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FILE NAME Industrial Hygiene Foundation IHF DATE 1939 Feb 23 DOC IHF087 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Air Hygiene Foundation - Note to Members - References to Recent Literature on Industrial Diseases Air Hygiene Foundation 4400 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh Pa February 24 1939 | NOTE TO MEMBERS Enclosed is another bulletiinn the series prepared by Committee of Air Hygiene Foundation The the PreventivedeEanlgsinweietrhinRgoutine Sampling for Control of Atmospheric more new bulletin methods for determining some 40 substances Impurities and gives Extra copies in or less commonly found in industrial atmospheres available at fifty addition to the regular membership allotment are cents each H. B. Meller Managing Director Air Hygiene Foundation of America 4400 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh Pa February 23 1939 Inc. REFERENCETSO RECENT LITERATURE ON INDUSTRIAL DISEASES ( A A News Items 84 85 86 87 BOOK REVIEW -- DESIGN OF INDUSTRIAL EXHAUST VENTILATION John L. Alden Published by Industrial Press This book published recently and which have been abstracted 148 Lafayette St. New York N.Y. 220 pp 3.00 includes the articles in Heating and Ventilating in this Bulletin No reprints of the articles have been available to date It is well known that the literature on exhaust ventilation has been scanty and the author attempts to dispel the mystery surrounding the subject and to describe it in straightforward engineering terms The book covers the following subjects flow of fluids hood forms air flow through hoods pipo resistance piping design dust separators low pressure conveyors centrifugal exhaust fans structural details and system planning and field measurements and their interpretation One purpose of the book is to tell the plant engineer how to design or how to buy an oxhaust system that will adequately and economically operate THE KNUDSEN AWARD The Knudsen Award Ind Med 3 44 January 1939 open to members of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons is awarded annually for the most outstanding contribution to industrial medicine Members desiring to be considered should notify the committee by March 1 1939. The award is made on the basis of the best ^riginal contribution to medicine as it applies to industry FOR MORE LIBERAL COMPENSATION Labor Standards U. S. Dept. Labor 2 6 January 1939 Another attempt will be made in New York State to liberalize the restricted schedule of compensation for silicosis and to terminate the restrictions entirely at the end of a year period The 1936 law provided medical benefits for 90 days only and compensation for total disability not to exceed 500 in the first month after the bill became effective the amount increasing 50 a month until a maximum of 3000 was reached The proposed amendment would remove the limitation on medical benofits would step up the rate of monthly increases and would remove the ultimate maximum of 3000 A similar bill introduced last year passed both houses but was reconsidered and killeidn the assembly LABOR LAWS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND ORDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION Industrial Commission of Wisconsin Madison 222 pp 1938 In this volume are published all the labor laws of the State Under Safety and Sanitation are listed rules for the control of dust fumos vapors and gases jurios spray coatings mines and caisson work Other divisions include inand compensation employment of children hours and wages labor rela- tions and special laws for women in industry References to Recent Literature - 2 88 COMPENSABLE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE CASES SETTLED IN WISCONSIN IN 1937 Industrial Commission of Wisconsin Madison December 3 1938 A total of 753 claims were settled in the State for 272,503 Of this total 707 were for temporary disability 20 were permanent and 26 were for total dicability or death Twenty types of disease are listed the more prominent among them being dermatitis 296 cases plant poisoning 180 carbon monoxide 48 lead poisoning 12 26 synovitis and synovitis disease on the list is silicosis silicosis 22 heat prostration 56 freezing 55 and tuberculosis 6. The most noticeable which although it comprised only 3 per cent of the cases accounted for 60 per cont of the indemnity paid Eighteen of the 22 silicosis cases were for total disability Next in line are heat prostration about 10 per cent of the total indemnity and tuberculosis about 8 per cent The silicosis cases occurred in the following industries iron mining % stone cutting and polishing 3 iron foundries 9 steel foundrios 1 foundry and mach- inc shop products 2 and agato and cnamol ware 1 89 . MASSACHUSETTS OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE COVERAGE PROPOSALS Labor Standards U. S. is Dept. of Labor 2 6 January 1939 Labor Standards a monthly publication for sale by Supt of Documents Washington D.C. 10 cents per copy 75 cents per year Several plans have been presented to the special Massachusetts legislative re- cess commission studying problems of silicosis and other pulmonary disease cover- ages under the workmen's compensation act One provides for a compulsory pool to take care of silicosis and dust cases with provision for assignment of risks rejected by three insurance companics at rates approved by the commissioner of insurance provision for apportionment of risks among compensation carriers and a provision permitting carriers to pool their excess losses from assigned risks Another plan would set up a State fund in the custody of the State treasurer for extra hazardous employments This fund would be established and maintained by contributions from all insurance carriers and from it carriers of assigned risks would be repaid the losses in excess of 70 per cent of the premiums of such risks Still another plan legalizes insurance under certain circumstances A fourth plan separates occupational disease and accident claims and limits oc- cupational disease claims to total disability 90 NOMOGRAMS FOR THE COMPUTATION OF DATA OF FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE J.M. Dalla Valle Div Ind Hyg U.S. Public Health Service Washington D. C. A useful set of nomograms covering 1 dilution of impinger samples 2 computation of dust concentration 3 conversion of mg per liter to parts per million 4 rate of particle fall by Stokes law 5 computation of relative humidity 6 friction loss in round pipes 7 computation of airflow from pitot reading8s velocity exterior of an opening under suction 9 height age and weight relationship of adult men and women 91 REDESIGN OF WORKING BOOTHS TO REDUCE DUST COUNTS Cer Ind 32 60 Jan.1939 A redesigning of the working booths in the porcelain department of the Goneral Electric Company has produced some surprisingly low dust counts in these booths whore unfired waro is trimmed on lathes A stream of air is made to pass down- ward in front of the operator not striking him directly and then out through openings in two staggered baffle plates in the roar of the booth Dust counts in the operators exposure zone were approximately the same as the general plant atmosphore References to Recent Literature - 3 92 LABOR PROTECTION AS LECTURE MATERIAL FOR TECHNICAL SCHOOL DIRECTORS St. Folkhard Arbeitsschutz pp 201-3 1938 German The author advocates the establishment of courses in the technical schools for instruction in labor laws applied physiology labor