The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
THE MOST PERILo LoUs VocATIoNs.

Trades That Arc Exceedingly Dangerous
to HeaIth-Those Least Hurtful.
Labor performed in factories where the
air is laden with irritating particles OF
dust, whether of vegetable or mineral
origin, or where poisonous matters, such
as arsenic, lead or mercury are used for
colcring or other purposes, should be abb
solutely forbidden for children, and en-
ployers should be obliged to adopt every
know precaution to lessen the dangers for
adult workers therein.
The most perilous occupations, by the
inhalation of irritating dust, are needle
makers, pin-pointers, cutters, grinders,
etc., since they inhale mixture OF
metallic and mineral dust. The height IS
reached in the grinding of forks and
needles, which must be done on dry
stones. Workmen that do the wet grind
ing, such as razors, scissors, table-knives,
etc., have their risk also in their liability
to rheumatism, pneumonia and bron-
chitis of an acute form. One authority
says the mortality among this class OF
toilers is so great that they die at or be-
low their 35th year.
Workers in lead suffer greatly, and,
like mercury, the poison affects women
more readily than men. Coppersmiths
are not subject to disease by virtue OF
their trade, but the makers of bronze
powder, which is the filings of copper or
brass, are greatly broken In health
Phthisis and bronchial catarrh are COM
mon among them. The adoption Of red
phospho-ous for the white in the making
Of matches lessons the dangers, as this
form OF this substitute does not give of
vapors and is not poisonous, even when
takon internally. Toy balloon makers
are poisoned by the vapor Of carbon bi-
sulphide sometimes producing actual men
tai disease. The hearing is impaired and
the sight affected. =.
Printers and pressmen usually work in
badly ventilated rooms and take little e1-
ercise. Dyspepsia and diarrhoea are COM
mon among compositors. Rheumatism
and sciatica is the lot of the cooper.
Carpenters frequently have hernia and
cabinetmakers are subject to varicocele.
Tailors and shoemakers work under the
worst hygienic conditions, and consump-
ton claims over one-third of them.
Cement-makers find it impossible to
work many consecutive days together.
They have persistent cough. Nine
wears is the limit at the trade Of cutter
of naillstones, It's said that almost all
the sandstone cutters near Edinburgh
die of consumption, and it is rare to see
one attain the age Of 80 years. The
makers Of pottery and porcelain sooner
or later become asthmatical. The female
operatives are pallid and chlorotic and
their infants almost all scrofulous, with
an enormous mortality. Bright's dis
ease is common among glass-blowers.
Blacksriths become prematurely aged,
caused by the extreme exertion, the e1-
posure to the heat Of the forge, the pro
fuse perspiration and sudden changes Of
temperature. Phthisis is hardly known
among this class of toilers.
The dust of -four and meal to which
the miller is constantly exposed has no
effect on the respiratory tract. The only
aiIuent is an irritation Of the skin.
Brewers are sometimes dyspeptic and
troubled with congestion Of the liver;
butchers have only rheumatism to fear,
and are usually horid and robust in ap-
pearance. The sapping of the vital
forces in the trade of baker is thorough
and their power Of resisting epidemic
disease almost nothing.
Feather ornament makers, who are
mostly women, suffer greatly. Three
wears at the trade is the limit with great
impairment to health. The lungs and
eyes both suffer. Artificial hower-mak-
ers are in danger, through the poisons
necessary in obtaining the colors needed,
to paralysis which last long after work is
abandoned. Eleachers of colors inhale
chlorine gas, which is harmless, while
their other only danger is eruptions on
the forearms caused by having to work
with hot water and strong lye, which
cracks and fissures the skin.
Farming would seem to be the most
healthful of all pursuits. The life is free
from anxiety, but the fact is painful
one that their lives are shortened and
made uncomfortable by the poorness OF
food they consume. Salt pork is the
chief article Of meat, and usually poorly
cooked.
A class that are actually benefited in
health by their profession is the tanners
and leather-dressers, fat-renderers, lard
refners, bone-boilers, gluemakers, pork
packers, soap-makers, oil-pressers and
makers of cheese.
The manufacture Of tobacco would
seem to have no dangers beyond that Of
the absorption Of nicotine by the system,
for workmen claim exemption from in
flammatory and epidemic diseases. But
ton-makers, and all workers in bone, are
healthy men. Another class of toilers
who enjoy good health and certain i'm
munity against epidemics are the work
ers in wool. The little dust caused by