The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-26

APPENDIX.
Extract from Henry LitQc's "Report.'
.THR PILH CUTTERS.
This Ia the largest trade, containing
about three thousand men, and several
hundred women and boys. Their
diseases and deaths arise from poison.
Ing by lead. The file rests on Il bed OF
lead during tho process OF cutting,
which might more correctly DO called
stamping and, az the stamping chIsel
can only be guided TO the required
niCety by the finger nail, the lead Ia
constantly handled and fingered, and
enters the system through the pores.
Besides this, hne dust OF lead Ia set
In motion by the blows that drive the
cutting chlsel, and the insldIous poison
settles on the hair and face, and Il
believed 10 60 direct to the lungs some
Of i.
The ille cutter never lives the span
OF life allotted to man.. After many
small warnings, his thumb weakens.
he neglects that; and he gets touches
OF paralysis In The thumb, the arm, and
the nerves OF the stomach can't digest;
can't sweat; at last can't work; goes TO
the hospital; there they galVanlSs him,
which does him no harm; and boil him,
which does him q deal OF good. He
comes back TO work, resumes his dirty
habits, takes In fresh doses OF lead,
turns dirty white or sallow, gcts
blue line round his teeth, a dropped
wrist and TO the hospital again or on
the flle-cutter's box; and SO he goes
mIserably on and OF, I'LL he drops into
u premature grave, with ~ much lead
In his body as wonld lap a hundred
weight OF tea.'
mT THE REMEDIES.
"A. What the masters might do.
Il. Provide every forge with two
small fires. eighteen Inches from the
ground. This would warm the lower
llmbs OF the smiths, At present The
bodies suffer by uneven temperature;
they perspire down TO the waist, and
then freeze to tho toe.
2. For the wet.grlnders they might
supply fires In every wheel, abolish
mud floors, and pave with proper TALL
and drain.
TO prevent tho breaking Of heavy
gtlndstones, tlt them with tho large,
strong, circular steel plnte-of which
subjoin drawing, instead ofwith wed.
gss or insufficient plates. They mig ht
have an eye 10 life, as we'll as capital, in
buying heavy grin dstones. I have
traced the death Of one grinder to the
masters avarlce: he went to the quar-
~ and bought stone for thirty ye
shllllngs the quarry master had SGT
aside as imperfect; lie price would have
been sixty shilllngs II It had been fit TO
trust mans life TO. This master goes
to church twice Sunday, and Is much
respected by his own sort: yet he com.
mltted D murder for twenty.f five shll-
lings. Being Hillsborough; lot us hope
II was a murderer he murdered.
For the dry grinders they might all
supply fans and boxes. Some do, and
the good effect IL very remarkable.-
Moreover, the present fans and boxes
could be much improved.
One trHde-the steel fork>grInders-
10 considerably worse than the rest
and although the fan does much for II,
I'm told II must still remain an un-
healthy trade. II 30, and DR.. Am
6Oyne is right about life, labor, and
capital, let the masters cooperate with
the Legislature, and extinguIsh the
handicraft.
For tho file cutters, the masters
might
LIST. Try n substitute for lend. It ia
all very we'll to say that file must
rest on lead 10 be cut. Who has ever
employed brains on that question ?
Who has tried iron, wood, and gutta
percha, In layers2 Who has ever tried
anything, least Of all the thing called
thought
I'D. II lead Ia the only bed-whIch I
doubt-and the lead must he bare
which I dispute-then the masters
ought TO supply every gang Of file
guitars with hooks. taps and basins.
and soap, In some place adjoining their
work-rooms. Lead Is subtle, but not
a swift poison; and soap and water
every Two hours ia an Rntidote.
81. They ought to forbid the intro
duction OF food into tile,cutting rooms.
Worklnen are a reckless ret, and
dirty set; food has no business In any
place Of theirs, where poison is going,
ID. What the aOorkmcn might do.
LIST. Demand from their masters
these improvements have suggested,
and, II the demand came through the
secretaries Of their unions, the masters
would comply.
I'd. They might drink leSR, and wash
their bodies with u small part of the
money 90 saved; the price OF gill OF
gin, and a hot bath are exactly the
same; only the bath IL health TO tlrv
grinder or 6le-cutter; the gin ia worse
poison to him than TO healthy men,
sd. The small wet.grinders, who
have 10 buy their grindstones, might
buy sound ones Instead Of making bar
gains at the quarry, which prove double
bad bargains when the stone breaks,
since then new stone Is required, and
sometimes new man, too.
4th. They might be more careful not
to leave the grindstone In water. have
traced three broken stones In one wheel
to that abomlnable piece OF cart lessness.
18Th. They ought never TO fix an un-
der.slzed pulley wheel. Simmons XIII.
cd himself by that, and by grudgIuR
the few hours OF labor required TO hang
and race new stone.
9Th. II files can only be cut on lead.
the fle>cutters might annoint the lead
over night with q hard drying oint-
ment, soluble In turps, and this oint>
ment might even be medicated with an
antidote 10 The salt OF lead,
'7th. II files can only be- cut on bare
lead, the men ought 10 cut their hair
close, and wear light cap at work,
They ought to have q canvass suit in
the adjoining place (see abOve); don il
when they come, and doff It when thew
60. They ought to leave of their in.
sane habit OF licking the thumb and
finger OF the left hand-With their
tongues. This beastly trick takes lhe
poison direct to The stomach, Thew
might surely leave It to get there
through the pores; 1t 10 slow, but sure,
have also repeatedly seen file> cutter
eat his dinner with his filthy, poisoned
fingers, and to send the poison home
by way OF salt to FOOLS bacon. Final.
ly, they ought to wash of the poison
every two hours at the taps.
18th. Since they abuse tho masters,
and Justly, for their greedlness, they
ought not TO initiate that greedineSs
by driving their poor lIttlO children
Into unhealthy trades. and 30 destroy.
Ing them; body and soul. This prac.
tlee robs tho children OF education at
the very seed time or life, anu literally
murders many OF them; for their soft
and porous skins, and growing organs,
take In all poisons and disorders quick.