psychology and labor protection Short courses could be arranged for safety engineers B Papers on Dust Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene 93 PHYSIOLOGY ENGINEERS H. W. Haggard Mech Eng 61 8-12 Jun 1939 Robert Henry Thurston Lecture at Annual Meeting Am Soc Mech Engrs Dec. 1938 Physiology for engineers is a much more important subject than is apparent on- first consideration Numerous engineering achievements the past have greatly changed human environment be known and appreciated and the resultant Dr. Haggard does effectosn human physiology should not attempt to give a course in physiology but merely stresses the importance of this clement in the engineer's problems The study of the human body is a complicated subject It is emphasizo~ that the body acts as a whole unit and that a disturbance in the operations of one part will affect to some extent the whole unit To illustrate two examples of engincering progress are cited modern artifical lighting and air conditioning It is possible that because of the lack of proper light and the attendant eye- strain a fair proportion of men and women suffer physiological disturbances that interfere with their work their digestion or their disposition Likewise other abnormal conditions may cause similar disturbances in a normal operation of the unit An almost opposite picture is presented in air conditioning The human body responds only to stimulation and in the perfectly controlled atmospheres of air conditioned rooms is the possibility that the temperature regulating mech- anism of the body may become sluggish and stagnate to precipitate other functional disturbances These numerous physiological factors should be given con- sideration by engineers in problemas of which man is a part 94 DO GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS PAY Victor G. Hoiser National Assoc Manufacturers Report of Committee on Healthful Working Conditions December 1938. Obtainable from Division of Publications National Association of Manufacturers 19 W. 44 Street New York City at 5 cents a copy -- free to Association members This publication includes a preliminary report of the Committee together with the address of Dr. Heiser Chairman at the Congress of American Industry Dr. Heiser points out some of the reasons why healthful working sirable in a factory and how every manufacturer can compare conditions conditions are dein his own factory with that in others of similar nature Emphasis is being placed by the Committee on the smaller companies More support should be given to exist- ing industrial and engineering research laboratorics for further in- vestigation and assistance on the problems that exist 95 THE EFFECTS OF OCCUPATION AND OF ITS ACCOMPANYING ENVIRONMENT ONMORTALITY P. Stocks J. Roy Statistical Soc 101 669-96 1938 British Some occupations have given the statistical impression of being intrinsically unhealthy whereas thoir unfavorable mortality might arise from their particular localization whereby the workers and their families share the higher deathrates which predominate in that locality This fact may be a factor in certain industries only carried on in larger cities and though well distributed over the country high mortality may be duc not entirely the industry itself but to the urban conditions Casos arc cited in England whore if these facts are overlooked certain erroneous conclusions might be drawn Conclusions drawn from a survey of the general population show that higher death rates can be correlated with higher latitudos housing facilities and ratio of unskilled workers A ration of the standardized mortality of males to that of married women has been used to indicate whether a high mortality among employed mon represents a true occupational risk or is one inherent in the environment References to Recent Literature - 4 96 FIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH BOARD TO JUNE 30 1938 H.M. Stationery Office London 1938. Obtainable from the British Library of Information 270 Madison Ave. New York N.Y. Price ls Part I of this Report contains a summary of the work in the past 20 years Much of the earlier studios were devoted to hours of labor fatigue efficiency and other general subjects Part II deals with the work of the past year during which time the studies on illumination have been given much attention The toxicity of industrial solvents has been investigated and it is intended lator if possible to check the toxic effects of all solvents before they are issued commercially No extensive discussion is given of dust and pulmonary disease as the comprehensive survey of silicosis in the South Wales Coalfields is still uncompleted ' 97 SIXTEENTH REPORT OF THE SAFETY IN MINES RESEARCH BOARD 1937 H.M. Stationery Office London 1958 British A large part of the report is devoted to progress reports on the studies of coal dust and firedamp explosions flameproofing of electrical mining machinery mine lighting explosives safety lamps and other miscellaneous safety factors Considerable work is being done on those subjects A group of reports classed as health researches includes the study of mine temperatures silicosis and protection against dust One set of experiments showed no ill effects of exposure to an air velocity of 1,000 r.p.m. of dry air at a temperature above that of the body a temperature which was found in one of the mines It was concluded in studies of the excretion of silica in urine that this type of test cannot be used as a reliable method in the diagnosis of silicosis Dust inhalation experiments are still being carried out in South Wales and it is hoped that guinea lung pictures will be obtained corresponding to 1 anthracite dust alone 2 anthracite dust stone dust and varying quantities of nitrous fumes and 3 stone dust with nitrous fumes Certain other tests have shown that the employment of a plant embodying the Hay mist projector principle reduces dust , by 90 per cent 98 PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE D. Stewart Public Health 51 165-6 March 1938 British The criticism is made that the public health official does not appear to be aware of the industrial community as an entity or to consider administrative problems in their bearing on industrial workers The author makes a plea for full cooperation between these public health officials and those concerned now with industrial hygiene matters The bulk of the present day services in industrial hygiene is done by the more enlightened companies and by full coopera- tion these services could be given wider application 99 THE TREND OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE LEGISLATION H. D. Sayer Text of address at the National Safety Congress Chicago October 1938. Reprints obtainable from the Association of Casualty and Surety Executives 60 John St. New York City Compensation for occupational disease and accidental injury is similar basical- ly and logically but their causes and effects are so dissimilar that they re- quire almost entirely different treatment Accidents occur at a specific moment in point of time but this is not true of most occupational diseases and it makes difficult the fixing of liability Another problem is in the terms of coverage as prescribed by law Some states have all inclusive statutos which make the coverage indefinite and impossible to keep within the bounds originally intended No new legislation of this type has been enacted within the past three years The trend has been towards specific schedules of compensable diseases which