The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1910-09-23
LECISLATE FOR
INDUSTRIAL ILLS
Europe Leads, but Agitation
Has Reached America.
COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS.

Bridge Builders "Bends" and Phos-
phorous Poisoning of Matchmakers
Among Causes of New Point Raised
by Labor-New York Commission
Investigates Conditions.
When the island of Manhattan be
came too small for New York city
and the Brooklyn bridge challenged
the admiration of the world. attention
was drawn TO Il new disease
Men who dig deep into river beds
to build the supports for great bridges
do their work in closed iron cylinders,
or caissons. into which compressed air
is forced to prevent water from run
ming in as dirt and gravel are car
ried out This means the increase of
the ordinary atmospheric pressure by
three, four and even five times.
But all do better work under great
pressure, and the men working in cais-
sons are not exceptions. They perspire
freely, and down mt the bottom of
closed tube. 100 feet below the surface
of the river, they work with more
than usual energy. The trouble comes
when they pass quickly from this cais-
son into the normal atmosphere above.
Exposure Causes Pains.
When the men l.ass into the area
of conn ression he blood absorbs the
gases of the air until their tension in
the blood +; equal TO that in the com
pressed mir lf Il workman Is taken
suddenly from this high pressure the
gas is liberated in the blood in the
form of nitrogen bubbles This froth.
ing of the blood when workmen pass
ito the outer air sometimes causes
them to fall unconscious. Blood some
times runs from t-cir eyes, ears and
noses. The victims feel in their mus
clcs and joints severe pains, which they
call bends" IT is due to the peculi-
arities of the employment. 1t is an
occupatioEal disease.
Experiments show that when work
men are Obliged to go into and come
out of the caisson through an interme-
diary chamber called an 'air lock-" by
means of which the pressure of the
confined air. is slowly raised or low
cred, the danger of disease is greatly
diminished. If the time limit for "lock-
ing" men through this air chamber is
carefully regulated much suffering is
prevented.
Legislation Regulates Work.
The Association For Labor Legisla-
tion has stimulated investigation Of
this subject. and New York state now
has legislation for the careful regula-
ton of work in compressed air.
Diseases owing to peculiar conditions
of employment may be grouped rough
ly into several principal classes. There
is long list of them occasioned by
the breathing of impure air, second
group due mainly to extremes or rapid
variations in temperature, third class
due to humidity. a fourth to overfa-
tigue Conditions of temperature and
humidity. of purity of air and labor
strain, are often prescribed by the
cheapest process of manufacture.
Miners In the coal fields of West
phalia are restrained by law from
working more than six hours a day in
a temperature above 81 degrees. In a
few instances there is legislation de-
signed to protect weavers from the ef-
fects of excessive moisture. In sew
eral countries and states a minimum
standard of purity is established for
the air in certain trades. The problem
Of overfatigue. however. is the most
complicated Of ALL 1t Is SO frequently
involved with other special problems
that no scientific study can be made OF
it without requiring general study of