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FILE NAME: Owens Illinois Library (OWL) DATE: 1944 DOC#: OWL022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Relevant Abstracts from The Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology J the journal of INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE and TOXICOLOGY V O L U M E 26 JANUARY, 1944---DECEMBER, i 944 PUBLISHED BY TH E W ILLIAM S & W ILK IN S COM PANY Baltimore, Md. D TOXICOLOGY ABSTRACT SUBJECT AND AUTHOR INDEX 201 PAGE _ PACE la rd s A ssn.: Allowable concentra- # Arsenic poisoning, relation of low-vitamin diets to oxides of nitrogen.............................. 96 (Zimmermann, E .).......................................... 11 iandard allowable concentration of :a|, Arsine, arresting powrer of active carbon for id certain of its inorganic com- 'if' (Philippot,' E .). . . 1 ........................................ 125, ................................................... ..........-124 stibine and hydrogen lAilfide; accidental genera- .andard allowable concentration of i!#f tion in a metal refinery (Demehl, Stead .................................................. 12$ and N au )......................................................... 137 andard allowable concentration of # stibine, and hydrogen sulfide mixture; acci ol......................................................... 148 dental industrial poisoning (Nau, Anderson tr standard allowable concentration ; Pi and Cone)....................................................... 137 ne monomer......................................1 4 8 /* ''Asbestos, examination of workers in factory tr standard allowable concentration ftS (Bhme, A .).................................................... 8 e.......................................................... 125 occupational carcinoma, further observations rd recommends limit on arsenic in workers (Welz, A .).................................. 8 l workplaces...................................... Asbestosis, and pulmonary carcinoma (Wedler, ctric and gas welding and cutting -111 H. W .)....................................... 183 as.......................................................... 161 and pulmonary tuberculosis (Desmeules and e, toxicity in industrial use A* Giroux)............................................................ 28 s, R. M .).......................................... 52 and pulmonary tuberculosis (Desmeules, izards in the industrial use of Rousseau, Giroux and R ichard)................... 28 F.) 105 bodies (Giroux, M .)............................................... 29 Ison P .: Contact dermatitis, with pulmonary (Rousseau, L .).................................. 28 eference to industrial dermatitis. pulmonary, and co-incidence of primary car- ary report......................................... 13 n as a therapeutic principle in X cinoma of the lungs (Homburger, F .)----- 28 Aslett, E. A., Davies, T. W. a n d Je n k in s, T. I .: lermatitis......., ............. 119 Radiological appearances in the develop I. R ., B u ch an an , J . A. a n d M ac 3k* ment of coal miner's pneumoconiosis.......... 49 V f Asphyxia and asphyxial (anoxia), experimental, pulmonary and blood gas studies in resusci tation; comparison of methods (Birnbaum .liam see N au, C arl A. ie M cD onnell, J . F. thermal, for low velocity flow lillendahl, Gallagher and London). ombustible, explosion hazards of_.1 I. W. and others)..........................'1 .rmogenic, failure of sweat mech- '$j .he desert (Wolkin, Goodman and ' ................... .....................................f i , 2-, industrial hazard, produc- z themoglobinemia (Bass, Frost and and Thompson)......................................... 97 resuscitation; phenomenon and its mechanism (Thompson and Birnbaum).............................. 97 Asphyxiation in grain-elevator bin, containing flaxseed, investigation of a death (Lillevik and Geddes).................................................... 116 Asthma, due to tragacanth; allergenic properties of vegetable gums (Gelfand, H. H arold).. 9 prevention in industry (Gray, Irving and Albert, M. M .)............................................. 50 Atkinson, W. S .: Colored reflex from anterior capsule of lens in mercurialism..................... 6 of cobalt on work performance's nditions of (Dorrance, T hom ,f nd others)................................ e flying (Med. J. Australia)........-J ., dermatitis caused by (Feil, A.). K4 is of lung, liquefaction necrosis * J symmetrical conglomerate Ie*J report (McCloskey, B. J .) .. , eous (Lebowich, McKillip andj Atmospheric p o llu tio n see also Aerobiology and V entilation Atmospheric p o llu tio n (Davidson, W. F . ) . . . . 