The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-31
American Chemical So
ciety To Discuss 1t
In Boston
DUST BOOSTS
DEATH RATE
This and Other Odd
Causes of Diseases
Up For Study

AT the meeting or the American
Chemical society in New York, Sept
rs TO 80. there will be conducted a
symposium OF occupational dis
eases. presided over by Prof
Charles Baskerville, head OF the de-
partment OF chemistry OF the Col
lege OF the City OF New York.
The subject is interesting and i'm
portant as well as full OF surprises
Housemaid's knee. for instance.
which for many years has served as
subject for humorous comment.
proves to be a frequent malady Of
miners. The statistician is abroad
In this and other lands and he
brings the information that trades
carried on in the presence OF much
dust. show a high death rate from
diseases OF the lungs. Then comes
the biologist who explains that dust
is not only minute PARTICLES, but that
the particles are usually surrounded
by a watery envelope, and that cling
ing TO this flament there may BE-
micro organisms.
The medical authorities abroad
declare that SCOT is q serious irritant
and that chimney-sweeps are egpe-
cially subject to cancer because Of
il. Saving certain kinds Of wood
has been found 10 produce irrita-
ton OF the mucous membrane OF
the nose. throat and eyes The
makers Of white lead have looked
lead poisoning square in the face,
and have found means TO avoid IL.
Or. Patterson, OF Philadelphia, de-
yiSed an entirely reasonable but
somewhat unexpected treatment for
IT, He immcrscs the patients hands
In one tue OF salt water and his feet
in another, and then a pole OF an
electric battery is put into each OF
.hc tubs. The current is turned
on. using Mr. Patien' as q conductor
end II carriea tho lead that il finds
on the way. out OF him. through the
salt solution depositing IL upon one
Il the electrodes II has proved sue
ce5sful
Fatigue is another subject that
has been studied and reported on.
StrBin Is declared 10 be more cN.
haustlng than work. and monotonv
Of employment aggravatcs eNhaus-
uon Fatigue seems 10 De con
dit!on Of the body in which the
waste products Of work are not car
ricd or fast enough In physioloci-
cal laboratories animals have been
fatigued by over-driyinE and then
some OF their blood has been in
iectod into the veins Of healthy ami
mails The healthy animals straight
way showed the same symptoms Of
fatigue as those that had been over
worked.
In rubber factories and elsewhere,
when bi-sulphate OF carbon is used,
great care must be taken TO avoid
contamination of the air by It's OF.
fensive fumes. Otherwise nervous
troubles are likely 20 follow.
There is bakors,itch, grocers itch
and sugar-refners' itch, all NANTES.
tations OF Eczema, according 10 the
materials handled.
The question is likely TO be asked
why boards Of health do not use
chlorinated water for flushing the
streets. especially in hot. dry wealth
er This was first proposed by Or.
Baskerville six or seven years ago,
and there Is no question but that
IFS effect upon disease germs in the
street dust would be beneficial TO
the public health. Since the New
York water supply has been treated
with chlorine. not single case OF
typhoid fever has been traced TO II
as the cause. II r. doubtful II any
other satisfactory answer will be
forthcoming than that the boards OF
health haven't got around 10 II yet.
The symposium will consider the
chemical trades, prophylaxis in
chemical industry. diseases inciden-