The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-14

the skin and possibly induce skin dis
eases in the course Of time. Exposure
to cold, however, and the inclemency of
the weather induces a tendency to colds
and their sequence, especially pneumonia.
AS a class they are rudy and stout. the
picture of health
Physicians like sailors, are exposed to
many i'll winds. Death from infectious
diseases, pneumonia and exha3stion
make sad inroads in the rank and file
of medicine. Blood poisoning and syph-
little infection frequently occur. Skin dis
eases are also acquired. Scarlet fever.
typhus, malaria, erysipelas, rheumatism.
and, sad to say, alcoholism, or drug adj
diction, each and all contribute to make
the doctors tenure of life uncertain and
abbreviated. Nerve trouble and disturb
ances of the brain, and heart strain are
very common.
Painters are subject to lead collie and
paralysis, doubtless aggravated by the
turpentine used. Plumbers also suffer
from lead poisoning, and in addition from
sewer gas and infectious diseases. Com
positors run the risk of lead poisoning
and also tend to acquire consumption
owing to their constrained position at the
case and bad habits and intemperance.
All work where there is dust is espe-
cially dangerous to weak lungs, and
strong ones, too, for that matter People
who work In cotton feathers, wool, hair
bristes and the like are subject to con-
sumption, but strange to say, coal dust
is least dangerous of all dusts
Among other dangerous occupations. in
asmuch as they endanger good health.
may be enumerated vulcanizng INDIA
rubber, on account of the poisonous BIZ
sulphide of carbon used; photography on
account of cyanide of potash used In
processes of work, this being a form Of
prussic acid which is poisonous even in
its fumes making looking glasses, on ac-
count Of the mercury used, which causes
palsy Of the limbs; brass founding.
which causes so-called brass founders
ague, and match making, owing to the
phosphorus, which causes a death and
erosion of the jawbone called phossy
jaw
The cleaning of sewers is theoretically
dangerous, but the good health of many
engaged in 1t shows forcibly the fact
that germs can grow only in fertile SOIL
the men being Of such vitality that the
germs have no chance to gain headway
When the germ theory was not so uni
verSally accepted as today l spoke to a
man who was cleaning out sewer that
had not been cleaned for thirty years
because no one knew 1t existed Git was
discovered by accident in the basement
of house where much disease existed.
and was doubtless caused by IT.. I re-
marked that drain cleaning must be
very unhealthy, but with a sneer he re-
piled: THE doctors talk lot about them
ere things that kill US, but none on EN-
amt killed me yet, and I've been at it
nigh fifty years." which shows that he
had a very strong constitution, but didn't
disprove the dangerous power Of the
bacillus.
other things being equal, the laborer
envies the clerk or person who is en-
ployed in an indoors or sedentary occu-
patton, but this has it's dangers from
lack Of exercise and long sojourn IN
vitiated air under intense nervous an1
mental strain, so that in reality the man
who works out of doors is IN the heal
thiest environment. In all employ
ments, moreover, personal hygiene has
much to do with safety, even the thor
ough and frequent washing OF the hands
having much to do with the health, es-
pecially in those who work in or with
deleterious substances, such as lead. for
example. Legislation has also done much
toward removing some Of the dangers
by insisting upon certain safeguards. such
as exhaust fans to remove dust from
working rooms, where 1t is produced in
process of work, but there Is still room
for philanthropic men to interest them
selves in this important branch Of hu-
manltarianism, and, aside from that ev-
cry man must be a safeguard to himself
by adopting such protection as experience
has taught Is advisable.
Leon Noel.