The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-15
DISEASES OF THE TRADES.
Each Occupation Has It's Peculiar
Affections.
An Exception Is That of Brain Workers
Whose Ills, 1t Is Claimed, Arise In
Host Instances from Bad
Habits.

| tllc-cuGtoiS ID England Suuer mucl
from lead poisoning, because they Gu
the files by hand, resting the hand OIL
block of lead. In the United State
files are cut by machinery, and moth
ing is heard of lead poisoning anon:
| the craft.
Hatnakers are exposed to the DANCE
of mercurial poisoning, a most dis
tressing copdition, popularity known a.
salvation" In the manufacture o
hats a strong solution of acid nitrat'
mercury is used to promote the felt
ing of the hair or fur, and the worfmer
| who handle and shape the felt arc es
pecially exposed to the danger. Mer
curry is volatile at ordinary tempera
ture, and the inhalation of its vapor OF
dust containing it's salts, produce:
increased flow of saliva, sore mouth
liberation of gums, loss of flesh, ire
mors. vertigo and other ills.
Prevention in such cases is difficult,
because the workmen will not take the
necessary precautions. The methods
are the same as for lead, prompt re.
moval of vapors by exhausts, good ven
tilation and scrupulous personal clean
illness.
Arsenic produces most Of its evil ef-
fects in trades which employ colors
which contain it, either as an essential
constituent or as an impurity. Some
of the aniline colors contain arsenic.
The chief arsenical pigments arc
Scheele green (arsenite of copper and
Schweinfurth green (acete-arsenite Of
copper. but they elso occur in some
dull reds, such as red-striped bed
ticking.
The trades in which chronic arsenical
poisoning occurs most frequently are in
the manufacture of artificial flowers
and Of fancy colored glazed paper for
boxes, playing cards, etc. Dyers arc
also exposed to much danger from this
most distressing form of mineral poi
soning. The use of arsenic for coloring
wall paper seems TO have greatly d-
minished of late years, and although it
cen still be found in many papers, it
is probable that in most cases it is all
accidental impurity of the colors used,
a fact which does not, however, lessen
the danger to which the workman is
subjected. The same is true of certain
of the employees engaged in the manu-
facture of carpets, and dress-goods
prints.
danger in many trades. Among coal
miners or those engaged in handling
fine coal-fremen, stokers, coal passers
and coal dock laborers, etc.-the coal
becomes deposited in the tissue of the
lungs, producing what is known as
miners lung" Or anthracosis, while
the similar deposit found in the lungs
OF those who inhale fine particles of
iron or steel is known as siderosis.
In grinders, file cutters, potters, glass
polishers, wood and cotton spinners,
quarrymen, stone cutters, lime burn
ers, millers, brass fnishers, copper
bcarers, aluminium rollers, gold beaters
and burnishers tissue changes in the
lungs are usually found after death.
Heterogeneous cause very con-
siderable part Of the diseases which af-
fict men in any occupation. While
no occupation specifically produces
these organisms, yet some trades make
the worlSmen much more liable to at
tack than others. The bacillus Of
tuberculosis, which causes over II pen
cent. of all the deaths which occur in
the United States, mainly affect those
trades in which workmen are herded
together in ill-ventilated rooms. One
consumptive careless about his expec-
torations may infect his fellows. Hence
the large proportion of cases of this
disease among printers, accountants
and clerks, and the dressmakers, seam
stresses and clothing workers, who are
crowded into sweatshops in the large
cities.
The preventive is IN proper ventila-
ton, disinfection of premises and Gus
pidors, in open-air exercise and the
avoidance of positions in which the
chest is cramped and constrained. D,
The special dangers TO the health OF
brain workers, that is, persons who
use their brains rather than their mus
cles in their occupation, are due-frst,
TO excess of emotions, especially anx-
iety, worry, etc; second, to irregular
habits as to eating and sleeping; third,
to excuses in eating. drinking, smok-
ing, ETC., fourth, to want of physical
exercise. n
The diseases to which brain work
ers are most liable-dyspepsia, in
somnia, liver and kidney disorder,
irritability or prostration, ir-
ritable heart, apopleNy and paralysis,
etc.-are by no means peculiar to them,
as they are seen in idle loungers quite
as often. They are due not so much
TO excessive brain work as TO bad hab-
its OF various kinds.
Generally the patient feels fiabby,
the secretions are disordered. he feels
as if he needed more air. The causes
are many; too much tobacco. too little
exercise, a moist air with low barome-
ter and cloudy sky. Under the cir
cumstances there is nothing 70 do but
10 drop the work, but avoid stimulant.
San Francisco Examiner.