San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-06
DESTRUCTIVE TO HEALTH.
Various Industrial Pursuits Which Injure
the Health of Working Women.

the Health of Working Women.
In considering the effects of industrial life
upon the health of women, it would seem, at
first glance, as though they would be more
advantageous than those which result from
a life of pleasure, or of professional labor,
but l fear that facts will hardly bear out
such conclusion. In the first place We can
not exclude from the grand aggregation OF
such pursuits those employments which are
Of themselves dangerous of character and
necessarily more or less destructive-such as
bleachers and straw hat manufacturers,
where powerful acids are used and fumes in
hailed. Women are quite extensively EN-
ployed in these industries, and suffer keenly
from irritation of the bronchial mucous
membranes; later from lung diseases, which
are destined to become fatal Large num-
bers of women land children as WE'LL are en-
ployed in tobacco manufactures and suffer
much from the absorption of nicotine, a dan
gerous poison when continuously inhaled.
Women suffer keenly from the effects of
mercury, lead and PHOSPHORUS materials used
in the manufacture of many articles with
which they have to do. In the match fac
tories, where women and children are largely
employed, the danger is said to be somewhat
less ened recently through the substitution of
rcd for white phosphorus. Women who
work where lead is employed suffer more pro-
portionately than men, in that their ABSORB
Ave powers are greater, and their powers of
resistance less, than those of men. Artificial
flower workers are much affected by arseni-
cal and other poisonous coloring materials,
and come to be affected by a species of pa
ralysis. If work is continued after the early
symptoms become pronounced, there is little
hope of recovery. Makers of feather decora-
tions become very seriously affected, the eyes
weaken, more or less general weakness pre-
walls, and the lungs are soon seriously affected
About three years is the full extent that this
class of workers can follow their calling, be-
cause of the inhalation of a peculiar dust
which handling sets free, and from absorp-
ton Of the p6is9nous materials used in curl
ing the feathers
- 5eisilen engaged in porcelain and pottery
manufactortes are afflicted with asthma and
a constantly recurring cough or influenza
They become pale, weak, flabby, and, when
mothers, their offspring are sickly and scrof-
ulous, and early fall victims to scorbutic af
fections; at times dying off in large numbers
in the course of few months. What of the
saleswoman and the shop girl9 We all re-
allie, to the full, the effect upon health
through standing behind the counter. 1t is
needless to dilate upon it. And the shop
girla We scarcely need inquire. Long hours
of unhealthful employment in unhealthful
localities, uncomfortable and uncongenial
hours, all tell upon her physically and men
tally. Exposures, unsuitable food, insult
hoo y fY,1 ID
eral disregard for anything connected with
the preservation of health are, we must re-
member, the usual conditions entering into
the life of this class of Yorkers.-Anna D,
French, N. D., il Woman. g. -.