The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-28
REMEDIES WERE SUGGESTED
TO DECREASE TUBERCULOSIS
Stonecutters' Chief Disease Was Dis
cussed at Health Officers School
in Burlington--Addresses
By Several.


Burlington, Aug. 2S.--At the session
of the Vermont health officers schoo
| yesterday, the subject of "0ccrpationaI
Diseases was taken up. Prof. George
M. kober, NJ. D., of Georgetown uni,
versity spoke with particular reference
to. the stonecutting occupation. He said
in part;
Health is the chief asset of the
workingman and no greater calamity
can befall him than when his earning
capacity is impaired or arrested by rea-
son of sickness or disability, meaning
in many instances, the utter financial
ruin of his family. 1t is doubtless one
of the most potent causes of poverty
and distress. Many diseases are inci-
dent to occupation and environment and
err can be promoted by appropriate safe.
guards and adequate protection for men,
women and children.
I'm the search for the cause and pre-
vention of diseases the interest of the
wage earners have not been neglected,
indeed it may be truly said that a
special department has been created
known as industrial hygiene or soeal
medicine with most complete and sat
isfactory literateur of its own. As a
result of these efforts it is known to-
day that persons habitually engaged in
hard work, especially in factories and
indoors, present greater amount of
sickness and higher mortality than per-
sons more favorably situated and that
the character of the occupation intin-
ences to great extent not only the
average expectation Of life, but also
the prevalence of certain diseases.
"lt is known that bronchitis, pneu-
monia and tuberculosis are much more
frequent in dust inhaling occupations
and that the sharp angular particles
of iron and stone dust, and mixed ami
NAL and vegetable dust are more liable
to produce injury of the respiratory pas
sages than coal, -four, grain and some
other form of dust. 1t is also known
that workers in lead mercury. phosphor-
us and poisonous dyes suffer especially
from the injurious effects and that Or
equations, such as mining, railroad and
those which neeessitate working with or
around moving machinery involve espe-
cial danger to life and limb.
THE treatment of occupational dis
ease has been shamefully neglected and
it is only within the last two years
few of the states have enacted laws
requiring physicians to report on them.
Forty-eight states now have laws de-
signed to provide the installation of
safety devices for the prevention Of in
dustrial accidents from moving machinery.
Among the occupations usually classed
as inimical to health are bleaehers, book
binders, brass founders, compositors, cop
persmiths, electrotypers, stonecutters,
gas work employer, white lead workers,
potters, match workers, mirror makers
and workers in mercury. persons en-
ployed in the manufacture OF explosives.
firemen, rubber factory and textile
operatives.
1T has been suggested that it may
be of interest to discuss the relation Of
dusty occupations to consumption. From
knowledge of the disease we know that
while the tubercle bacilli are not ubi-
quitous, they are at least widely scat
tered, the modes of invasion are also
and yet there are large
of those exposed, who do not
develop the disease. This shows that
in addition to the germ there must also
be suitable soil for its growth and de.
velopment.
'Of all occupations under the head
is doubtless the most dam
gerous. Those who have witnessed its
various operations realize that in spite
Of new processes and employment in
the open air, the workmen are ex-
posed to great amount of this irritat-
ing dust, especially those who operate
the pneyfnatic tools. A collective in
vestigatfon, published in 1901, shows
that OF every 100 deaths among stone
were due to diseases Of the lungs. in
elusive of 55 deaths from consumption.
"The state of Vermont has never
had an excessive mortality rate from
and has shown most COM
decrease The death rate has
been the greatest in the county of Wash
ngtcn and the lowest in Essex county.
The stonecutting industry is greatest in
county.
Some Remedies.
Health officers should see that the
work is carried out under proper con-
itions, should also see that the en-
Dioyes are properly informed and VIII
wall themselves of the safeguards pro-
yided by legal regulation. The health |
officers should also see that the lodg- |
ng houses and homes of these work
men are generally sanitary. Preference
should be given when practicable to the
cottage system or two story fats with |
separate entrances and exits for each |
'amily. The state should insist upon |
lygienic requirements as regards air
'paee, light and ventilation.
In the whole range of social better
nent and sanitation. especially in our |
,fforts to combat tuberculosis, no field |
Iffords better opportunity for philsn-
hropic work than in the erection of /
anitary houses for wage earners, at /
reasonable rentals, the encouragement |
If cooking schools and the establishing I
# model lodging and eating houses.
"While it is criminal for employers
lot to provide adequate protection it /
5 equally culpable on the part of opera
ives to. disregard all such preventive
measures.
Lastly, let us insist on the purity
# the air in our homes, workshops and /
owns, and in choosing vocation for
"a