The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-01-09
DANGER OF DISEASE
LeprOSy AID Bubonic Germs Lurk
in Hair Factories.
Many Children and Young Girls Ex-
posed, Says Or. Charles Graham
Rogers, State Medical Exam
liner Of State Of New York

New York.-That danger of leprosy
and bubonic plague turks in rats"
and 'puffs" and that there are many
children and young girls in this city
and state who work in factories un-
der conditions almost certain to
cause painful and even fatal diseases.
were assertions made by DR.. Charles
Rogers. medical examiner Of the state
department OF labor. at the continue
ton of the hearing of the factory In
yestigation commission
In the course OF his examination by
Abram |. Elkus. counsel for the com
mission, DR.. Rogers was asked about
factories in which white phospborous
matches are made.
There are two of these factories
In this state" he answered. "One is
in Brooklyn and the other is in Os-
wego. Beyond question there are the
most dangerous factories in the state.
There is very great danger to en-
ployes who handle the matches and
work over the PHOSPHORUS paste. The
chief menace Is rotting away of the
bones particularly the jaw bone, due
to the action of the white phosphor.
ous
Many women and children work in
these two factories and in my opinion
their employment should be prohibit
ed. Although our present law says
that children may do nothing in such |
places but pack the boxes, am quite !
sure that they sort the matches. This |
exposes them to as much danger as
threatens the grown men"
Children, he said. should not be al |
lowed to work in calico print works,
In pearl button factories, in gas man
tie works, in potteries or in chemical
factories of any sort In one pearl |
button factory on Long Island. he
testified, he found 100 boys and girls
under the age of 16.
Every worker that | examined in
this place found to be suffering with
laryngitis or bronchitis" he said.
In factories where gas mantles are
made, he went on, he had frequently
found boys and girls in state of in
toxication due to inhaling the alcohol
fumes arising from the collodion used
In the making of the mantles. In
some of the places. he said, wood al
cohol was used
The inhalation of the fumes OF
this poison" he said, causes total
blindness in time, completely and
permanently destroying the optic
nerves.
Germs abound in the human hair
factories in this city, DR.. Rogers tes-
tified, and he had found all kinds of
bacteria, including what he firmly be-
ieved to be germs of bubonic plague
Workers in human hair he said, were {
exposed to danger of tuberculosis. {
'hronic gastritis, intestinal diseases /
md assesses of the stomach. From t
% to 80 per cent of the employees in
human hair factories are growing I
iris. he said. b
III a woman with an abrasion or a a
ut on her scalp were to wear one of d
hese puffs," he continued, and 1t hap S
ened that the article contained any f
I the germs I have mentioned. Sc v
ious results would almost certainly Il
ollow g
One medical man recently told me Il
case of leprosy of young girl in +
nearby city caused by wearing an
lfected pun or rat" Il
The danger to employees in these S,
lctories, he asserted, lay in the fact t'
lat the workers swallowed quantities Il
fine. small hairs. Pus producing II
erms on these hairs, he explained. IL
lused assesses of the stomach n N
lere was an abrasion of the stomach Il
ming. /, II
This evil, he declared could be rem
lied at small cost by the installation !,
an exhaust ventilating system. The n
W at present makes 1t impossible to
'medy the condition, he said. and N
ided his belief that children should
prohibited from working in hair
ctories.
The only other witness was William
Tibbs. deputy inspector who tes- pr
led regarding a candy factory in W,
is city where the conditions were.
his language. dirty" and in that E,
Mr.. Elkus who seemed to be IA I.c
iliar with the premises. "nlthy" mi