United labor bulletin., 1910-12-01

yross. Since that time, wherever men
might be injured in the activities OF war
the means for quick relief have been
supplied. During that same half century,
however. the Industrial field with its ac-
tivities of peace has extended and
grown more mechanical, until 1t now
mains more men than war ever died. In
the United States we are just beginning
to realize that 10000 wage-earners are
killed by industrial accidents every year.
and that at least 100000 more are seri-
ously injured. And now, carefully pre-
pared by committee of experts appoint
ed by the president of the association for
labor legislation and thoughtfully re-
ceived by the president of the United
States, come Memorial on Industrial
Diseases, which discloses industrial in
juries of still greater magnitude. In this
admirable memorial of facts and figures
we learn that in the United States there
are probably not less than 13,0O0,000
cases of sickness each year among those
engaged in Industrial employments. The
money loss each year (for those who
find dollars more impressive than lives)
is calculated by these conservative ex-
perts as nearly three-quarters OF bill
lion dollars. At least one-fourth of this
painful incapacity for work and conse-
quent economic loss, we are told, can be
prevented.
Germany has gathered and displayed
in special government institutions the
latest devices for preventing accidents
and disease in workshops. These sug-
gestive permanent exhibitions rank
among the interesting museums pointed
out to the stranger. And it was only
yesterday that Germany among nations
nosed into the industrial class. In Min
nesota and Wisconsin we are tardily Sc
curing the attention of the state to this
important subject and are gradually
building up permanent exhibits on that
sure and effective foundation.
But in the United States we need an
institution that will correlate the exper
ience of our scattered little group of hy-
gienists and enable more medical men to
direct their attention to the problems OF
industrial hygiene. We need for the pur-
pose a special laboratory and hospital to
accelerate progress in the study Of the
causes and prevention of industrial dis
eases. With such an institution. phos-
phorus poisoning would quickly disap-
pear from our match industry as a mat
ter of scientific common sense. The long
list of poisons affecting scores OF differ
ent occupations would gradually be
shortened. Conditions which lower VI
tality, lessen efhciency and invite dis
ease, would quickly be improved to the
advantage of manufacturer and wage
Garner. The necessary research would
be carried on by scientists of unques-
toned ability and singleness of purpose.
and in a manner which would enlist from
all the heartiest cooperation.
For the past two years the American
Association for Labor Legislation has
had an able commission on industrial
hygiene. and last June called the first
American Congress on Industrial Dis
eases. AS an outgrowth of that congress
a committee of experts has submitted to
the president a memorial calling atten-
tion to the urgent need OF national in
vestigation. The most valuable aid In
such an inquiry would be an American
clinic for the study and prevention of in.
dustrial diseases.