El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-09
n INVESTIGATION has been
made by the Department of
Commerce and Labor with refer


u made by the Department of
Commerce and Labor with refer
ence to the prevalence in the match
factories of the United States IF a
disease known as the "phossy jaw"
This investigation shows that eight
cases existed in two of the factories
visited. and 50 cases were found in the
homes of persons employed in three
factories. The disease is known to
the medical profession as necrosis of
the jaw, and is brought about by the
fumes of white phosphorus
More than 60 percent of the men,
women and children employed in the
match industry in the United States
ease. 1t is probable that as a result OF
the investigation, congress will follow
| the example of the principal couE-
tries of Europe, and will prohibit the
further use of white phosphorus in the
making of matches9
White Phosphorus Dangerous.
AT the international conference on
labor regulation held at Berne In 1906
/ Germany, Denmark France, Italy. Lux
embourg, the Netherlands and Swift
erland agreed to prohibit the manufac-
! ture, importation, or sale of matches n
the making of which white phosphorus
was used.
Later England took up the matter
and agreed to investigate the English
| match factories The committee which
made the investigation reported that
while it was plain that many labo-ers
/ in match factories did suffer by reason,
! of the presence of white phosphorus
| there was only one substitute chem
! zeal which could be used in the manu-
! facture OF matches designed to strike
| anywhere, and that this substance was
| protected by a British patent The re-
port was therefore unfavorabIe to the
abolition of the use of white rIos-
| phorus.
When the matter came to be consid-
| cred in parliament, the report Of the
committee was overturned and law
was passed embodying the principles
laid down in the Berne conference. This
law also provided that the existing
patent should be modified to such an
extent as would prevent a monopoly
on the other process of match making.
1t set forth that the patent holder
should share with other manufacturers
upon the payment of a reasonable roy
atty or stipulated sum. It is doubtful
| If there ever has been a case in the
United States where patentee has been
compelled by legislation to surrender
any part Of his rights.
Fumes Often Cause Death.
The fumes of white phosphorus are
injurious particularly TO persons with
decayed teeth, through which the chem
ical finds it's way into the jawbone,
and there runs course that often re-
suits in death The medical profess
sion has not met with great success
! in treating necrosis arising from this
| cause The existence of improved match
| making machinery has tended to re-
duce the dangers incident to the use of
white phosphorus, but most authorities
agree that the only way to eliminate
these dangers completely will be to fol-
low the course OF European nations and
abolish the manufacture importation
and sale of matches made with It,
1t is said that there are a least two
harmless substitutes for white phOs-
phorus in the making of matches. Red
phosphorus has long been used in max
ing safety matches, such as will strike
only on a prepared surface. This sub
stance was used first in 1S45, and has,
in a large measure. changed the ma
ture Of the match industry. The only
excuse for the continual ton of the use
Of white phosphorus is that the hustling
American likes a match which viii
strike on anything
Match Factories Are Numerous.
There are more than 200 match fac
tories in the United States and Canada
1t has been computed that the average
individual in the civilized world uses
eight matches day. Three millions of
them are struck every minute of the
year. Half of the whole worlds con-
sumtion of matches is IN the United
States and Canada. Not more than
half of the population of the world uses
matches. Even in the remoter districts
of Europe, the old fashioned method Of
borrowing fire from the neighbors is
continued.
1t is said that in many cases fires
are lighted when bride and her hus-
band go to housekeeping and are kept
alive continuously until their children
are grown and have to establish new
homes and new fires.
Automatic Processes in Europe.
The major portion of the safety
matches used in the United States are
made IN Sweden. France and Norway
In France match making is conducted
as a government monopoly. There are
seven large factories They are made
by machines whose capacity is 10000
boxes of matches an hour each box
containing so matches In the use Of
.nese machines. no human hand touches
the match from the time it is cut from
the log until it is in the hands OF the
consumer. Every process is auto
matte.