Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-07
HEALTH. TESTS
FOR WORKERS IN
FACTORIES URGED
Plan Conference for Plant
Heads, When Scheme Will
Be Offered.

10 SifOf CAs
A conference between members of
the Newark Anti-Tuberculosis Asso-
citation and representatives of Newark
industries will be held in the Board of
Trade rooms within a fortnight to
consider the advisability of installing
health examinations of factory en-
ployes. The conference will be held
as direct result of a series of lee
| lures delivered in the Trade Board
rooms last night on the Importance of
periodic health supervision. The mo-
| ton for a conference for representa-
| tives of all the local factories was
made by General William F. Bur
| leigh, of the Murphy Varnish Works
It was unanimously passed. A. V.
Hamburg, president of the Trade
Board, presided at the meeting last
night, which was held jointly by the
association and Trade Board.
Ernest D. Easton, secretary of the
association, read a paper declaring
that Newark could save three-quar-
tiers of million dollars a year by
city-wide adoption of hygienic meth
DDS for industries and factories.
James Minnick, superintendent of the
Chicago tuberculosis Institute. and
DR.. Eugene L. Fisk, director of hy-
giene at the Life Extension Institute,
New York, pointed out the benefits to
be derived from systematic hygienic
methods and urged the cooperation of
all industries to establish sanitary
factories,
Secretary Eaton's paper in part was
as follows;
"a QUESTIONABLE was recently sent
out to firms having a large number
of employees. Replies have been Ee-
ceived showing that a great deal of
welfare work is being done in New
ark, comparing in a large measure to
the work which is being done in Chi
cago and elsewhere. One chief differ
ence, however is noted-the workers
connected with the different firms do
not have conferences to get sugges-
tons from one another. Most of the
large firms do not employ doctor
for full time, but either call in a
doctor when needed or have daily
clinics. Several firms employ a nurse
who is in constant attendance, look
ing after the welfare OF employees and
arranging to have visits made to the
home in case of sickness.
I'm most instances no accurate
statistics have been made as to the
number of examinations or re-exami-
nations. Many firms have been char
itably inclined by caring for their
employees while in sanatoria or in
meeting emergencies in the home
Nearly all firms heard from agree
that this work can be extended with
hot 10 4tA al hN
employee.
sThis is primarily a get together
meeting, at which we hope to learn
from each others experience. Chicago
has been pioneer in the work of medi-
cal examinations of employees, and it
seems to be the universal testimony
of the firms in that city that the work
is of inestimable value and should be
extended just as fast as public senti-
ment will allow.
at has been estimated that in the
United States there is social and
economic loss of nearly $500, 000, 600
every year, due to sickness, loss of
time in employment and in medical
attendance. On this same basis, we
estimate that in Newark the losses
amount to $2,S93,910, and that this
could be reduced at least 25 per cent,
or an economic saving of $723,477 by
adopting the methods of industrial
hygiene.
Mr.. Minnick told of the work done
in Chicago by DR.. Theodore Sachs.
who was to speak last night. He
could not come. He explained how
large firms employing thousands of
men and women had gradually come
to realize that the good health of
their employees means maximum
efficiency.
In addition to giving the history of
the work of the Life Extension 1nSti-
tute DIR. Fisk submitted a table of re-
suits obtained by AN examination of
five hundred persons. About 1.5 per
cent. were found to be in perfect
health. Those suffering from errors
in hygiene were 304 or 5S.2 per cent.
and those suffering from errors in the
diet were 346 or COG per cent. Fifty
two per cent. were slightly impaired
in health, 81 per cent. moderately and
90 per cent. were seriously impaired
in health. On another investigation
of $500 persons, policyholders of an
insurance company, 40 per cent. Were
found more or less impaired in health,
and of these 1000 persons A per cent
did not know of their health defects.
From this the speaker pointed out the
Importance of periodic medical super
vision could readily be seen.
On motion of Mr.. Hamburg the
speakers were given a vote of thanks.