limit the liability of the employor reduce litigation and make the administration much simpler A brief description is givon of the graduated method of compensation of silicosis cases which have accrued in the past but which have only recently been made compensable Liability starts at only a References to Recent Literature- 5 nominal amount some are 500 and increases monthly to a maximum in three years It is not ideal but prevents the employer from having out of current income for liability accrued during past years two or to pay 100 SICKNESS ABSENTEEISM M. L. Bateman Ind Welfare 20 403-8 October 1938 British The author is time physician to a large store having about 6000 employees Attendances at the clinic are as voluntary as possible but are obligatory for 1 preliminary examination for appointment 2 reporting accidents incurred at work and 3 before return to duty after illness In over 3000 preliminary examinations in3 years partially fit and 5 per women take more time off 80.5 cent than per cent were classed as as unfit From sickness fit 14.5 per cent records it appears as that mon and that those engaged in selling have higher sickness rates than others Sickness is higher in winter months particularly in latter part of the season About 45 to 50 per cent of time lost was due to respiratory diseases Digestive diseases accounted for about 10 per cent 101 ALUMINUM AND SILICOSIS R. C. Emmons and Carl Fries American Mineralogist 654-60 October 1938 In the study of protector dusts Denny Robson and Irwin Abstract No. 39 1937 this Bulletin contended that the action of alumina was to reduce the amount of silica in solution that the toxic action of silica deponded on the amount in solution The agree on the explanation authors agree that alumina of its action First they isa protector dust but dis- state that it is the par- ticulate undissolved silica which is held to be the cause of fibrosis and not the dissolved silica which is easily transported by the blood and excreted The oction of the alumina is to hydrolyze to the insoluble hydroxide which floccu- lates the smaller silica particles not yet in solution into masses large enough to be removed by phagocytosis In beaker experiments where the pH of the water was kept below 5.0 to prevent the alumina from hydrolyzing to the hydroxide there was no flocculation or reduction of the amount of particulate silica in suspension In alkaline solutions however large reductions of suspended silica were noted Other substances such as carbon black iron oxide hematite and the alkaline earth carbonates produce the same reactions that are well known in clarification in water treatment 102 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS BETWEEN THE PNEUMOCONIOSES PARTICULARLY SILICOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS E. Gonzalez Ancira Arch.des malad profes 1 379-88 November 1938 French The differential diagnosis of tuberculosis and the pneumoconioses is not diffi- cult if the following points are given consideration 1 exposure to dust and its composition 2 complete laboratory examination and 3 correct use of the ray laboratory ferentiate Under 1 the details cannot be too exact Under 2 certain tests may be carried out which if done correctly will help dif- between the two Characteristics of rays are described which if followed through in detail will further aid diagnosis By the use of the combined signs and symptoms covered under these three main considerations a correct diagnosis should not be difficult FIGHT AGAINST SILICOSIS IN THE METAL INDUSTRY Anon Oberflackentech 15 189-1 1938 Silicosis develops in men sandblasting or grinding metals more rapidly than in minors Means for preventing inhalation of the fine dust adequate equipment and clinical aspects are briefly discussed Grinding wheels of artificial stone as carborundum are more sanitary as the dust doos not contain any free silica which is tho cause of silicosis Wherever possible artificial stones should be usod References to Recent Literature - 6 SILICOSIS AMONG GRINDERS J.L.A. Grout Brit Jour Radiol 11 366-70 knives June 1938 , The author gives un interesting report of the work of Sheffield grinders in forks and needles and their working conditions during the harpening was all done with condstone wheels the 18th and 19 centuries The grinding of knives being done wet and that of forks dry Fork grinders seldom glriivneddinbgeyond the age of 32 while the knife grinders occasionally lived to 50 yours In 1833 out of 2500 grinders not 35 had lived to be 50 of 80 fork exclusive of boys not a single worker of 36 years was alive Although printers Some attempts were made to alleviate these conditions they remained much the for generations until recently In 1834 a dust control program much the ssame a om ne e as those in effect today was proposed but was apparently never enforced During During more recent years replacement of the sandstones by artificial ab- During During sive has almost eliminated silicosis from this industry OF ACID INSOLUBLE MATTER IN THE SPUTA OF SILICOTICS H. Civin DETERMINATION J. Ind Hyg & Toxicol 21 1-4 1. 1. A. Schreier B. Martello and J.D. Hardy January 1939 The determination of mineral residue in the sputum of silicotics is a compara- tively tively recent study and no thorough investigation been been male Burke see Abstract No. 873 Dec. 1938 been of the subject has made a microscopic as yet study of thte he sputum of silicotics and silicotics but the technic available made it difficult to distinguish particles accurately In the present study the authors difficult Determined Determined the weight of the total insoluble solids in 100 Their method is completely described in the paper The average cc of sputum free silica con- that of the solid matter determined with hydrofluoric acid after ignition was per per cent They found some solid matter in the lungs of all examined but : the sputum of proved silicotics showed distinctively higher values than that of silicotics The sputum of 83 silicotics contained from 0.2 2 2,0 mg rosiduo por 100 cc while 84 per cent of 32 silicotic cases contained uvn2.5 mg per 100 cc and some values were as high as 20 mg Many silicotics gave high results even after id that these determinations years of absence Iron a dusty trade It is suggestmay prove to be of value in the diagnosis of silicos 116 VARYING ANATOMIC BEHAVIOR OF THE RIGHT HEART IN SEVERE SILICOSIS M. Letterer Verhandl d deutsch Gesell f Kreislauf 11th session pp 400-5 1938 German of 13 cases of severe simple silicosis the author found that 11 had hypertrophy of the right heart with a 6-10 mn thick wall of the conus pulmonali Of 22 cases with severe silicosis complicated by tuberculosis there were only 9 cases with this condition It seems possible therefore that tuberculosis hinders the development of hypertrophy of the right heart and can perhaps even bring about a diminution of it 107 THE 25 The and DANGER OF SILICOSIS AND PRACTICAL SAFETY MEASURES Derdack Zbl.f.Gewerbohy Zbl.f.Gewerbohy Zbl.f.Gewerbohy 167-70 1938 German cuthor discusses the dust produced in the manufacture of fireproof deals briefly with means for preventing its dissemination bricks 108 THE EXPERIMENTAL REPRODUCTION OF THE CALLED SILICOTIC NODULE A. Policard Bull Histol appl physiol path tech microscop 15 07-76 1938 French Histologic and chemical studies were made of pathologic tissue from the lungs of guinea pigs rats and rabbits which had inhaled quartz or chalcedony dust for 8-25 months The fibrous changes produced in the lungs