Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-26
we're reported suffering from brass,

were reported suffering from brass,
arsenic and china powder
However. the department does not
confine it's research work and investi
cations to those industries and occu-
pations mentioned in the law. With
its somewhat limited facilities it has
investigated many other industries
thought to be dangerous to the health
of employees, the principle ones to be
mentioned here are acetylene welding,
interior painting and the tanning Of
hides.
The department discovered that
acetylene welders frequently become
sick. 1t was thought that acetylene
gas, which has been adopted as the
most desirable agent In welding met
ais, though previously looked upon as
only chemical curiosity, might be the
cause. In one factory where oxyacety-
lene welding was being done the en-
ployes complained of chills and other
asCertained that these signs appeared
only when zinc was being welded and
the factory windows were closed. Ex-
periments with guinea pigs were car
ried on by placing them in an atmos-
phere densely saturated with acetylene
gas and in the factory where the weld
ing process was carried on. These ami
nal experimentation produced no
clinical or pathological changes and
the department concluded, that acety-
lene is non-poisonous gas as used IN
industries and produces no harmful
action in the human body, but that in
all cases the material being welded
was responsible for the illness. Thus,
when iron or steel was being welded,
no i'll effects resulted, whereas when
brass or zinc was employed the weld
ers suffered chills, pallor and digestive
disturbances.
Investigations by Department.
Other trades investigated by the de-
partment outside of the scope of the
"occupational disease law" are paint
ing and tanning. The men following
these occupations number approx
mately $4,000 in this state, yet large
percentage of these are exposed to dan
gers to their health and receive no
statutory protection.
Painters rapidly succumb to plumb
ism. causing early Bright's disease and
hardening of the arteries. The vast
majority of painters do not receive the
benefits of the "OcCupational disease
| law" The department has been able
to protect only those employed in paint
shops of automobile, wagon, carriage,
farm implement. and railway coach re-
, paid concerns. The journeyman paint
! err. usually found on contract jobs and
very seldom engaged in shop work, is
bevond the pale of the law. During
the past year less than 1900 painters
receiving monthly medical examina-
tons were reported to this depart
ment. This group forms but an insig-
| nifcant percentage Of those following
this occupation, in view Of the fact
| that the last census enumerates $4,000
painters in this state.
The tanning industry is being in
vestigated at the present time with a
view of determining the extent of an
| thrax poisoning in this state. Re
Gently a case reported in Chicago, but
upon which no proof developed, has
led the department TO view with great
skepticism the absence Of any reported
cases of anthrax poisoning, despite the
large number of tanneries in this
| state.
The tanning industry is being inves-
tigated at the present time with view
of determining the extent Of anthrax
poisoning in this state. Recently a
case reported in Chicago, but upon
which no proof developed, has led the
department to view with great skepti-
cism the absence of any reported cases
of anthraw poisoning, despite the large
number of tanneries in this state.
Warning Sounded to Tanners.
The department deems 1t advisable
to call the attention of tanners, espe-
cially those engaged in beam houses,
to this disease, in view of the large
number of cases recently occurring in
New York and other localities. The
| claim has been made quite generally,
! that anthrax occurs only in those tan
neries using imported hides from
China and India, but the department
| has learned that this dreadful disease
| is now common in domestic cattle.
Tanners, particularly those handling
skins, should be extremely careful
when obtaining small scratches and
wounds, so that anthrax spores which
survive the lining and tanning solu-
tions, will not lodge in these skin
abrasions. Indeed, anthrax spores
have been found virulent after 20 years,
which shows the possibility of imme-
date infection. The suddenness with
which this disease attacks, and the
rapidity with which death ensues,
should put everyone in this industry
on his guard.
| Anthrax may be recognized as hav-