New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-02
Public Health Service
Finds Three Serious
Defects in Trade.
POOR LIGHTING
IN MANY SHOPS
Position of Body and Irregular.
ity of Work Among Other
Causes of Disease.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, Aug. 1.-The searching
investigation of conditions in the gar
ment workers trade in New York City
by the United States Public Health
Service, in which more than 1000 men
and 1000 women were physically ex-
amined, has brought out that there
are three great defects in the condi-
tions under which the workers arc
compelled to earn their bread.
These are the bad lighting Of the
shops, resulting in serious injury to
the eyes CT the workers; the positions
of body in which the workers do their
labor, and the alienation of busy and
slack seasons, with the result that the
workers drive themselves at top speed
during the busy season, while during
the dull period they are without suf-
fcient occupation to keep up their in
terest. Such conditions are produc-
tive of considerable mental stress, it
is stated, the worker overdriving him
self during the busy season and spend
ing tNe SlGCh season III "OHutillS Il
work will be forthcoming in the future.
"This condition of affairs" accord
ing to Surgeon J. W. SchereSchewsky
of the Public Health Service, who was
in charge of the investigation, lis re-
of operators found to be distinctly
neurasthenic or of neurasthenic tend
ency."
Contrary to the popular notion, the
sweatshops do not seem to breed
tuberculosis, only about 3 per cent o.
the workers examined showing tuber-
culosis symptoms. The physical ex
aminations did not develop the pres
ence of any one disease which seemed
10 be peculiar TO garment workers, as
has been the case in several other oc-
equations investigated by the Public
Health Service.
Positions of Body.
Because the positions of body as
sumed by the workers in the garment
making trade vary considerably accord
ing to the character OF their duties
and for classification purposes the
Public Health Service divided the
workers into five classes-cutters, OPP
orators, fnishers, pressers and mlscel-
laneous. In the last division are in
cluded tailors, sample makers, button
hole makers, busheimen and the Ike.
In two OF these classes-cutters and
pressers-the work is done standing,
while operators and fnishers work
sitting. Hernia and varicose veins OF
the legs seemed especially prevalent
among the pressers, due, it was as
sumed. TO their constant standing.
Pastures of the workers, as whole,
were found extremely bad. Good post
ures were relatively common among
those who had been under military
training in their youth, who, because
Of the large percentage OF foreign
born garment workers, make an I'M
portant percentage of the whole. More
than so per cent Of the garment work
ers examined were born in Russia
sO.4 per cent, % be exact. Austria
came second, with 15.2 per cent. The
others were Rumania. 1.l9 per cent;
England, .047 per cent, with Turkey
and Germany the same, and Italy, 300
per cent. OF more than 1000 men
workers examined only two were born
in the United States.
Jews predominated in the garment
workers examined. constituting 96.6
per cent, while 308 per cent were
Italians and 10 per cent Poles.
Personal Hygiene Neglected.
Aside from defective sight caused by
poor shop lighting, large part Of the
Ills from which the garment workers
suffer. according to the examinations,
are due to neglect Of personal hygiene.
The Public Health Service, it is be-
lieved. will make a campaign to en-
pbasize the Importance of instruction
in such matters in the curriculum OF
the public schools, where, also, sur
oeons in the service believe, children
Should be trained as to the pastures
thew should assume
The surgeons believe that the exam
nations have demonstrated the neces-
sity for regular medical school insPec-
tion and dental school clinics. Neglect
of the teeth is habitual among garment
workers, and the i'll effects of this
neglect are apparent.
The average income OF all men gar
ment workers was found 10 be soll.oO
wear. Divided into classes, the pay
figured as follows:
aneous workers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ~
Cutters .''.'''''. -!
operators -.-....-s''' '.'''.'-- '''''''-
Pre,ssrs .----.-.-. '---.-.-. '---+'''-
FinsneTs -.-...--. .--...-.. 10
The high wages earned by the mis-