The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-10-20

Hew the Health OF Watch Makers
and Rubber Workers is Injured.


EHaw the Health of Match Makers
and Rubber Workers is Injured.
In the making of lucifer matches the
ends of the wood, suitably dried and split
are dipped into paste composed of phos-
phorus and chlorate or nitrate Of potash
or course there are the dangers of explosion
and accidental burns from these chemicals
in addition, the employees, chiefly women
and children, are poisoned by the fumes of
phosphorus. Almost all of them are pale
and badly nourished complain of pains in
The stomach and dyspepsia; while many of
them have catarrh of the stomach lung dis
eases, especially catarrhs and consumption,
are frequent. Some of the match manu-
facturers say that the workmen become
duh and stupid, and have no energy or
heart " in their work. The most striking
effect of long-eontinued PHOSPHORUS pois-
oning is to produce death of portions of
bones, particularly that of the lower Jaw
This disease appears after four or Eve years
employment in this business and ten or
Twelve per cent of the old hands become
thus affected. Toothache is generally the
first thing wrong that is noticed, then pains
in the face, swelling and tenderness of the
gums, enlarged glands, etc. Then an abb
scess forms, which discharges offensive
matter, and sooner or later It is discovered
that part of the bone is dead When the
upper jaw is affected the disease is slow in
its progress; in the lower one 1t runs
shorter course and is attended by more suf
fering. If the dead bone is removed by
surgical operation, recovery is the rule
while thirty-ive to thirty-eight per cent of
those neglected die.
Toprevent this painful and sometimes
fatal disease, the most complete ventilation
OF the working rooms, particularly near
the floor, where the heavy yapors sink for
time, should be enforced. As the four
thousandth part of the vapor of oil of tur-
pentine in the air prevents the giving off of
PHOSPHORUS yapors at ordinary tempera
lures, dishes containing tins substance
should be freely distributed about the floors
Of the rooms.
Carbon disulphide is used in the manu-
iacture of India rubber goods rs solvent
Of the gum. Some of the workmen are
compelled to breathe an atmosphere strong
ly charged with its vapors. Those who
work at home or in small and ill-ventlated
shops are principally exposed to this dan.
ger. The makers of toy balloons seem ts
be those who suffer the most Violent
headache, disturbances of sight, noises in
the ears, dizziness and general debility,
are the symptoms produced by breathing
the vapor in concentrated forin. More
commonly different set of symptoms come
ON after several years exposure to the same
fumes in less concentrated form. These
are, headache, worse toward evening, fol-
lowed by pains in tho limbs, especially the
lower ones, and itching or over-sensitive
spots ON various parts of the body. Then
the mind seems moro active; there is o
tendency to tallativeness aud the forma.
ton Of extravagant plans. There is some
cough and feeling OF oppression about the
chest, with palpitation Of the heart. This
may last for several months, followed by q
Sesf, saalAnahely, .ss,aia1ses s mind, lor ri
memory, numbness of the hands and feet,
weakness of sight, impairment of hearing,
and insanity and death follow if the EN-.
ployment is not given up. Restoration to
health, complete or partial, may follow
giving up this kind Of work. The vapors
of carbon disulphide are much heavier than
air, so attention should be directed toward
securing complete downward ventilation.
In large factories where precautions are
taken TO prevent the escape of the vapors
and to secure perfect ventilation, the dan
gers are very light.
Shelters Of ores containing arsenic and
mercury are liable TO inhale the poisonous
vapors of these metals and suffer accord
ingly. The signs OF poisoning by quick
silver have already been mentioned; those
by arsenic, which are most characteristic.
are various eruptions upon the skin which
snd in alterations which leave brownish
stains or scars when they heal. These dan
gers may BIO avoided by the utmost atten-
lion TO cleanliness on the part Of the work
men, who should never eat or drink near
the works, where the poison could become
mixed with what is taken. OF course, the
use of furnaces Of the best possible con
struction, and thorough ventilation of the
works are of the utmost importance.
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An Hour Of Terror and It's Cause
When no had been there one week tho
clearinghouse keeper said that he was one
OF the incest quietest young men she had
arnr bod In hnr house Thn nther NIGHT.