pneumonia occurs. . 82. Bleaching Wood with Hydrogen Peroxide. National Fire Protection Asaociation Com mittee on Manufacturing Hazards# The Travelers Standard, 27, 237-240 (December 1939). While this article is principally concerned with the fire hazerda of hydrogon peroxide, it does mention the skin irritating possibilities. Exposure to its vapors will also irritate the eyes and lungs. The eyes should be safeguarded by safety goggles and long rubber gloves used to protect the hands and arms. Any direct contact should be immediately followed by prompt washing with water. 83. Dermatitis front Rock Wool. J.Am.Med,Assoc. (Queries and minor notes), 113, 1756 (November 4, 1939). Cases reported by the U.S, Public Health Service showed that patch tests confirm ed rock wool as a cause of dermatitis. R. Prosser White considered the Quick lime (10$), the calcium sulfide (5$) and the spicules to be the irritant proper ties. -'-Si Digest of Industrial Hygiene - 17. 34, Safe Skin Cleansers. J.V, dander and E.E. Gross. National Safety News, 41, 22 (January 1940). One phase of the prevention of dermatitis is an engineering problem. It has to d with eliminating skin contacts, general plant sanitation, etc. The other phase is the use of protective creams, neutralizing solutions and the various methods of cleansing the shin. Tho letter aspect is the subject of this article. a survey was made by the authors to determine methods and products used, frequency of washing, etc., in industry. It was found, as a general rule, that the quick er its cleansing action tho more harmful tho cleansing agent. A common practice among workmen is to use the solvent or chemical used in their work where better methods were not supplied. Various formulae for safe solutions and emollients are given. The best agent for cleansing the skin, in the authors' opinion is a toilet cake soap. 85. Industrial Dermatitis. J.Am.ticd.Assoc. (Queries and minor notes) 113, 1661 (October 28, 1939)i Contact was mude in this case with Pep-Tox, Diversol, a boiler compound, copper polish and chlorine, all of which may be damaging to the skin. Treatment should be limited to mild lotions, and long rubber gloves worn during work. 86. The Role of tho Nervous Factor in Chronic Intoxication by Industrial Poisons. P.Y. Mytnik. J. Physiol., 26, 120-127 (1939). (U.S.S.B.). Visceral hemorrhage, trophic ulcers and leucocytosis are the results of experi mental injury to the nervous system. Poisoning by subcutaneous injections of benzene results in lcucoponia and visceral hemorrhages. If injected subsequent to nervous trauma, benzene causes only a slight reduction in the number of leu cocytes, followed by leucocytosis. 87. Occupational Keratltldes and Corneal Dystrophies. H. Davidson, Arch, of Ophth., 21, 673-683 (1939). (Abstract from Am. J. Ophth.). Occupational superficial punctate keratitis and dystrophy are often diagnosed as subacute or chronic conjunctivitis and as band-shaped keratitis, and the true nature of the conditions is overlooked without the use of tho 3lit-lamp. Three types of this fom of keratitis may be recognized. The first is on acute or sub acute occupational superficial punctate keratitis, apparently due to particulate matter in spraying processes, which clings to the corneal epithelium, rather than, to gases. The second is a chronic occupational superficial punctate keratitis vorging on a dystrophy and apparently due to hard and sharp spicules penetrating the cornea, such as silica or metals. This type is more important because of the hypesthesia, but is not cunman and is seen only among the older workers, being principally due to exposures in the prosafety era. The third type is an occupa tional band-shaped keratitis seen in tho form of a post-traumatic lime band. Modicolegally, an interval of from 1 to 5 days is to be considered a requisite for a causal relation between a corneal injury and a herpetic corneal disease. The problem of prevention of occupational keratltldes and dystrophies is essen tially one of safety engineering. HtiBB-0009950 j -- -ij \ HUBS'-0669931