The Detroit times., 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

Al the meeting OF the American
Chemical society in New York, Sept
20 to 30. 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 frequent malady OF
miners. The statistician is abroad
In this and other lands and he
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
IL not only minute particles. but that
the particles are usually surrounded
by watery envelope, and that cling
ing 10 this flament there may be
heterogeneous.
The medical authorities abroad
declare that SCOT is serious irritant
and that chimney.sweeps are espe-
cially subject to cancer because OF
IT, 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 10 avoid II.
Dir Patterson. OF Philadelphia. DE-
vised an entirely reasonable but
somewhat unexpected treatment for
t. He immerses the patients hands
In one tub OF salt water and his feet
in another. and then a pole Of an
electric battery is put into each OF
the tubs The current is turned
on. using Mr.. Patient as conductor.
and It carries the lead that it finds
on the way, out OF him, through the
salt solution depositing il upon one
of the electrodes. II has proved sue
cessful.
Fatigue is another subject that
has been studied and reported on.
Strain is declared To be more ex.
hausting than work. and monotonv
of employment dggrayates exhaus-
ton Fatigue seems to be con.
dition OF the body in which the
waste products Of work are not car
ried of fast enough. In physiolog.-
cal laboratories animals have been
fatigued by overdriving and then
some OF their blood has been in
jected into the veins OF healthy ami.
mails The healthy animals straight
way showed the-samc symptoms Of
fatigue as those that had been over
worked
In rubber factories and elsewhere,
when bisulphate OF carbon is used.
great care must be taken to avoid
contamination OF the air by its Of
fensive fumes. Otherwise nervous
troubles are likely to follow.
There is bakersfield. grocers itch
and sugar-refners'-itch, all nantes.
tations OF exema, according 10 the
materials handled
The question is likely TO be asked
why boards OF health do not use
chlorinated water for flushing tho
streets. especially in hot. dry wealth.
or. This was first proposed by DR..
Baskerville six or seven years ago,
and there Is no question but that
its 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 a single case or
typhoid fever has been traced 10 Il
as the cause. II is doubtful If 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-