Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-11

eortliag 10 physicians, many men arc
taken with serious symptoms after
SIX weeks exposure al ieau smeitIils
or white lead works.
Lead poisoning in extreme cases
leads to paralysis, insanity or death.
often when the victim had apparent
ly entirely recovered from the initial
attack. After period in which the
patient has had a poor appetite. u
general feeling OF i'll health. foul
breath. a bad taste in the mouth, and
obstinate constipation, the attack IT.
self, consisting of paruxysms of agon-
izing collie. with vomiting and consti-
patton, follows. This is accompanied
by great restlessness, but no fever.
III the man goes back TO his work
after recovering he has repeated at
tacks. He is extremely pale, suffers
from constipation. from equity or
rheumatic pains, and swelling of the
joints. The nervous system becomes
affected and he develops partial paral-
ysis> of the wrists, shoulders, or an
kles
Women are especially susceptible to
ad-poisoning. This poisoning is
slowly cumulative for minute doses Of
l-5 q! a grain day produce tho
symptoms. The poison is absorbed
by swallowing the dust gaining en-
trance to the mouth by Inhalation or
from unwashed hands, but the fumes
of heated lead are also dangerous.
Good ventilation and cleanliness of
the person and premises are the best
preNentives.
There are great differences in fac
tories doing tbp Same hind nc unr,f
There are two white lead factories
controlled by the same company; one
is dilapidated. dirty. il-ventilated.
looking rs il little Improvement had
been made since fS45 when It was
built. The work is done largely by
hand, the product is handled most
carelessly. and there is an apparent
indifference toward the workmen on
the part of the management. The
other is modern. clean. wcll-ventilat-
ed. furnished with machinery, where
ever ii is possible. There are good
sanitary provisions for the men and
their welfare is a matter of real In
terest to the management. Almost
as great contrast exists between two
lead-smelting places, operated by the
same company. This means that the
care of the men depends upon the
good will of the executive in charge.
The general tendency in the lead
| trades is toward Improvement in
working conditions, not on humani-
| tartar but on economic grounds. The
| Scotch hearths with their poisonous
| fumes are being replaced by far safer
smelling processes employing fewer
men. The white lead and dry color
| houses are using more machinery and
saving their dust. There is also in
| creased use of machinery in the lead
pipe and sheet lead trades. The lifho
| transfer work is being done by dust
| less methods and not by hand The
| painters and the storage battery work
| ers, however. have not SO far been
| helped by improvements in their
/ trades
The improvements are on a surer
| basis when they come in response to
| the demand for economic manage
| inert and from a recognition of the
value of experienced unskiiled la
| bcr' which makes employers anxious
| to keep steady force Of workmen
| than if they were made in answer to
| the demands of philanthropy. The
! regular medical inspection of the men
| Is Very rare though required by law
| in most countries abroad.-Thc Survey
Press Bureau