Wichita eagle., 1889-01-15
Daily eagle
W0RKMEN'S DISEASES.
EFFECTS OF lNHALING THE DUST
OF WORKSHOPS AND MILLS.

Irritation of the Lung Cells, Which BE
suits In Asthma and Consumpion-Fn,
Makers. Stone Cutters and Glassworker
Occupy Unpleasant Positions
There are many occupations In which enor
nous quantities of dust are evolved and fioa
Ia the air Of workrooms, SO that the peopl.
employed there are continually inhaling Il
with every breath The dust entering ths
lungs may act In two ways-it may set uI
Irritation In the mucous membrane, or it may
be taken up by the blood and produce acute
Or chronic poisoning.
BY whatever method the particles reach
the interior OF the lung cells, their presence
Is a constant cause Of irritation, resulting
In lntiammatory processes which produces
assesses, alterations and consumption The
Liability to this disease Is greatest In persons
who are obliged to sit or stand in bent over
position all day If frequent change Of atti-
tude were allowable, with plenty OF free
muscular exercise, the tendency to consump-
ton would be greatly diminished "Hirp" Is
IF the opinion that the inhaling of dust pro-
duces acute pneumonia File cutters work
with hammer and cold chisel, holding the
blank on the anvil by a strap passing under
the feet, while putting sand or other dust on
the anvil TO keep the iron from slipping
They have to bend over their work and keep
their eyes steadily fixed upon it. they thereby
lnhsle metallic and mineral dust.
GRINDERS ASTHMA"
In making coarse files a large amount of
bodily exertion is needed, as the hammers
weigh between Eve and six pounds The
work requires a very delicate touch, with
constant variation of the force of the blow,
because 1t is impossible to make all the blanks
the same degree of hardness Consumption
Is very common among them
Grinders, pin pointers, needle makers cut
ters, etc, inhale mixture Of metallic and min
sral dust These occupations are among the
most dangerous that can be followed The
steel and iron implements are pressed upon
grindstones revolving at the rate of 1900 to
5000 times minute The operation requires
great physical strength and a very con-
strained attitude The danger lies in the
amount of dust taken into the lungs and the
position Of the workmen. 1t reaches its
height In the grinding Of forks, which must
be done on dry stones to avoid rust Razors,
scissors, table knives are ground first on dry
and then on wet stones, so the danger is some
what lessened Saws and all the coarse i'm
plements are ground on wet stones, and in
this instance the danger is at its minimum.
The form Of phthisis caused by metallic dust
Is called grinders asthma"
The disease comes on slowly, and its dura-
ion may be extended over four or five years.
1t begins with dry, hacking cough with lit
tie expectoration, and nausea and vomiting
In the morning; then comes q dull feeling In
the chest, with weak respiration Could the
person abandon work at this time, recovery
would be possible in most casea II work Is
continued the lung tissue begins to break
down, and cavities form near the "apicesn or
top of the lungs. Grinders of steel are liable
toiniury from flying particles Of metal which
are intensely heated by friction and scatter
In the form Of sparks, often causing severe
burns Of the eye They should wear plain
glasses or fine wire gauze spectaclea Thoss
who work at wet grinding, while relieved
from dust dangers are covered with spat-
terings Of mud and water, and are constantly
Kept wet and cold, thus exposing themselves
to pneumonia and rheumatism a good idea
is to have waterproof clothing to cover
them.
There are many conflicting opinions re-
gardlng the inhalation Of mineral dust.
amount Of silicic acid; that he found 80 n Of
the ashes of lung tissue; 03 Of the bron-
chial glands was silica and send, while, &C
eording 20 KusSmaul, the normal lung con-
bains from 4.22 to 17.3 of this substance
WORKERS IN POTTERY AND GLASS
The workmen who make Portland cement
are greatly troubled by the dust caused
by shoveling the mass into sacks after
it has been burned and ground. They
have a persistent cough and often ex-
pectorate little Jumps of cement. 1t is i'm
possible for the workmen to continue their
labor day after day, consequently they are
obliged to take intervals Of rest Stonecutters
work with a hammer and chisel, and they not
only inhale quantities Of dust, but are liable
10 inJure the eyes by the flying chips and
sparks from the chisel II is the common
opinion Of all writers that milestone cutters
are moro affected by their work than any
other Of this class Peacock gives the duration
Of working ct this trade about nine years
Workers in pottery and porcelain are ex-
posed TO many injuries. For instance sitting
and mixing the earth used then grind;ncy
away the uneven places on articles already
baked cause great deal of dust The fat
oreSSsers, who force the clay into molds with |
great loss of muscular strength are es1,e-
Tally affected. SO common is ernphysema
imong them that it is called 'potters'
Isthma-" To the china scourers the flint dust !
S terrible trritant, and among female
7orkers the mortality is enormous
1be burners are exposed to a temperature
f loi degs. and suffer from sudden changes
Which produce acute pulmonary diseases
heumatiS1n and intestinal disorders The
namels used on the different kinds of porca-
In contain lead, and there are many cases
t lead poisoning among the workers in this
ranch Of the business The mixers OF CLAW
re said to be troubled with muscular pains,
specially In the teldons Of the fingers Lime
nd plaster burners In plaster mills are ex-
oSed to dust, but do not appear to suffer
luch.
Men working in glass manufactures espe-
ally those who grind and powder the sill
Gus material, inhale great quantities Of irri-
l'IIlS dust and suffer greatly from constant
ackulg cough II is rare to find a sound
an among them They cannot work long
t1lS trada "Hnt" says they should not
allowed TO work more than two or three =.
eekS CT a stretch, and should then work at
netting else, or at least give up this occu- '
ltlon Tor double the working tuna In this
ay, ty the use q relays, the health of the Il
en- may De sustained The most dangerous b
ork is done by the grinders and polIsiSsrs Of
{ glass. About IS per cent. arncor tha1,
we chronic pneumonia, and the ayprnra ",
e at death IS given from 20 to - years. !
)Ston Globe c.
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