126 air in town and country (Simpson, Dobson and Meetham)....................................................... 126 and ventilation; cadmium and hydrogen sulfide (Amer. Pub. H ealth Assn., report of committee)...................................................... 18 and ventilation; defense ventilation and air conditioning problems (Amer. Pub. Health imittee of Amer. Pub. Health: yth, H. F., Chairman) othy see M an n , Id a Welders, arc- cho, J.J. Pollock, L. zrde see Z im m e rm a n , H . M. in workplaces, new standard; Is limit on (Amer. Standards .........................; ................. tion and analysis of contamina^ zhemical warfare agents (Ruch-J k and Schott) . . . . . . ..................`A* lie content of hair in (Schwart t)_______ ,, lie, disease picture of (von lie, in wine-dressers, origin ^ ' Assn., report ofcommittee)........................... 17 and ventilation; suggested standards (Amer. Pub. Health Assn., report of committee).. 17 in Dublin during 1942 (Leonard, McVerry and C ro w le y )..................................................... 126 iodine content of air (Jesserand Thomae)......... 20 Aub, Joseph C .: A toxic factor inexperimental traumatic shock.............................................. 192 iw D unlap, C harles E. Auerbach, O scar a n d S te m m e rm a n , M arj, guerite G .: Silicotuberculosis...................... 70 [Australia, D ept, of L abor a n d N a tio n al Serv ice: Dust hazards in Australian foundries. Indust. Welfare Div., Tech. Report no. 1, . 1943 (Ross and Shaw)................................... 92 **l*tion, anoxia in high altitude flying (Med. J. Australia)........................ ..................-- 20 udies on commercial air line pilots (Clinton and Baurhenn).................. aS and Thom )...................................................... 48 PAGE Axford, M orris: The industrial back with some observations on the compensation aspect.. 169 Azarova, H . C .: A report of two cases in which glass particles remained in the eye for long periods.............................................................. 122 B ab allan , L eo n : Occupational diseases of the skin in M aine.................................................. 167 B ach, E. C .: Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis........ 34 Back, industrial, with observations of compensa tion aspect (Axford, M orris)....................'. 169 pain, and sciatica, neurologic aspects (Echols, D e a n H .)......................................................... 168 pain, in disease of gastrointestinal tract (Rivers and Roodenburg)............................................ 168 strain, in industry (Murray, H. G .)..................... 40 B ackache, examination and differential diagno sis (Ghormley, Ralph K .)............................ 168 B a cteria from air and textiles, method for col lection (Lemon, Henry M .).......................... 148 B aetjer, A nna M .: Light, temperature, humid ity: effects in the working environm ent.. . . 82 Bagasse disease, of the lung (Sodeman and Pullen).............................................................. 29 of lungs (Sodeman and Pullen).......................... 158 B agassosis, case report (Jamison, Bryan and Day) 133 B ak er, C h arles see Doyle, W. E. B aker's eczem a (Jger, F .).................................. 58 B alestra, G. a n d M olfino, F .: Changes pro voked by dust in the lungs of laborers , occupied in working up petroleum ash containing vanadium ...................................... 7 B alkin, G ilbert: Leptospirosis:report of 2 cases 94 Ballard, Jam es W ., Oshry, H. I. and Schrenk, H . H .: Sampling, mixing and grinding techniques in the preparation of samples for quantitative analysis by X-ray diffrac tion and spectrographic methods................ 125 B a ltim o re H e a lth N ews: Industrial hygiene in wartime Baltimore......................................... 11 B am b erg er, P a u l J . : Management of the sili cotic p atien t.................................................... 157 B arach, A. L .: Treatment of pulmonary edema due to gas poisoning in war and in civilian life, with special reference to use of positive pressure respiration........................................ 143 Yaglou, C. P. and McCord, Carey P .: Dangers of methyl chloride as a substitute for freon: A statem ent by the association's committee to study air conditioning........ 53 B ark er, A. N eish see Davies, J . H . T w lston B arlow , F ra n k A .: Proper placement of women in industry....................................................... 