Document wq6bNy3arw20x05dEE6Lz5yY6

Translation of article in "Laval Medical") HEALTH CONDITIONS AT THETFORL A health inspection of the mills of three mining companies has been made. Samples of air have been taken from different spots in the factories and a anst count made. Information on the habits of nutri tion, personal hygiene, and home conditions, have been given us by reliable people. We were not able to make this study ourselves. There exists in the factory several conditions which can favor the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis. Workers are a little careless in their personal habits and several even have the habit of spitting on the floor. In winter to protect themselves against the cold, they crowd into small wooden cabins about six feet by six feet which have a small stove, a bench, a couple of chairs, and a spitoon of sorts. In the mill the workers drink from the same cup. Under these conditions, it seem6 evident that there is real danger of an open case of tuberculosis spreading. In studying the records of deceased insured workers, we have noticed in the percentage of tuberculosis mortality, a difference which is consistent with the health conditions in the different mills. At mine A from 1941 to 1944, 8 deaths were caused by tuberculosis, which gives a percentage of 2.3 per 1,000 employee-years. In mine B for the same period there have only been 2 deaths giving a percentage of 1.4 per 1,000 employee-years. Mine A had the less satisfactory health conditions. Homes are crowded and frequently enough children and adults share the same bed. This abnormal state of things favors contagion not only because of the closeness but also because of disturbed sleep and indirectly de creases individual resistance to the disease. A poor nutrition, general enough among the working people, contributes also to reduce resistance to tuberculosis i rl. C666 -2 These observations on social conditions are admittedly super ficial because of the limited observation. Nevertheless, the social and economic factor_plays an important role in the study of tubercu losis and there would be numerous advantages in making a further study in this field. rOt C657