of these animals differed markedly from the hyalin nodules found in human silicosis pat- ients Conclusion the origin of human silicotic nodulos connot as yet be de- finitely ascribed to silica itself Note See abstracts Nos 15 and 16 in January 1939 Bulletin References to Recent Literature - 7 > 109 ASBESTOSIS J. V. Sparks Brit J. Radiol 11 371-7 June 1938 British The paper describes the clinical and radiological signs of asbestosis The chief complications are 1 purulent bronchitis 2 pneumonia 3 pulmonary tuberculosis and 4 carcinoma 110 THE ADSORPTION EFFECTS OF VARIOUS DUSTS ON DILUTED TUBERCULIN S.L. Cummins and E.M. Williams J. Hyg 33 608-46 1928 The adsorption power of various types of divided ducts for the active part of tuberculin was studied by ni of c 0.1 per cent solution of shaking1 gram tuberculin for samples of 5 minutes such dusts incubating with 10 at 370 for 30 minutes and keeping them overnight at room temperature The clear liquid a,removed contrifuged sterilized and tested It was found that the adsorption power increased in the inversed ratio of particle size that anthracite and fusian dust of comparable particle size have the same adsorption power and that sandstone from different locations and shale dust sericite chalcedony and quartz ust also adsorb the active principle of tuberculin to different extents It is suggested that the relatively low morbidity toxicity and mortality from tuberculosis noted in cual minors exposed to siliceous dust are due to the ad- sorption of tuberculous toxin by divided coal dust inhaled with the dust from hard stone 111 THE PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSE OF PLEURAL SURFACES TO IMPLANTED DUSTS W.R. Bradley and M.W. First J. Lab and Clin Med 24 44-52 1938 Forty rabbits were subjected to pleural implantation of dust and with 10 additional rabbits as controls were autopsied after 15 30 45 60 and 90 days Typically inert absorptive and proliferative reactions were produced by the ploure in response to various dusts These responses were essentially the same as those produced in serous cavities elsewhere in the body by other workers The injection of dusts into the pleural cavities especially because of its proxi mity to lung tissue was found to be suitable in both results and economy 112 RADIOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATION OF PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED BY CERTAIN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES J.F. Brailsford Brit J. Radiol 11 393-400 1938 British The author summarizes Roholm's study of fluorine intoxication contracted by those handling cryolite Eighty per cent of the workers examined had bone changes -- a diffuse osteosclerosis which was on the whole proportional to the period of employment Half of the workers showed radiographic evidences of pulmonary fibrosis similar to that seen in silicosis but more innocent in nature but it was undecided as to whether the fluorine or the associated quartz had caused the fibrosis Against this an exumination of 49 workers in Scotland exposed to alumina and cryolite Custs failed to establish the existence of osteosclerosis or of pulmonary fibrosis in spite of long exposuro Other examples of the radiograph as a diagnostic tool are cited 113 TESTS OF RESPIRATORY EFFICIENCY AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH RADIOLOGICAL APPEARANCES IN THE LUNGS E.M. Killick Brit J. Radiol 11 401-4 June 1938 * British The tosts of respiratory efficiency used were 1 vital capacity of the lungs 2 ventilation equivalent for oxygen of air breathed per 100 cc oxygen absorbed 3 volume of dead space and 4 excrcise tolerance tests Seven men whose pulmonary lesions had been diagnosed as silicosis or asbestosis all show- ed defined functional impairment on the basis of one or more of the above tests Eleven arc welders were examined and five of the number having signs of early pneumoconiosis gave on the whole poorer performances than the other six It is concluded that tests of respiratory efficiency should help to distinguish between early fibrosis and the deposition of dust in the lungs without marked fibrous tissue reaction c References to Recent Literature - 8 114 PNEUMONIA IN INDUSTRY George F. Obrien Ind Med 8 39-42 January 1939 Industry has made great strides in reducing mortality from injuries but much time is lost and many deaths still occur from respiratory diseases Industry furnishes many of the predisposing factors in pneumonia and should interest itsolf in the problem and in spreading the modern concepts of pneumonia and its treatment The symptoms of pneumonia arise from infection and anoxia serum therapy is directed against the infection and oxygen therapy against the anoxia and control of the two factors will control pneumonia 115 OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES OF THE LUNGS IN AGRICULTURAL WORKERS R. Fawcitt Brit J. Radiol 11 373-92 June 1938 British Agricultural workers are liable to infection by organic matter fungi bacteria and parasites from vegetable mattor and animal excreta Various types of mycotic infection of the lungs are described and the radiological appear- ences illustrated The author is of though usually innocuous may become the opinion that pathogenic under the common fungi certain conditions and that the incidence of harmful infection is more common and widespread than is general- ly realized Certain types of bacterial and parasitic pulmonary disease are also described 116 SYPHILIS CONTROL IN INDUSTRY R.R. Sayers Supp No. 140 Public Health Reports 1938 More than 1 million years of life expectancy are lost every year by syphilitic deaths in this country and in institutional care the discase costs us between 40 and 50 million dollars annually As a purely economic problem industry should be interested in wiping out the disease but comparatively few companies have done much on the problem The question of whether or not industry should hire a syphilitic is discussed Except as food handlers barbers etc. it is stated that they should be kept at their jobs and given close medical supervision A doctor of one large company advocates a certain amount of medical care by industry and at least cooperation with State officials who can supply free antisyphilitic drugs and offer consultation on problems of control 117 STATE LABOR LAWS FOR WOMEN WOMEN WORKERS F.P. Smith PART U.S. 1 SUMMARY Dept. Labor Part 2 ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR Women's Bureau Bull No. 156 Parts 1 and 2 1938 These bulletins summarize the State laws regarding work hours meal time rest periods night work seating and other items All but 4 States have some sort of law regulating the hours women may work 16 States having a maximum of 8 hours a day It is significant that 17 States prohibit womon working in mines and other States prohibit them in coke ovens and quarries Only 17 have laws governing home work and only 22 have minimum wage laws Part 2 of the bulletin is devoted entirely to presenting in tabular form the points covered by various State laws for women as of March 31 1938 118 FORWARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY IN COAL MINING BY USE OF WATERING METHODS D. Harrington & J.J. Forbes U.S. Bur Mines Inf Circ No 7041,11 pp Dec.1938. It is well known that coal dust even in absence of gas is explosive and can initiate or propagate un explosion in a mine It is also believed by many persons that all atmospheric dusts may be harmful if broathed in largo quantities fo long periods