1 1 1 B a rre tt, F. R .: Studies in the deposition of lead in bone. II. Calcium-phosphorus and lead-phosphorus ratios................................... 57 B a rth o lin , E. see O y an g u ren , H . B a rtle , H arvey: Emergency sickness and im mediate care...................................................... 14 B a rtle tt, F . C .: Fatigue following highly skilled work................................................................... 91 B a rtle tt, M arsh a ll K . see Jo n es, C h ester M . B ashford, H . H .: Some aspects of sick absence in industry....................................................... 177 Bass, A. D., Frost, L. H . and Salter, W. T.: 2-Anilinoethanol, an industrial hazard: pro duction of methemoglobinemia...................... 56 B auckus, H erb ert H .: Integration of the indus trial medical service with medical services of the community and social agencies of the community........................................................ 61 8 JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY [vol. 26, no. I This article is based upon d ata collected by the raw asbestos and manufactured a variety of asbesto author from the examination of some 700 workers products. I t employed up to 500 workers. Of 132 exposed to aluminum dust in German war industries. persons examined, 29 per cent showed radiological The examinations were primarily radiological and evidence of asbestosis. Correlating these findings clinical but included also 125 vital capacity and sputum w ith exposure, it is stated th a t there were in workers tests, and 100 blood counts. The chief complaints with less than three years of exposure 5 per cent ol recorded in the -personal medical histories of these cases, in those with 3-5 years of exposure 12 per cent, workers were dry cough with stitch-like pains in breath in 5-10 years 56 per cent, and in over 10 years 79 per ing, dyspnoea, failing appetite and dragging gnawing cent. Five cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were pains in the abdomen. There were no pathognomonic noted. The clinical histories of these are recorded.-- findings on clinical examination. The blood counts Bull, of Byg. exhibited a relative lymphocytosis and eosinophil cells were somewhat increased up to 5-10 per cent. Total F urther observations on occupational carcinoma leucocyte counts tended to be low, whilst red cell counts in asbestos workers. A . Welz. A rch .f. Gemerbe- produced no significant changes. Blood sedimentation path. u. Gemerbehyg., vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 536-560 (Not. tests were also normal. Vital capacity tests showed a 10, 1942). reduction in capacity. Four cases of spontaneous This article is a record of two cases of asbestosis pneumothorax were noted, one of them fatal. complicated by cancer of the lung. The first patient Radiologically the earliest sign consisted of focal was aged 43, with an exposure of 11 years in an asbestos shadows in the apical regions with, later, an increase factory; death was due to squamous cell carcinoma. (often one-sided) of the normal bronchial markings in The second worker had had 30 years' experience in the upper and middle thirds of the lung, giving a reticu asbestos work and showed a t autopsy an atypical lar appearance. There was also sometimes an increase epithelial cell new growth. in these markings in the lower lobes suggesting increased The author suggests there is a causal relationship drainage to the hilum glands. Retraction of the dia between asbestosis and carcinoma.--Bull, o f Byg. phragm and distortion of the heart shadow were found. A t a later stage the focal shadows tended to increase I nvestigations on the cause of industrial lung and become confluent (unfortunately the radiograms DISEASE IN THE MANSFELD COPPER MINES. J . H. reproduced have been much reduced in size and do not Hdimers and B . Udluft. Arch. / . Gewerbepath. u. bring out all the finer points mentioned). Gemerbehyg., vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 480-502 (Nov. 10, One case came to autopsy. On microscopical exam 1942). ination the connective tissue elements of the lung This article is a general survey of the mineralgica! showed coarse, branching hyaline collagenous fibres aspects of the industry with special emphasis on their enclosing phagocytes containing fine and coarsely relation to the dust hazard, but very little medical granular particles which differed from carbon particles information is contained in it. The copper mines have by their jagged outlines. In parts of the lung these been worked for a period of 700 years, and what is hyaline collagenous fibres were also found surrounding known as Mansfeld pneumoconiosis ("Mansfeldcr