The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-07-22
LEAD POISONING.
IS. F. Mining and Scientific Press.

the working of lead the workmen are
subject to certain diseases, more or less
fatal. Still, it has been shown, even by
dietary, the ordinary effect of lead can
be counteracted, although there are some
persons who are susceptible to the effects
of lead more than others <are, and who,
under almost any circumstances, in the
long run will succumb to its poisoning
powers, more especially if they are at
tackled after they have been but COM
paratively short time at the work.
WhereS however, persons have been
constantly at work for some years, and
have not suffered from the lead, it may
be fairly assumed that they have become
somewhat impervious to its deadly effects.
Several deaths have lately occurred in
the north of England from lead poison
ing, notwithstanding the fact that the
best known safeguards for securing the
health of the work-people had been
taken by the owners of the works; and
this leads to the question whether there
are any antidotes for preventing lead
from seriously affecting the health of
those engaged in its manipulation.
At Hebburn, on the Tyne, there are
extensive works where the desilvering
of lead is carried on by Pattinson's pro.
cess, and where white lead is made on
an extensive scale In the latter branch
in particular good many females are
employed, some of them in putting the
lead through the rolls; but with respect
to all of them most stringent regulations
are laid down, so as to prevent the lead
affecting them in any way. There are
baths and lavatories which the females
are obliged to avail themselves of at
certain times, for it is considered that
the hands should be frequently and
thoroughly cleansed several times day,
and that all should bathe at least once a
week. In addition to these necessary
appliances, provision is made for sup
ply daily to all hands of milk, beer and
acidulated drinks used for the purpose of
washing out the mouth and counterac-
ting the deleterious effects of the lead,
whilst rcspirators were also provided.
But the rules made in the interest Of the
women were frequently evaded by many
of them, especially as to the bathing,
although persons were especially ap-
pointed to see that the rules were fully
carried out, Yet it is stated, on high
medical authority, that were the rules
fully adopted, such as we have described,
there would be very few what are
termed "lead cases.
As to the antidote, the London Mining
Journal says We are told that at our
large works, where both Englishmen and
Scotchmen were employed, the former,
who lived good deal on fat meat and
fatty matters, were much less susceptible
to the effects of lead than those whose
dietary was largely composed of oat'
meal. At some of the works on the con
tinent, where the lead workers were al
one time subject to palsy, collie, pains ii
the bones, and ending with convulsions
the usual attributes Of lead poisoning
| these soon gave way when the employees
began to feed largely on fat meats, es
r pecially before going to work in tn
morning. At one place, where grea
deal of lead work was done, and wher
at one time there were the usual attacks
| a change was made in the dietary, ant
cheese, butter, bacon, pork, lard an
other fatty materials, having been tn
principal articles Of food, no person, it
h said, was attacked with lead collie for
1 period of upwards Of Is years. Ther
Il is here most important problem for Oh
. medical men to work out for the benef
7 of large class of persons engaged in a
employment that has hitherto been al
4 tended with a very high annual deaf
:. rate. There is strong belief that lea
d poisoning can be effectually prevented
e and what is, therefore, required is til
d | laying down of certain simple rules as
d dietary, sanitary and other requirement
,e that will have the effect Of making lea
IN workers as little liable to diseases mo
frequently ending in death as persol
who have to deal with other minera