of time For those reasons the authors stress the importance of dust control in coal mines This paper enumerates the principal sources of dust and describes practical methods of of the known methods to allay dust employing water as one of in coal mines Most dust the most in mines effective originates at the face and the amount of water necessary if applied officiently is not excessive In some mines the water is supplied by special tanks on mining References to Recent Literature - 9 _ machines but most mines now using water for dust control have installed plote pipe line systems Several typical installations are described in circular together with pictures which illustrate the methods now in use com- the 119 119 120 120 EXAMPLE OF AN INSTALLATION FOR THE CONTROL OF THE HYGIENIC EXPOSURE ARISING FROM THE APPLICATION OF POTTERY GLAZES S. C. Rothmann Ind Med 8 8-12 January 1939 The author describes some of the problems in connection with the dust and lead hazards in the glozing department of a dinnerware pottery plant The lead hazard is probably the most important although in recent yours the increased use of fritted glazes has reduced the hazard because of the formation of insoluble lead compounds by fusing Hand dipping of ware is not in itself dangerous most dust is caused by stirring up of accumulated dried glaze on floors boards tubs and clothing An automatic spray glazing machine and the exhaust booth in connection with it are described necessary ELECTRICAL DUST PRECIPITATION J. Wuyckens Mem univ Bruxelles 95 pp 1937 Belgian Details are given of a laboratory investigation relating to the electric pre- cipitation of dust from a stream of air The apparatus consisted in a device for making regular and uniform the distribution of the dust in the air stream a small Cottrell type of precipitator and an oil filter for removing dust from the effluent stream of air Among the factors studied were effect of dust concentration on efficiency offect of electromotive force employed within the range 7300-12000 volts effect of the velocity of the air stream and the rela- tion between electromotive force and current in the discharge A high degree of purification is more readily obtained by a reduction of velocity of the stream than by an increase of electromotive force The scale effect controll- to ing the possibility of applying laboratory results discussed large plants is 121 121 FRICTION LOSS IN PIPING 6-8 , January 1939 6-8 author has developed E. A. in the Windham course of Heating Piping and Air Cond 11 his work two charts of friction loss in pipes which are reproduced Most empirical formulae apply over only a limited range of temperatures and it is frequently necessary particularly in air duct work to compute friction losses when the temporature varies consider- ably from the standard conditions The author has made use of the Fanning equa- tion and has simplified its application for general use C ) Papers on Industrial Poisons Cancer Dermatitis etc. 122 122 HEALTH HAZARDS AND THEIR CONTROL IN THE ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY H.G. Dyktor and John Buxell Bulletin Dept. Public Welfare Industrial Hygiene Div City of St. Louis Mo. 33 pp 1938 In a study of the electroplating industry in St. health hazard which necessitated drastic action Louis the authors found no Most plants were provided with moans of controlling the hazards encounteredand present control methods could be perfected with only minor changes or by propor maintenance of present equip- ment In the cases whore deficiencios occurred they wore due to lack of prop- er information or to the use of erroneous information and this Bulletin is published to fill that lack It covers the hazards of dusts acid mists and vapors trichlorethyleno and carbon tetrachloride chromium lacquers skin diseases and other miscellaneous items of personal hygione sanitation and con- eral safety No one subject is covered completely but the Bulletin is a valu- able guide to those operating electroplating plants References to Recent Literature - .10 123 _ A SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE CONDITIONS IN THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY OF RHODE ISLAND J. Wuraftic and C.V. Hickey Div of Indust Hyg State Dept. . of Public Health Providence 1938 The jewelry industry in Rhode Island comprises 289 plants employing 10,315 workers about half of whom are women More than half of the plants cmploy loss than 10 workers It was found that 8912 or 88 per cent of the number were not exposed to any hazardous material or process in any manner and the percentage of those exposed to any degree at all was very small 0.28 per cent A few 436 or 4.8 per cont were engaged in electroplating work and the seriousness of their exposure is questioned pending further investigation 124 SEVERAL TOXIC VOLATILE INDUSTRIAL SOLVENTS D. Glibert Bruxelles 18 1189 July 19 1938 Belgian Because physicians are likely to encounter some of the growing number of toxic industrial solvents the author discusses a few of them in this paper and lists others which are cither not discussed at length or are otherwise generally well known Attention is especially called to the chlorinated hydrocarbon group He stresses particularly that the solvents as used are rarely pure and that this fact should be taken into consideration along with other factors such as the origin of the solvent its instability and the particular conditions of its use in the plants 125 SOLVENTS AND THEIR DANGERS Wenzel Zentr.Gewerbehyg.Unfall 25 217-24 1938 German Industrial solvents are classified as to their general use c.g. viscosity changers plasticizers azeotropic mixtures extractants decronsers solvents for solids imprognators pharmaceuticals and carriers for other materials Many examples are given The flammability physiological action origin and industrial use of many solvents are discussed Special attention is given to spray booth design and exhaust paints and lacquers and solvents used in the rubber and textile industries The most important phase of worker protection is adequate education as to the danger and proper handling of the solvent in question 126 EVALUATION OF THE ODOR NUISANCE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF KRAFT PAPER Vallo and H.C. Dudley U.S. Pub Health Reports 54 35-43 Jan. J.M. Dalla- 15 1939 Kraft paper is the brown paper usod in retail stores for wrapping paekages heavier grades are used in shipping carton and containers The authors outline the method used in evaluating the odor nuisance generated in the manufacture of the sodium sulfide - sodium hydroxide process The odors this type of paper by and a chemical of hydrogen sulfide organic sulfur compounds carbon cases smoke containing large quantities of sodium sulfate and sodium sulfide are given off during nearly all processos and pass out through the stacks to be classed as a nuisance in the neighborhood The human nose is remarkably sensitive to minute traces of these substances in the atmosphere oven in these concentra- tions that are well below the toxic limit It is concluded that in the neigh- borhood of the plants the concentrations of toxic gases are of no consequence The major contributing factor in the obnoxious conditions is due to the large which are blown out amounts of solid chemical materials mostly sodium sulfate of electrical through the stacks and soon settle to the ground The possibility precipitation for provention and economical recovery is strossed References to Recent Literature ~ 11 127 