the walls of the alveoli, which contained phagocytes. Staublungen"), has been the subject of a number of These changes were most marked in the right upper articles since 1934, some of the findings of which have lobe. (No illustrations are given.) The regional been summarized (in Bull, of Hygiene, vol. 11, p. 282, lymph glands exhibited a few of these dust cells lying 1936). The article consists almost entirely of very chiefly in small groups. I t is suggested th at these elaborate chemical and mineralogical analysis of the histological changes result from a colloidal reaction raw material of the mines and the dust produced, in between the aluminum dust particles and the tissue cluding, by way of comparison, analyses of a portion fluids.--Bull, of Byg. of one silicotic lung obtained from a Mansfeld miner, No details of morbid anatomy or of the histological T he injuriousness of aluminum dust to th e lungs. condition of this lung, however, are given. The figures J lten and Eichofi. Arbeitsschutz, pp. 102-109 of these analyses are not suitable for abstraction. The (1942); Chem. Zentr., vol. I I , p. 923 (1942). dust encountered showed particles of numerous different Aluminum dust presents an industrial hazard.-- substances including limestone, kaolin, silica, quartz, Chem. Abslrs. felspar, mica, sericite and rutile/ These varied in size from less than 2u up to more tham 50p.--Bull, o f Byg. Examination of workers in an asbestos factory. A . Bhme. Arch. f . Gewerbepath. u. Gmerbehyg., I llness caused by cadmium. Joseph J . Schiflner and vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 433-452 (Nov. 10,1942). Benry Mahler. Amer. J.'Pub. Health, vol. 33, no. 10, This is a record of clinical and radiological observa pp. 1224-1226 (Oct., 1943). tions made in an asbestos factory during the years Two outbreaks of acute cadmium poisoning are de 1936-1937 and the year 1940. The factory handled scribed in which 7 persons became ill with acute gastritis 28 JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY [vol. 26, no. 2 severe cases than in the mild cases. These differences are statistically significant. The author finds th a t amongst the mild cases low plasma chloride concentra tions were more frequent when vomiting had occurred than when there was no vomiting, and more frequent when the patients suffered from cramp than when there was no cramp. B ut the reviewer finds th a t these differences between the sub-groups of mild cases were not statistically significant. Of the personal factors related to collapse the most im portant appear to be loss of acclimatization (following two to seven days' absence from work), disturbance of health, and unacclimatization. Em phasis is laid on the importance of deficient salt intake. In the deeper levels of these mines, 7,000 to 8,000 ft., dry bulb temperatures reach 115 to 120F., and wet bulb temperatures as high as 97F. are reported. Col lapse is liable to occur when the w et bulb temperature exceeds 90F., and especially when it is above 93F. The engineer should keep the wet bulb below the latter level. The benefits of air-conditioning are demon strated by a striking fall in the incidence of collapse a t Champion Reef Mine.-- T. Bedford. Toxic necrosis o f th e liver from trinitrotoluene. Walter L. Palmer, Gerald S . McShane and William B . Lipman. J . A . M . A ., vol. 123, no. 16, pp. 1025-1027 (D u. 18,1943). In three cases of apparent trinitrotoluene poisoning with recovery, the evidence suggests th a t the toxic necrosis of the liver was severe in one, moderate in the second, and slight to moderate in the third. A residual pigmentation and inflammation of the skin of the ankles was noted in the third patient in addition to the jaundice, anilism and gastrointestinal symptoms characteristic of trinitrotoluene intoxication.--Authors' mmary. Asbestosis and pulmonary tuberculosis. R . Du - , mettles, L. Rousseau, M . Giroux and P. Richard. Laval mid., vol. 8, p. 217 (March, 1943). Asbestosis is an occupational disease of the lungs due to inhalation of asbestos dust. I t is characterized by the transformation of normal lung tissue into fibrous tissue. Symptoms appear usually five to seven yean after the beginning of the exposure. The presence of asbestos bodies in the sputum is a proof for the existence of pulmonary asbestosis. B oth asbestosis and tubercu losis were seen in 8 workers exposed to asbestos dust for five to twenty years. Three of these cases are described, in whom the asbestosis was masked by tu berculosis and where the history and the presence of the asbestos bodies perm itted the diagnosis.