The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-03
The Public Health
By Fredric J. Haskin.
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H---Industrial Hygiene

conditions under which the work is done, the afe-guards set about the op- erative Tor his protection, his habits. nome-life. food and environment. On such data future improvements will be based.
 The personal element of the worker nsures greatly in such reports. Ill., health attributed to certain occupations has often been found due to alcohol ism, and when alcoholism prevails to any great extend among the workers of any certain class, investigation will show whether the vice came from over work, from association, or from na tural or inherited tendencies. Water. soil pollution and food have all played Important parts in the health of the factory worker, and often broken down employees, when their cases have been investigated. have been found to be united for the work because of health already impaired by intemper- ance, vice. improper food and insani- tary home conditions. Textile opera tors in the Southern mills. generally drawn from what is known as the poor whites of the hill regions, were found to be anaemic. indolent, united gener- ally for work, and the first reason as- cribed was that of the confinement and, vitiated air of the work rooms. More airy rooms and the introduction of humidif1ers to allay the trouble from flying lint: more modern houses and the enforcement Of strict sanitary laws seemed to lessen the lassitude very lit- tie. Then came Dr.. Stiles with his proven theory of the hook worm dis ease" disease that has been found responsible for the anaemic condition Of the agricultural people of Porto Rico, long attributed to occupation and poor food.
 Generally speaking, outdoor work in pure air Is conducive to longevity, in- door employment provocative of dis ease and short life. Air in work sh ops is invariably heavy with the impurI- ties of vitiated air, filled with germs, dust, organic matter from mouths, skins and lungs of other workers, and from perspiration-Iaden clothing. Im- mediate results of the loss Of oxygen from the air may be seen in headach es, dizziness and faintness among the workers; more lasting effects are found in gradual loss of ,ph ysical and mem tai vigor, loss of appetite and 6 gen. eral anaemic condition. To the na- tional disregard of the need of fresh air much of the tuberculosis of the past half century can be-, directly traced From widely diversified list of places--dwelkngs, workshops, pub lie buildings. battleships. prisons, and military barracks-consumpti took an enormous toll until. the recently awakened, sentiment in favor. of fresh air. 1. .sst v E Danger lies in many unsuspected places. Poiishe CTS and grineders of cutlery inhale the fine dust ana be- come victims of bronchitis. asthma and tuberculosis. Respirators and enforced ventilation are being used. to lessen this. Tobacco factories engender dis eases of the eyes and respiratory oT.- gans, by wetting with their tongues. the cigars on which they are working send communicable disease out to the smoker. Animal dust affects the op- erattyes in boot and shoe factories. and in the places where bone, hog bristIes horns, wool, feathers. fur, hair. silk and ivory are manufactured into mef- chantable articles Paper rnilix ire subject to epidemics of various contae- ious diseases brought in by the ra Rs tffey use. Wool sorters suffer an anthrax infection from the sheep from whose back the wool was taken. E'ringe makers have been poisoned by the sugar of lead used in the silk dye and makers of artificial flowers. EIaz- CTS of pottery, enamellsrs, and other workers who must use lead in any fashion suffer painful sickness or death from lead poison or, lead collie. To correct as far as possible these and other evils that beset factory workers as inevitably. as dangerous to life and limb await the miner and railway worker, the thoughtful people of the nation are working. New factory laws are being enacted to protect tn cir health .whenaat work, pure food laws to protect them when at home.
 Copyright. 1909. by Frederic J
 Haskin.)& Y !.
 Tom0rrow~-THE PUBLIC HEALTH, 1ff Pure, Food Congress. s'z