THE DANGERS OF ARC WELDING N. Pozzi Arch des malad profes 1 389-414 November 1938 French The author reviews the materials entering usually welded He considers the dangers its effects on the eye and 3 fumes The due to both ultraviolet or infrared rays into the arc as well as the metals as duo to 1 burns 2 glare and injury in the case of glare may be The effect of the fumes if the ex- is severe is to produce an acute pneumonia of which the prog- posure prolonged cymptoms of nosis is unfavorable If the exposure is moderate but pneumoconiosis develop a feeling of constriction of the chest dyspnea and persistent cough Occasionally metal func fever occurs but more often a gen- eral malaise combined with severe headaches and insonnia No mention is made of possible nitrous fumes in the gases from the arc Measures of protection are welder's goggles partitioning off of the welding spaces to protect other workers from the glare removal of fumes by local exhausts and good general ventilation 128 STANDARDIZATION OF GAS MASKS AND RESPIRATORY APPARATUS K. Quasebart U.D.I. Ztschr 82 147-8 1938 German To enable interchange of parts and apparatus of respiratory equipment regardless of make manufacturers and officials have cooperated in establishing codes of standardization of such equipment Ten codes are planned It is also pro- posed to define uniform names for all apparatus and parts 129 THE ABSORPTION OF IRRITANT GASES IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT I.D. Gadaskina J. Physiol U.S.S.R. 23 782-90 1937 Russian The inhalation of irritant gases by rabbits and the analysis of the exhaled showed that nearly all was absorbed in the upper respiratory passages Agasiersritating gas like nitrogen dioxide is abso. rbed largely in the lower respiratory tract none in the upper 130 THE REACTION OF THE CLOTHED HUMAN BODY TO VARIATIONS IN ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY C.-E.A. Winslow L.P. Herrington and A.P. Gagge Am J. Physiol 124 692-703 December 1938 Below 25 77 the zone of body cooling relative humidity has no appreciable influence on physiological reactions Above this temperature the relative humidity begins to take effect and with higher temperatures and high humiditics the nude body adjusts itself much better than the clothed body With higher temperatures and low humidity the clothed subject can tolerate a slightly higher operative temperature During summer months the mechanism of sweat secretion is in better working order and consequently the response to higher temperatures is better during those months 131 OF THE VENTILATION FLUELESS ROOMS NOTE FROM THE BUILDING RESEARCH STATION J. Instn Heat & Vent Engrs London 6 428-34 October 1938 British were made in an exporimental house to determine the ventilation Observations ventilator in a room not provided with a flue or chimney provided by an open differ- It was found that in an average room over a wide range of temperature and wind velocities the ventilator provided approximately the same ven- ences tilation as did an unheated flue of normal type It was observed that in a heated fluoloss room with an ordinary wall type ventilator the change may : fall as low as 0.3 por hour or less References to Recent Literature - . 132 FIRST CHANGES OF THE WHITE BLOOD IN PERSONS EXPOSETDO LEAD A.H. Muller Klin Wohnschr 17 1183-6 1938 German The author roports on results of periodic examinations over a 1 year period of street car and bus lacquerers He notes that with great regularity ho found high lymphocyte counts without other signs of load absorption or lead injury It is considered that this lymphocytosis can justify an especially careful medical supervision in the absence of other signs of load poisoning 133| LEAD AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 1146-7 1938 German G.W. Gunther Deutsch med Welinschr 64 Description is given of the illness ofa year old linotype setter who died of a cardiac infarct and coronary thrombosis For many years he had had high blood pressure and in recent years was employed only occasionally as a type setter Examination of the organs showed 0.115 per cent lead in the liver and spleen and 0.58 per cent in the bono Since there was no familial disposition to premature high blood pressure and in view of the long exposure to lead a causal relationship between industrial lead injury and high blood pressure was assumed The recent lack of exposure was taken into consideration 134 NEW SOURCES OF LEAD POISONING Mornac Ann d'hyg pp 362-4 1938 French The author describes the use of great quantities of lead arsenic in insecti- cides used by farmers and the complete carelessness in the handling of it He found cases of lead poisoning by users of the insecticide and recommends the , substitution of aluminum arsenates 135 _ LEAD POISONING L. Schwartz Samm v Vergiftungof 9 41-6 1938 German A year old cable layer fell ill with ocular motor paralysis Since the lead hazard to cable layers seemed slight and no other signs of lead poisoning could be proven with certainty the referee on the case rejected the possibil- ity of lead poisoning suggested observation ina hospital At the clinic small quantities of lead were found in the blood urine and feces but the quantities were within normal limits 136 A METHOD FOR THE QUNTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS FOR SODIUM POTASSIUM CALCIUM MAGNESIUM AND LEAD O.S. Duffendack K.B. 1-7 1938 Thomson W.C. Lec and O.G. Koppius J. Biol Chem 126 A detailed description is given for the method used Load was determined in urine and by the method described it is possible with extreme caution to measure accurately 0.1 mg lend per liter 137 DETECTION OF LEAD IN ETHYL LEAD AND OPSERVATIONS ON THE VOLATILITY OF TETRA- ETHYL LEAD H. Siebeneck Chem 62 183-189 1938 German This question was studied in connection with the detection of lead in the waste liquor from ethylizing apparatus The use of dithizone was shown to be not altogether trustworthy for load detection as free benzine gave color reactions The use of 1 per cent ^...imorcaptolsolution is recommended Experiments showed that tetracthyl lead is volatilo in normal temperatures when mixed with hydrocarbons 138 JUDGING HEART MUSCLE INJURIES AFTER CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING H. Symanski Aerztl Sachverstandig 44 183-204 1938 German The author discusses first on the basis of the literature the possibility and occurrence of poisoning He trouble which cardiac muscle injuries in acute and chronic carbon monoxide then presonts eight detailed and instructive cases of heart had como before him as a reforoe The question to be decided was whether the discaso was caused by carbon monoxide or hastened by it In some this question was affirmed in some denied : References to Recent Literature - 15 139 CARBON MONOXIDE AND EPILEPSY H. Symanski Samm v Vergiftungsf 9 9 23-40 1938 German A blacksmith in a gas works was exposed occasionally to carbon monoxide and at the age of 35 he fell ill with epilepepilet ptifori m af ttoar ckms The expert in a court case considered this as gonuine epilepsy denying any relationship to carbon monoxide inhalation since the signs were not present 140 LATE EPILEPSY IN THE COURSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING 0. Schiersmann Ztsch ges Neurol u Psychiat 163 656-69 October 1938 German True epileptic seizures occurred ina war veteran 60 years old 14 years after carbon monoxide poisoning from exhaust gases of a benzol engine during the war The seizures which developed rapidly