--Am. Rn. Tuberc. Asbestosis and pulmonary tuberculosis. R. Desmeules and M . Giroux. Laval mid., vol. 8, p. 227 (March, 1943). The case history of a forty-four year old man is given who had worked for twenty years in an asbestos mill. After ten years he had developed productive cough which increased gradually. Only a short time prior to his admission to the hospital the patient started to run fever and had pains in his chest. The diagnosis of ulcero-fibrous tuberculosis and asbestosis was made. Tubercle bacilli and asbestos bodies were found in the sputum. The autopsy confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Besides the ulcero-fibrous tubercu losis, diffuse peribronchial and perialveolar sclerosis with numerous asbestos bodies was seen. Radiologically and pathologically it could not be decided whether the tuberculosis preceded or followed the asbestosis. However, it is believed th a t the first symptoms of asbestosis appeared ten years before the symptoms of tuberculosis.--A:. Rev. Tuberc. Co-in cidence of primary carcinoma o f th e lungs and pulmonary asbestosis. F. Eomburger. .Am. J . Path., vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 797-8ff7 (Sept., 1943). In the medical literature there are now a t least 19 known cases of asbestosis associated with primary pul monary carcinoma. In 4137 autopsies a t the pathol ogy laboratory a t Yale University School of Medicine, there were 45 cases of pulmonary carcinoma in the years from 1918 to 1938. Asbestosis was diagnosed 8 times, silicosis 17 times. Pulmonary carcinoma was found in 4 of the 8 cases of asbestosis and twice in the 17 silicotic cases. Despite the high correlation of the foreign body asbestosis in the lungs with primary pulmonary carci noma, this is a small series of cases and the value of these data is limited. Three cases are given in detail. The diagnosis of pulmonary asbestosis was diagnosed according to the following criteria: 1) fibrosis of the lung and 2) presence of asbestosis bodies.-- Stephen L. Madey. P ulmonary asbestosis. L. Rousseau. Laval m ed .,^j vol. 8, p. 233 (March, 1943). The radiological picture of pulmonary asbestosis is not characteristic; it is usually similar to that of tuber culous fibrosis. The diagnosis is, therefore, often made only after asbestos bodies have been found in the sputum. Asbestos fibers may be seen in the sputa of individuals who do not suffer from asbestosis; asbestos bodies are due to a pathologic tissue reaction. Micro scopical examination of the lungs of patients who have died from an intercurrent disease may show asbestosis, which had not been found on X -ray examination. It .cannot be decided whether asbestosis favors the devel opment of pulmonary /isbestosis. The case history of a forty-two year ol/. man with asbestosis without tuberculosis is given. The patient had been working in the asbestos industry for eighteen years. For two years the patient had been suffering from increasing cough, expectoration and dyspnea. Roentgenological examination showed mottling of both lungs. Sputa fa .im , and gastric examinations were negati bacilli. Asbestos bodies were found ii , Rev. Tuberc. ^Asbestosis bodies. M . Giroux. La: J k p. 239 (March, 1943). |.The "curious bodies" found in the spr (offering from pulmonary asbestosis l l to 50 m by 12 to 24 u b u t can be as bey consist of a central fiber of asl ivered by a golden-yellow substance t bbits, guinea pigs and one dog wen ation of asbestos dust. Asbestosis (the rabbits nor in the dog. The guir dter several weeks, macrophages with (their alveoli. Erythrocytes appeare nd hemoglobin derivatives containin' nd on asbestos fibers two to three n ning of the inhalation of the hen a suspension of asbestos in olive ubcutaneously or into the testicles o: ibestos bodies were formed. Howevc blood was injected and then th< Bhrough th e same needle, asbestos bodii pine month later. The presence of as | | | the sputum is believed to be a definite si JHibestosis.--A m . Rev. Tuberc. Bagasse disease of the lung. W . . R. L Pullen. New Orleans Med. & no. 12, pp. 558-560 (June, 1943). |j A case of bagasse disease of the ! ether with the findings at biopsy in [of the lung. The picture appears to i Fganic pneumoconiosis. I t is evident [bagasse may enter the alveolar regions ^reaction. The mechanism of the cl ' nature of the stimulus set up by the produce the cellular reaction, remain .Bronfenbrenner. JQUEFACTION NECROSIS IN BILATER/ CONGLOMERATE LESIONS OF ANTHR i LUNG: REPORT OF CASE. B . J . McC Roentgenol., vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 42-4: I t is the intention of the author torrect interpretation of the roentge^necrosis and cavitation in the congloi athracosilicosis may be very difficul Tported, showing these lesions, uncon 'berculosis. The only known exposu | when the man worked as a pick min ne for a period of 12 years and there tot a period of 44 years before his de: genologic appearance of the necrotic a f consolidation or pleural thickening, (cavity was found to contain thick, b) which showed no free silica on examina Feb. 1944) ABSTRACTS 29 and gastric examinations were negative for tubercle bacilli. Asbestos bodies were found in the sputum.