The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-07 00:00:00

TBE SUP, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENIIIG, OCTOBER 7, 18bt.

do their utmost to earn their livelihood, and in the
employment of their calling meeting with such
serious injuries that their strength decays, their

health withers away, and frightful disease brings
them. to a premature grave. It will be a profitable
study for many to dwell upon, this able summary of
the manner in which the trades of Sheffield affect
lift: and health. The accounts met with are almost
incredible, and doubtless if introduced in the pages
of fiction would be called grossly exaggerated. But
this paper is written by one who speaks what he
does know, and he has had ample opportunity of
forming his opinion and arriving at his conclusions.
The death-rate is alarming in Sheffield, and it has
increased of late, for in the ten years ending 1860
it was 28 in 1,000 ; but in the first half of
the present year it was 32 in 1,000, and
last year 34 in the same average. The
inhabitants of Sheffield enjoy some great ad-
vantages. In the first place, there is a large
supply of pure water, and the wages of many arti-
sans are better than in some other towns, while
there is an abundant supply of the necessaries of
life at a reasonable rate. Of all trades, the forging,
grinding, cutting, and hardening of the files is one
in which the workmen suffer most severely, and
the total engaged in this branch of the business
amounts to five thousand and seven hundred and
fifty, including one thousand boys and three hund-
red females. The file-cutter's disease is poisoning
by lead ; the file is in a bed of lead while in pro-
cess of cutting, and every time the hammer strikes
the chisel the air is filled with the fine lead dust which
may be seen to i ise. The extreme carelessness dis-
played by the workers in this dangerous trade is
simply marvellous, and, indeed, it would seem as if
they went out of their way to do themselves all the
harm they can. In the first place, they never wash
their hands before dinner, which they often take in
the workshop, and besides they have the fearful
habit of wetting the finger and thumb by which
the chisel is held by licking them. One man stated
that he knew a thousand file-cutters, and that they,
never, with one exception, washed their hands till
they got home at night, and sometimes not then,
and do not change their clothes when they get back
either. The File Smiths' Union subscribe annu-
ally upwards of fifty pounds to have the power *o
send such of their poor brethren to the Sheffield
Public Hospital and Dispensary.
A few simple but most excellent rules
were laid down by Dr. HALL, and if these were
satisfactorily attended to by those entering on the
dangerous trade with fresh powers and unimpaired
vigour there can be no doubt that the best effects
would follow, and, comparatively speaking, a great
change would take place in the long list of sickness
and premature death. In the first instance it is
mentioned that children should not begin to cut
files at so early an age as they do, for it makes
them feeble in body, and also prevents their educa-
tion. Washing the hands and arms frequently
during the day is strongly recommended, and
wearing different clothes in the workshop and out
of it is another important point ; furthermore, the
meals should not be taken in the shop, which is a
most injurious practice, and also licking the fingers
is a most pernicious system, which cannot be too
much discouraged on all accounts. An orinasal
respirator is advisable to wear during work hours.
It appears that the men engaged in this employ-
ment get good wages, and therefore it would not
be impossible for them to adopt many of these
rules with little or no loss ; and the employers
should consider it their bounden duty to do as
much as they can to rectify the serious evils of the
work, and mitigate its ruinous effect on the human
frame. It is advised that to every place of business
in the file-cutting trade a large room should be
supplied with hot and cold water, in order that the
men may wash and change their dress. In the dry-
grinding department the greatest danger is incurred
by the men, and when two or three deep are grind-
ing scissors without a pan, it is observable that
those who sit behind throw a large quantity of
dust on those who sit in front of them. Great
evils arise in every part of the premises, and im-
mense clouds of dust fill the air when " hanging"
and " racing" the stones take place. During this
time the mouth and nose could be protected by a
light handkerchief, but very seldom is the plan
adopted. The necessity that exists for the reme-
dial agency being employed by those of a superior
station is shown by the answer given to Doctor
HALL, on his asking a grinder at the Union Wheel
why he exposed himself to dangers which would
certainly bring on a disease that would terminate
in a miserable death, replied, "We know all
about it, Doctor, but we never gave it a
thought." Tool grinders who work on a dry
stone are perhaps the worst off, and their con-
dition is not much ameliorated since the time when
one of their number said, " I shall be thirty-six
next month, and you know that is getting an old
man at our trade," the average age being only
twenty-eight as it would seem. Dr. HALL puts the
case very forcibly before us by taking the case of a
boy of ten going into the wheel, as many do at that
early period, and his expectation of life at the age
of twenty-one, if he work without a fan, will not
exceed fourteen years. From this we find that he
loses twenty-five years of existence, as the probable
expectation of life at that age is fifty-nine years.
These fatal influences ruin families, and bring many
childrento the workhouse, besides inflicting dreadful
diseases and painful deaths upon the poor creatures

