The Dickinson press., 1889-02-23
WORKMEN'S DISEASES.
EFFECTS OF lMHALlNG THE DUST
OF WORKSHOPS AND MILLS.
Irritation of the Lung Cells. Which Re
suits in Asthma aud Cnnsun,ption-Filc
Makers. Stone Cutters and ~ilassworl,crs
Occupy Unpleasant Positions.

Makers. Stone Cutters and Glassworkcr
Occupy Unpleasant Positions.
There are many occupations in which cnor
nous quantities of dust are evolved and noa
III the ar OF workroo,ns. so that the pcopl
employed there are continually intuling i
with every breath. The dust entering TIN
lungs may act III two ways-it may set u,
irritation in the mucous membrane, or it ma,
tie taken up by the blood und produce acut,
OF chronic poisoning
ly whatever method the particles reac!
the interior of the lung cells. their prescnc,
is Il constant cause of irritation, reSuliin.
IN l%hllaninat"ry processes, which produce.
ihseS:cs. alterations and consumption. Tt,
liability To THIS disease Is greatest in person:
who ara Obliged to SIT or stand in q bent oyel
position all day If frequent change of atti
tuGc were allowable. with plenty of free
muscular exercise. the tendency to consump
ton would he greatly diminished. "Ilirp" il
Of the opinion that the ~inlalin. of dust pro.
hncrs acute pneumonia File cutters woll
with hammer and cold chiscl, holding Tho
thank on the anvil by q strap passing undo,
the feet, while putting sand or other dust on
the anvil TO keep tho iron from Slipping
They have to bend over their work and keep
their eyes steadily fixed upon it, they thereby
inhaie metallic and mineral dust.
'~Gl:INDEHs ASTHMA"
In making coarse files a large amount of
bodily rXcrtlon is rcedcd, us the hammers
weigh between five and six pounds. The
work requires a very delicate touch, with
constant variation of the force of the blow.
because it l., impossible TO make all the blanks
the same degree OF hardness. Consumption
Is very coiIiilinn among them.
Grinders, pin pointers. needle makers, cut
tiers. etc, inhale mixture of metallic and min
cral dust These occupations arc among the
most dangerous that can be- followed. The
steel and iron implements arc pressed upon
%rinls.ones revolving ut tho rate of 1000 to
5000 times n minute The operation requires
grcat physical strength and a very con-
strained ATTITUDES, The danger lies in the
amount OF dust taken into the lungs and the
position OF the wurkinen. 1t reaches its
height in the grindin. OF forks, which must
be done on dry ton TO avoid rust. Ra2ors,
scissors, table knives are ground first on dry
and then on wet stones. so the danger is some
what ~l"sscnetl. Saws and all the coarse i'm
Elements are ground on wet stones, and in
this instance the danger is at its minimum.
The form of phthisls caused by metallic dust
is called "grinuel's usthina."
The disease comes ON slowly, and its darn
t:"i .llV le eEtentiei over four or five Years.
Ii begins with u dry. ~lac:i!t. cough With lit.
Tx "spectoralion, and nausea ard vomiting
in the morning. then rorirs II dull tcclin. in
the chest, with weak respiration. Could the
persorahan!on work at this time, recovery
would be possible in most cases. If work il
continued tie lung Tissue begins to break
down, and cavities form near the ''apircs'' or
top of the lungs. Grinders of steel are liable
toinitry from flying particles of metal which
are intensely heated 10y friction and scatter
in the form of sparks, often causing severe
laras Of tho eye. They should wear plain
3!as:"s or fine wire aauze spcrtac!es. Those
who wori; at wet grinding. while relieved
from dust dangers, are covered with spat-
tarings OF mud and water, and are constantly
Kept wet and cold, thus exposing themselves
to pneumonia and rheumatism. ~ good idea
is To have waterproof clothing to cover
them.
There a:e many conflicting opinions re-
Garding tho inhalation OF mineral dust.
"aiciaai' says such lungs contain ;n immense
amount of silicic acid, that lie found 80. II of
tho ashes of lung tissue, HOS of the bron-
chial glands was silica and sand, while, ac-
cording TO kussmaul, the normal lung con
tains from 4.s3 to l7.3 of this substance.
WORKERS IN POTTERY AND GLASS.
The workluen who make Portland cement
Gro greatly troubled 10y the dust caused
by silovelin:5 the mass into sacks after
it has been burned and ground. They
Il persistent cough and often cx-
leetorate little Jumps of cement. 1t is I'M
possible for the wori;mcn to continue their
labor ,ta, after day, consequently they are
obliged To take Intervals of rest. Stonecutters
work with u hammer and cllisel, and they not
only lniii!e quantities Of dust, but are Liable
TO in.iure the eyes By the Gyin. chips and
sparks from the chisel. 1t is tho common
of all writers that milestone cutters
are tlore affected by their work than any
other OF this class Peacock gives the duration
of WORKING al this trade about nine years.
WORKERS IL pottery and porcelain arc OK
posed to many injuries. For instance, Sitting
and mixing the earth used. then grinding
away the uneven places Oh articles already
baked cause a great deal of dust. The fiat
prcssers, who force tho clay into molds with
Il great loss Of muscular strength, are espc-
cia!ly affected. So common is empLysema
them that it is called ''potters'
TO the china scourers tho flint dust
Is a terrible iIlitant, and among female
workers the mortality is ENORMOUS.
The burners are exposed to q temperature
lUi degs. and suffer from sudden changes.
which produce acute pulmonary diseases,
rheumatism and intestinal disorders. The
cnamels ns'l on tho different kinds of porcc-
lain contain lead, and there are many cases
OF lead poisoning among the workers in this
branch OF the business. The mixers of CLAW
are said to he troubled with muscular pains.
especially in the tendons Of tho fingers. Lime
and plaster burners in plaster mills are OK
posed to dust, but do not appear to suffer
much.
Men working in glass manufactures, cspe.
those who grind and powder the sill
cious material, inllale great quantities of irri-
Eating dust and suffer greatly from q constant
Laci:iilg cough. 1t is rare to find a sound
man among them. They cannot work long
mt this trade, '"llirt' says they should not
be allowed to WORK more than two or three
weeks at Il stretch, and should then work at
something else, or at least give up this occ,l-
patton for double the working time. In this
way, by tho use OF relays, the health Of the
men may he sustained. Tho most dangerous
work Is done 10y the grinders and p~olisl!ers of
cut glass. About % per cent. among them
have chronic pneumonia, and tho average
ago at DEATHS given from 50 TO d. years.
Boston Globe.