-- Am. Rev. Tuberc. tion of the cavity wall and surrounding lung tissue showed a content of 0.25 per cent silica.--Jack Bron fenbrenner. Asbestosis bodies. M . Giroux. Laval md., vol. 8 p. 239 (March, 1943). The "curious bodies" found in the sputum of patients suffering from pulmonary asbestosis usually measure 24 to 50 m by 12 to 24 p but can be as large as 250 i. They consist of a central fiber of asbestos which is covered by a golden-yellow subs lance containing iron. Rabbits, guinea pigs and one d./g were exposed to in halation of asbestos dust. Asbestosis did pot develop in the rabbits nor in the dog. The guinea pigs showed, after several weeks, macrophages with asbestos fibers in their alveoli. Erythrocytes appeared in the alveoli, and hemoglobin derivatives containing iron could be found on asbestos fibers two to three months after the beginning of the inhalation of the asbestos dust. When a suspension of asbestos in olive oil was injected subcutaneously or into the testicles of guinea pigs no asbestos bodies were formed. However, if first one cc. of blood was injected and then the asbestos dust through the same needle, asbestos bodies could be found one month later. The presence of asbestos bodies in the sputum is believed to be a definite sign of pulmonary asbestosis.--A m . Rev. Tuberc. Bagasse d is e a s e o r t h e lung. W . A . Sodeman and R. L. Pullen. New Orleans Med. & Surg. J ., vol. 95, no. 12, pp. 558-560 (June, 1943). A case of bagasse disease of the lung is reported together with the findings at biopsy in an involved area of the lung. The picture appears to be th a t of an or ganic pneumoconiosis. I t is evident th a t particles of bagasse may enter the alveolar regions and produce this reaction. The mechanism of the changes, and the nature of the stimulus set up by the bagasse dust to produce the cellular reaction, remain obscure.--Jack Bronfenbrenner. I.IQtEFACTION NECROSIS IN BILATERAL SYMMETRICAL CONGLOMERATE LESIONS OP ANTHRACOSILICOSIS OP lung: r e p o r t o f c a s e . B . J . McCloskey. A m . J . Roentgenol., vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 42-45 (July, 1943). It is the intention of the author to show th a t the correct interpretation of the roentgen appearance of necrosis and cavitation in the conglomerate lesions of Anthracosilicosis may be very difficult. A case is rejiortcd, showing these lesions, uncomplicated by tu berculosis. The only known exposure to silica was 'hen the man worked as a pick miner in a soft coal mine for a period of 12 years and there was no exposure for a period of 44 years before his death. The roent genologic appearance of the necrotic areas was th a t of consolidation or pleural thickening. A t autopsy each cavity was found to contain thick, black, viscid fluid, which showed no free silica on examination. Examina P neumoconiosis and working conditions in coal mines. Brit. Med. J., no. 4316, pp. 395-396 (Sept. 25,1943). The Committee on Industrial Pulmonary Disease has been unable to draw final conclusions on causation or differences in incidence of pneumoconiosis in the South Wales coalfield. Anthracite dust is more dan gerous than th a t of bituminous mines. The most important measure in prevention is the reduction of d u st breathed by the miners. To this end, the com mittee advocates a series of procedures which are discussed in this article: (1) maintenance of adequate ventilation, (2) use of water to prevent dust dispersion, (3) allaying of dust in roadways and a t loading points, (4) reduction of shot-firing to a minimum, with fewest possible men exposed, (5) regulation of ripping proc esses, and (6) prevention of chill during spake journeys. -- Jack Bronfenbrenner. R adium poisoning and its prevention. E . Neitzel. Z. ges. Sckiess-u. Sprengstojfw., vol. 37, pp. 74-75, 94-96, 114-116, 132-135, 155-156 (1942). Various well known examples of radium poisoning are described.