were characterized by convulsions torsolike and athetoid movements loss of the reaction of pupils to light and un- consciousness Kinor seizures had occurred six months after exposure and at infrequent intervals following Mentally the patient showed disturbed sleep apathy emotional flattening lack of initiative woakness of memory hysteri- cal trends and generally demented behavior 141 TESTIS AND HYPOPHYSIS IN GASSED MALE RATS C.A. Patterson E. Smith and A.D. Pickett Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 38 455-60 1938 British Male rats were exposed for 1 hour daily for 50 or more days to an atmosphere containing 0.34 per cent carbon monoxide The testis and epididymus weight was reduced by 50 per cent and their spermatozoa were reduced in number and motility The hypophysis became basophilic with many vacuolated cells but the gonadotropic hormone content was increased 142 CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING Howard A. Martin Ohio State Med J. 34 1251-3 1938 The author reviews the literature on carbon nonoxide poisoning Symptoms of both acute and chronic poisonings are described and the important ones especially noted He reviews the various items in the treatment of both types of poisonings and the paper should be of interest to all physicians 143 SOLVENTS THE HALOGENATED CANCE TO HYDROCARBONS OF THE FATTY SERIES AS THE MEDICAL PRACTICE W. Gueffroy andW. Ehrhardt AND THEIR SIGNIFI- Zentr Gewerbehyg Unfall 25 224-30 1938 German . These solvents as a class are toxic capable of producing acute poisonings and occasionally blood changes While the lungs are the chief portal of entry into the body skin absorption is also possible The specific properties of some of the compounds are discussed in detail and they should all be regarded as active toxic agents No specific medical prophylaxis for chronic poisonings of this class is known 144 26 CARBON TETRACHLORIDE POISONINGT.M. Perry Arch Path 923-41 Nov. 1938 A description is given of hepatic liver damage and repoi in man based on three cases of accidental poisoning studied clinically and at autopsy Three negroes had ingested a roach poison a mixture of carbon tetrachloride and ethy- lene dichloride which they had mistaken for an intoxicant Two of the men died too early to 11 hours and 65-70 hours for evidences of the third who died in 150 hours showed definito tondencies There is a complete account of the clinical findings and a regeneration but along these lines good review of the literature References to Recent Literature - 140 145 DANGERS FROM PYRENE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS J. Am Med Assoc Queries and minor notos 111 2326 Dec. 17 1938 A patient put out a fire in a poorly ventilated hall Immediately afterward he had difficulty in breathing became cyanotic and had intestinal disturbances These symptoms became worse in 10 days but after about 2 months he had fairly well recovered The author says it is probable that phosgene was formed from the carbon tetrachloride as the symptoms resemble those of phosgene This type of poisoning usually is prone to provoke neuroses but where it is known that complete recovery is possiblo this danger is much reduced THE PHOSCENE CONTENT OF SMOKE FROM THE BERGER MIXTURE J. Esser Gasschutz u.luftschutz 8 297-8 1938 German also pp 266-9 The Berger mixture consists essentially of powdered zinc and highly chlorinated organic compounds such as carbon tetrachloride When this mixture was burned or heated it was found that phosgene was formed as one of the products of combustion Care should be exercised in using carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons in closed spaces as phosgene is much more highly poisonous than the original compounds 147 BLOOD PLASMA PROTEINS AS INFLUENCED BY LIVER INJURY INDUCEBDY CARBON TETRA- CHLORIDE AND GUM ACACIA G.C. Erickson G.P. Heckel and R.E. Knutti J.Path 14 537-56 September 1938 Oral administration of carbon tetrachloride to dogs induces liver changes and a reduced plasma protein concentration due chiefly to loss of albumin Injection of acacia injures the liver and reduces the plasma protein concentration especially the globulin The results of these and other types of liver injury suggest that albumin globulin and fibrinogen may be produced by the liver independently of each other EXPERIMENTS WITH AN ANTINECROTIC MATERIAL PREPARED FROM LIVER H.M. Barrett D.L. McLean and E.W. McHenry J. Pharmacol Exp Ther 64 131-7 1938 Rats injected with 100 mg of the liver extract prepared by Forbes Forbes Neale Scherer J. Pharm Exp Ther 58 402 1936 and with the same cor- responding doses of sodium xanthine and saline were exposed 24 hours later to controlled concentrations of carbon tetrachloride It was found that tho fat content of the livers of animals premedicated with Forbes liver extract or with sodium xanthine was significantly less than that of animals premedicated with saline or without any treatment The experiments soum to indicate that the premedication with sodium xanthine promotes the healing of liver damage and in addition offers a certain protection against the toxic effects of exposure to concentrations not greater than 10,000 p.p.m. 149 POISONING BY HYDROCARBONS TRIAL DISEASES 1919-1931 COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH LAW ON INDUS- E. Martin Med du travail 10 151-69 1938 French The author reports on the discussion that took place in the Commission for In- dustrial Hygiene of the Ministry of Labor regarding the inclusion of poisoning by hydrocarbons that since 1931 in the compensation law Certain other the hydrocarbons have been produced in authorities have suid a much puror form and that with the poisonings them and gives have been due to the impurities The author reasons for the inclusion of these materials takes issue in the com- pensation laws References to Recent Literature - 10 150 BENZENE AND BENZINE L. Teleky Med du trav 10 125-137 1938 French The author comments on the need for more sharp differentiation between those two entirely different substances The characteristic symptoms of poisoning by each is described in benzene poisoning severe blood changes occur while neuritis is especially prominent in benzine poisoning French and Italian compensation laws are unsuited to cover these poisonings adequately 151 A STUDY CLINICAL AND HAEMOTOLOGICAL OF NINE CASES OF OCCUPATIONAL BENZOL POISONING M. Lamy P. Kissel and L. Pierquin Bull et Mem Soc Med Hopit Paris pp 1116-27 June 27 1938 French Full details are given of nine cases of benzol poisoning among employees of a shoe factory where benzol was used as a rubber solvent Four of the cases were fatal In the severe casos true medullary aplasia was present and purpura was present in all The most valuable treatment was blood transfusion together with injections of liver extract and the results were good except in the most severe cases 152 TOXICOLOGICAL DETECTION OF THALLIUM II 1938 German The method is based on the solubility of insolubility of thallium iodide in water termined by weighing the iodide smaller of the iodine liberated therefrom Kluge Z. Unters Lebemsm 76 165 9 thallium chloride in ether and the and alcohol Larger amounts are deamounts by colorimetric determination 153 _ THE COMPOSITION OF OF HUMAN BONE IN CHRONIC FLUORINE POISONING W.A. Wolff and Sci exposed for E.G. Kerr Am J. Med 195 493-7 1938 A man 48 years old hadhad been exposed 18 years to finely ground phosphate rock dust containing 3.88 per cent fluorine The present paper deals only with the