,hemselves.
Dr. HALL presents a sad picture of a poor
grinder going on with his work to the last, and, as
each day brings him nearer to his wretched end,
fighting on to get bread for his family. In a civi-
lised country it seems desirable and very consider-
ate that this fearful sacrifice of health and prema-
ture loss of life should not be suffered to continue.
It appears from the table of the razor-grinders
thereon that out of 290 persons employed only
nine appear between the ages of fifty to fifty-five ;
while from twenty-one to twenty-five there are no
less than eighty-three. This is, in truth, an exem-
plification of the lines, " a worm in the bud of
youth and at the root of age." The Sheffield
grinders' disease was almost unknown some
time ago, but many causes have aided
its progress and developed its powers. Grind-
ing wheels were formerly built upon the banks
of rivers, and thus more interruptions took place
in the grinder's works, and he was not, as now, kept
grinding on almost without intermission from morn-
ing till night. Holidays were fixed according to
the old rules of the Cutlers' Company, and that
wisely suggests the diminution of the hours of
labour in the grinder's trade, and he stigmatises the
habit of keeping " saint days," as they are called,
which commences the early part of the week in in-
temperance, and crowds into the end of it six days
work for three. It is satisfactory to notice that
mention is here made of a man of 46 engaged in
the grinding trade, who is strong and healthy, in
consequence of his adopting wise measures. He
will not work without a fan, and uses other proper
precautions. It is certain that the advice here given
is wise, which suggests that the owner of the wheel
should provide fans, and not the grinders, because
the latter as a class are so indifferent. It is quite
amazing to find the recklessness of those employed
in work that is so dangerous, and yet neglect to

take the necessary steps to protect themselves from
deadly injury. One man says it is too much trouble,
another that he dislikes the noise, and another does
not think it worth while for the short time he has
to live. Well may the lecturer exclaim that if " ever
there was a trade more poisoning than the fabled
valley of the upas, more slow in its effects it is true,
but equally deadly, with inhaling the atmosphere of
the celebrated Grotto del Cani, it is that of a fork,
scissors, and razor grinder, who works without
employing the effectual means for his preservation
which the fan affords." An impressive exhortation is
given here to those who suffer young boys to go
without a word of warning into this dangerous
trade. The entrance to a dry-grinder's " hull "
without a fan is, says Dr. HALL emphatically,
" unmistakeably the gate that leads to certain
death." The law should certainly prevent the boy
of tender age from entering these " hulls," and
such power can alone prevail. The greediness foi
gain overpowers every other consideration in the
minds of those who should be their protectors, but
in this instance are their virtual destroyers and
their cruel persecutors. What a dreadful spectacle
to behold are these dwarfed and decrepit! children,
who should be in the full bloom and vigour of
hearty and happy childhood !—" prematurely ex-
hausted, their spring of life used up, too often they
never arrive at manhood's summer"--is here forcibly
declared ; and another great evil is the want of
education that this early labour. entails upon them.
One generation passes away; ground off in the
wheel, says Dr. HALL, but another appears alike in
ignorance, intemperance, and folly. " The chil-
dren of to-day are the type of the fathers of yes-
terday ; they have come into the World without
GOD'S' blessing in homes where td,O often their
fathers have left it without a hope. It is indeed
time that something be clone speedily and vigor-
ously to put a stop to these iniquitous practices of
sending boys to work in the hulls. It is wrong in
every sense of the word to permit its continuance ;
the State is robbed of its citizens by the early ener-
vation of its youth, while these young beings are
taught to waste their powers and misuse their
opportunities.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
SUEZ, OCT. C.
The Mooltan, with the above mails, arrived here
at 9 a.m. to day (Friday).