- On account of its relation to calcium in the periodic table radium can replace calcium wherever found in the animal organism. From its point of fixation in the body radium exercises destructive effects upon the tissues, mainly by virtue of its disintegration products. In small doses the destructive effects are frequently not noticed until after long periods of time, sometimes as long as ten years. The physiologic effects of the several disintegration products are de scribed, as are the various means of measuring the radioactivity of samples and the several routes by which radium or its emanations may enter the human body. One of these is the breathing of radium emana tions. Charcoal, silica gel and Perm utit were tried, without marked success, for absorbing these emana tions. A detailed method is described for examination of urine, blood, etc., for radium emanations. Various diagnostic means and a quantitative method for esti mating the amount of radium in the body and in cadavers is described. Various means are given for preventing radium poisoning as prescribed by the safety precautions of the Association of Chemical Industry in Germany. A review of the literature is included.-- Chem. Abstrs. T reatm ent op lead poisoning.- Conferences on therapy. N . Y. Slate J . Med., vol. 43, no. 21, pp. 2079-2086 (Nov. 1, 1943). The discussion emphasizes the facts that ingested lead, especially in small amounts, rarely causes poi soning because of poor absorption, and that the greater \TD TOXICOLOGY [vol. 26, no. i jS ence between X-ray evidence and clinicarj Contrary to established belief, the changes^ f silicotics are not due to fibrous connective! so-called fibrosis is really due to scattered -ollagen which are laid down in variousjj he collagen deposits are a defense mech-'JI .e late symptoms of dyspnea are due m orij| cclusion and intervascular changes as theil .gen encroachment, than to loss of alveolarji --Stephen L. Madey. > . gg OSIS OF COAL WORKERS-- A METHOD FORi^ , THE HEALTH HAZARD FROM A H f*p 3T. The Coal Dust Research Committee.1 '.port. (Hem, D. A ., Chairman). JMoih% and South Wales Coal Owners' Association 943). <*1 of the pneumoconioses, concentrations o il ts are usually expressed in terms of the,la rticles present in unit volume of the dust numerical concentration measured in a 'j md depends on the method of sampling ] roscope technique employed: different,] give very different results, and unless th#^ mpling and of evaluation are taken in to , :le counts can give b u t a rough idea ofth* jj ust present. In the Medical Research? ort on "Chronic Pulmonary Disease i n , .'oalminers: II--Environmental Studies'! iew, T h is J., 25: 453, 1943) i t was sug* : mdards of maximum permissible dusti^J based on the mass concentration of 4" 5 microns in size--since particles 1 are probably of little significance in 1 eumoconiosis. Concentrations in 1 4 dust of a restricted range of partic! determined directly by the usual gravi-*? ; and in the Medical Research ( own that, with the thermal predpiti ; instrument, a close estimate of the I jf dust not exceeding 5 microns in j led by counting only the particlesj :ron in size. '' eport by the Coal D ust Research L,_, Ionmouthshire and South Coal C kes no direct reference to the Me cil report, but refers instead td, ] lical Authorities," which indicate`f s of 5 microns and smaller size th a t! ignificance. Any method put fo ment of the health hazard shouldt ] le of giving a measure of the am ountj ica, and also the amount of dust I in size. ut fo rw ard fo r the ro u tin e estin ; o f d u s t n o t e x c e e d in g 5 microns ) avim etric sam ple is ob tain ed by m e th o d , in w h ic h t h e d u s t Conti Nov. 1944] ABSTRACTS 183 in a measured volume of air is entrapped by a paper thimble. The weight of dust so caught is ascertained and then the mass concentration of the total air-borne dust is calculated. The dust is removed from the paper thimble, mixed, and a known weight of it then taken for a sedimentation test. The sedimentometer consists of a glass cell through which passes a flat horizontal beam of light which impinges on a photoelectric cell. Light transmission values are measured: (a) when the cell contains clean alcohol; (b) when a weighed quantity (about 20 mgm.) of the dust sample has been added to the alcohol, and the particles are still in turbulent mo tion after stirring; and (c) after the lapse of the calcu lated time which will allow all particles b u t those smaller than 5 microns to settle belcir the level a t which the light beam traverses the cell/ . From the photometric readings the proportion (by weight) of dust below 5 microns is estimated, allowance being made for the fineness of division of the whole dust (as indicated by the " specific surface" of the dust). Hence, since the mass concentration of the whole dust has been ascertained by direct gravimetric methods, the mass