distribution of bone fluorino as the ray clinical and autopsy findings have been reported earlier Normal amounts of ash calcium phosphorus and carbon dioxide were found in the bones but the fluorine content of some bones was 20 times the normal values Its distribution was uneven the greatest amounts being found in the vertebra the least in the long bones 154 ACUTE METHYL ALCOHOL POISONING F.R. Menne Arch Path 26 77-92 1938 In 22 cases of fatal poisoning from pure methanol the pathological changes consisted of marked edema hyperemia and necrosis of the stomach intestine liver brain and retina Clinically the victims showed intense nerve excitability evidenced by abdominal pain muscle twitchings rapid pulse and respiration with final paralysis and death from respiratory failure Although these addicts had taken small quantities of methanol over a long period of time there were no gross chronic pathological changes present 155. THE SPECIAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKING OF MAGNESIUM ALLOYS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES H. Ruhe Arbeitsschutz pp 195-210 1938 German Magnesium alloys are being used more and more because of their low specific gravity and their tonsilo strongth Under certain conditions however magnesium has a great tendency to unite with oxygen and in fine particles it can explode Wet magnesium dust tends toward spontaneous combustion In the prosence of heat magnesium can reduce oxides partly by explosive mechanisms Water is disintegrated by fino magnesium dust with the formation of hydrogen To guard against these dangers the Reich Minister of Labor has issued codes and safety directions References to Recent Literature - 16 156 THE AUTOMATIC ESTIMATION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IN INDUSTRIAL GASES W. Francis M.C.Morley and E.W.F. Gillham J. Soc Chem Ind 57 419-24 December 1938 British A description is given of a method and apparatus for estimating the amount of sulfur as sulfur dioxide or trioxide in washed flue gases of a power plant The gas is scrubbed in a neutral solution of hydrogen peroxide which oxidizes the sulfur gases to sulfuric acid decreasing the electrical resistance of the * solution The change is measured on a recording milliameter and indicates the total amount of sulfur over a period or at any moment The method except for minor differences is similar to that developed in this country by Thomas Ind & Eng Chem 1 14-17 Jan. 1929 It is possible by changes in rate of air flow voltage of current volume of absorbing liquid and other factors to measure accurately almost any concentration of sulfur gases in the atmosphere 157 DANGEROSF GRAIN SILOS H. Tiege Zb.f. Gewerbety2g5 170-1 1938 German Two men were killed climbing up a silo that contained 2 tons of corn Examina- tion of the air later showed 3 per cent carbon dioxide and 13.6 per cent oxygen and at the time of accident the carbon dioxide was probably still higher Autopsies showed death was from suffocation TUMORS AND PRECANCEROUS LESIONS OF THE BLADDER DUE TO MINES OR NITRO- DERIVATIVES ANILINE DYE TUMORS G. di Maio Arch ital di urol 14 283-385 1937 Italian This paper contains an analysis of the precancerous and neoplastic changes that may occur in the bladder in aniline dye workers Among 86 workers examined 26 had changes that were considered as precancerous 7 had benign tumors and 4 had malignant growths The changes were revealed by crystoscopic examination rather than by specific methods Duration of employment variod from 2 to 6 years for the precencer group 3 to 9 years for the papilloma group and 6 to 15 years in the cancer cases The dyes occurring most frequently were benzidine betanaphthol amine and aniline These substances are absorbed through the respiratory tract and the skin and are eliminated in the urin unchanged or witha modified chemical structure Treatment consists primarily of measures to impede the absorption of the dyes ARSINE POISONING REPORT OF TWO CASES K.D. Smith and T.E. Rardin Ohio State Med J. 35 157-9 February 1939 Arsine and arsine poisoning are discussed and a description is given of the processes where the poisoning may be encountered Arsenic is an impurity in many metals and arsine hydrogen arsenide the most poisonous of the inorganic arsenic compounds is given off whenever these metals are acted upon by acids The stripping of galvanizing with hydrochloric acid is a common procedure and it was in this manner that the two cases reported by the authors occurred Ccm- plote descriptions are given of the two cases The authors stress the importance of occupational histories in addition to past illnesses and family history as an aid in the diagnosis of vague or unknown cases 160 A RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE REFLEX IRRITATION OF THE NASAL MUCOSA DURING THE INHALATION OF ACETONE PNEUMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL ACETONE NARCOSIS L. Prisco Folia med 24 669-77 1938 italian Because of the increasing industrial use of acetone the author studied action on rabbits He found in them a nasal reflex which consists of a its temp- orary cessation of breathing and also a lung reflex in the form of a polypnea when acetone vapor is introduced intratracheally - * References to Recent Literature - 17 A DIAZOMETHANE POISONING FIRST CLINICAL CASE REPORT F.W. Sundermann R. 1938 Connor and H. Fields Am J. Med Sci 195 469 73 A R. Connor chemistry student undertook to prepare trimethylbarbituric acid by allowing diazomethane to react with barbituric acid He did not work under a hood and while stirring the mixture suddenly began to choke became dyspneic and had a violent cough A description is given of the symptoms which persisted for three weeks when he was released from the hospital The gas appears to have a direct 162 irritant action THE TOXICOLOGY OF CYANIDE A.O. Gettler and J.O. Baine Am J. Med Sci 195 182-98 1938 The authors give their analytical methods in detail and discuss the hydrogen cyanide content of normal organs and the body tissues after fatal poisonings both experimental and distribution of it in human The sensitivity of the analytical method is 0.005 m per 100 gm tissue and by this test no hydrogen cyanide was found in normal tissues The minimum lethal dose seems to be about 1.4 mg per kilogram of body weight Treatment with methylene blue seems to prolong life for an hour or more it should be supplemented with stomach lavage artificial respiration stimulants and a second injection " 163 if necessary LIPEMIA IN EXPERIMENTAL CARBON DISULFIDE POISONING 1938 E. Bianchi Med dol lavoro 29 215-20 Italian ; Acute and chronic carbon disulfide poisonings were produced in rabbits and the content of blood in fats and phosphorus was studied There was found in both types of poisoning an increase of the phosphate and cholesterin ether Free cholesterin decreased in acute poisoning increased 164 in chronic PHYSIOLOGIC STUDIES OF HELIUM A. R. Behnke and O. D. Yarbrough U.S. Naval Med Bull 36 542-58 1938 The solubility coefficients of helium compared with the coefficients for nitrogen are in in the water and in olive oil ratio 3 for water and 4.5 for oil Therefore the helium content of the body should be about 45 percent as high as the nitrogen content when the same tension of each gas is breathed The time of elimination of helium from body tissues after absorption is about one-half that of nitrogen being used in place of It the is for normal these reasons that helium mixtures are nitrogen mixtures in deep sea diving