Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-01-29
NO. q.
Healthy and Unhealthy Occupation

There Is said to be dust everywhere, but
what constitutes dust 10 variable material.
Many occupations, the working Of fibres no
less than the working of metals, develop
dust and seriously affect the lungs Iron
often settles there. A workman, who had
polished iron, died, and his lungs were
found to be hardened and actually one per
cent. of iron In their substance. Grinding,
particularly needle grinding, is very fatal
These grinders die at the average OF 81.
The grinding Of other metal products is un- ,
healthy, but to a less terrible degree, and
grinders are proverbially neglectful or proper y
precautions, Making ground glass is hard I.
life, and hardly any of the workmen at Il
are sound. Thirty-fve per cent die of
consumption and many lose theiEteeth and@G
suffer virtual lead poisoning. Diamond
cutters are generally sick men. Vegetable
dust is unhealthy, too The men who pre-
pare moulds for castings sprinkle them with a..
powdered charcoal. They have finally q
catarrh with black expectorations, and die
of the disease. Millers do Lot suffer from
inhaling dust, but they have singular
skin disease, oftnest affecting the left
shoulder, where they carry meal bags. II
itches at night only, and. according TO some
authorities, is not a vegetable matter but an I
insect. Making brushes is very bad for the
health, as bits of bristle5 90 into the
lungs. In button making bone dust 10 not
injurious, but mother Of pearl is, very.
Feather handling is exceedingly bad for
the lungs and throat, and for the eyes, and
artificial flower making brings. poisoning
with it. Working in copper actually makes
the hair green and the teeth and it is said
the bones, but it is not injurious. Copper In
seldom worked alone and what is called
copper poisoning is probably lead poison
ing. Seamstresses suffer from poisoning from
the stuffs they work. They also hurt their
eyes, but the sewing machine, 1t is now +.
held, is rather benefit than any injury II
used only few hours a day. It is the all -
day work at it in bad air that has given it Z
its bad name. Tobacco-working involves
a week or two Of sickness at first, but this
is overcome, and after it the wolkmen are
said to be particularly free from epidemic
diseases. However its effects upon women
are said to be permanently bad. There Ia
q great lack of children with them. Bleach
ing is cause of serious trouble from
eczema, which comes from the hot water
and lye, which also gives washerwomen
cracked handsand eczema. Ninety per cent.
of the people employed in preparing sui
severe eczematous troubles and often high
fever. This is a disease that overcomes
new workmen and which they only have
once. Gasmen also have skin troubles
from the violent sweating brought on Dy
the heat, and changes of temperature also 1s
develop rheumatism. There is no bron-
chitis or lung troubles among them. The
only way in which mirrors can be made
without the horrors of mercurial poisoning
is by using silver and letting quicksilver
alone, but considerable can be done in inn
prove the condition of mercury workers If
they can be made to keep clean, and not TO
eat in their workshops. Matches in every
house and every pocket are made at
terrible cost. Match-makers (not matri-
monial, but materially, have their intellects
dulled by the fumes they inhale and suffer
dreadful necrosis of the jaw. No one with
impeI feet teeth can make matches and not Fl
loose his jawbone and teeth. Working In
rubber produces rubber poisoning, winch
is accompanied by catarrh and eczema and
is marked by singular development Of
that leads to dispair and the
of the work, after which
recovery comes naturally in. 1t is o singu-
ar fact that offensive odors are not, un--
healthy. Tanners are proverbally well. In
cholera plaques tanners are exempt.
Butchers hardly ever know what consump- -
ion is. Even scavengers Of the lowest order e..
are very well, and stables boys are notori-g 2.
ously healty. .a.w -,