concentration of the dust below 5 microns in size can be estimated. In the report it is admitted th a t certain criticisms may be levelled a t the procedure recommended, and since only a few samples have been so evaluated, no tract statement of the probable error of the method isgiven. I t is said th a t the probable error will be under 50 per cent, an error which, it is said, is quite small in comparison with those to which other methods atpresent used in Great Britain are liable. The procedure gives no information about the constituents of the dust. of Hygiene. lSBESTOSIS AND PULMONARY CARCINOMA. H . W. Wedler. Deut. med. Woch., vol. 69, no. 31/32, pp. 575-576 (Aug. 6,1943). The author has collected the published autopsy records on asbestosis from various countries and finds that there have been 14 instances of malignant disease of the lungs and pleura in 92 post-mortem examina tions (16 per cent). This is in excess of the proportion of lung carcinomata in autopsies generally (2-6 per cent). Carcinoma as a complication of asbestosis occurred most frequently in males between 35 and 41 *nd was generally in the p art of the lung most affected with asbestosis. Development of the lesion was slow hit corresponded with the length and intensity of the riposure (12-42 years). There was often a long in terval between the cessation of exposure and the de'ctapment of the cancer, which, in the author's view, lust now be regarded as an occupational cancer.--Bull. ^Hygiene. / T ee a sbesto s c o r n . H . S . Aiden and W . M . Howell. Arch. Dermal. & Syph., vol. 49, p. 312 (May, 1944). Derwitz in 1930 directed attention to warts and corns i the hands and feet of persons who worked with asbestos and described the discovery of an "asbestos needle" in the comified layer of tubercles removed from the hands. Alden and Howell observed small painful "w arts" or " corns" in 99 of 167 workers who used amosite, a natural form of asbestos, in their work in a navy yard. The workers who have these lesions complain of an original pricking sensation and ability to feel a small splinter-like foreign body. Rough attem pts to extract this splinter-like body are usually unsuccessful, but with rubbing or with neglect the sensation tends to disappear. In about ten days a small hard comlike tum or appears, which slowly grows, often attaining the size of a small split pea. Frequently a pinpoint black center, which defies extraction, can be observed in the excrescence. A t this period the small cornified tumor is tender to pressure, as though a splinter were present, and interferes with comfortable work. Cornification becomes more pronounced, a small hard com resulting, and the area does not become normal in appearance and feeling until the hard center plug is removed by in strumentation. These corns usually appear on the tips of the fingers and knuckles, most often occurring in the thick-skinned areas of the hands. X-ray examination does not reveal abnormal shadows. Biopsy specimens from 4 patients revealed no pathologic changes except extreme thickening of the surface epithelium with hyperkeratosis. The dermis, while fibrous, was es sentially normal in appearance and did not present any evidence of inflammation. Despite diligent search, foreign bodies could not be found in the sections. Observations and history of symptoms imply, however, th a t a foreign body is a t some time present in the lesions. There is no relation to asbestosis of the lungs. No satisfactory method of prevention can be offered.-- J. A. M. A. E pid em ic k era to co n ju n ctiv itis: a r epo r t o p a case WITH MARKED SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS. John J . Curry and Francis C. Lowell. New England J. Med., vol. 231, no. 1, pp. 11-13 (July 6, 1944), A case is presented th a t showed many of the signs and symptoms of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. The outstanding feature was the presence of severe depression with only mild ocular disease. Serologic studies during convalescence showed the development of antibody against the virus of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.--Authors' summary. Survey made of health problems in t h e fu r in d u s t r y o f n e w YORK. Harry Heimann. N . Y . State Indust. Bull., vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 217-220 (June, 1944). Based on a medical study of 694 workers in the fur industry it is concluded that: 1. Traumatic affections of the skin appear charac teristically among the occupational groups of fleshers, unhairers, hand-stretchers and nailers. 2. The cases of dermatosis appear among those workers who handle the dyed furs and are not related