Evening journal., 1921-01-14
ANY SKIN DISEASES IN youn pLANrg"

rIyHE Investigation recently begun by the United States
Public Health Service into the causes and prevalence
Of skin diseases arising from occupatona hazards is al
ready yielding interesting fruit Most striking OF all so
far the discovery Of the number OF plants where many
employees suffering from occupaonal diseases, most
OF them skin without either the plant physician the
men themselves realizing that their trouble is more than
individual.
In one plant said Surgeon General Cumming where
khaki cloth made up, inspection by Public Health
Service representative disclosed who complained
10 the plant doctor that slight cut from her scissors had
given her boy who carried bales OF the cloth
his shoulders who complained that the dust from the
bales had given him the disease; and very large
number OF women sttchers whose duties compelled them
to handle and the cloth continuously, who were
suffering with Inflammation Of The mucous membranes
OF the eyes Analysis OF the dust showed that IT contained
large percentage Of chrome yellow and sulphur dioxide
Steps being taken TO reduce the dust hazard
In another plant where thousand working
on machines where they exposed 10 large amounts
OF cutting oils superficial Investigation showed that
about a fourth OF those examined suffering from
eruptous and other skin troubles Neither the doctor
nor the had ascrbed the trouble to the oils Simple
methods Of preparing for work and OF cleaning up the
end OF each shift vert prescribed and resulted marked
decrease in the number OF men affected
In another plant whore cutting oils also used in
large amounts the plant doctor said that been
good deal OF skin trouble but That IL had disappeared
some weeks DeiOrc from some unknown cause
Investigation showed that had disappeared because the
foreman. worried by the suffering OF the and their
lessened production had insisted their amounting their
hands with vaselinc before they to work and wash
ing them with antisepuc soap at closing time. skin
troubles to be typical where cutting oils are used
in any great quantity.
How greatly the manufacturers well the ap-
precate the work that the Public Health doing
is shown by two characteristics instances young ply
sican who had charge OF the medical surgical relief
work OF plant, asked the Public Health Service doctor
how he could make his employers raise his
salary. The doctor told him that he was already being
paid $500 year too much for he doing than
The $500 nurse who worked with him. could do by herself
study the needs OF your plant" advised he Service
man. Investigate the accidents and OF head
aches and coics; suggest 10 the management ways
whereby these may be reduced and the lost time saved
and see what will happen"
Six months later the plant physician told the Service
doctor that he had acted the advice and that his en-
poyers had doubled his salary in consequence
St more Illustrative OF the value OF preventive hygiene
Is the case OF highprioed man. who at the insistance of
The vicepreslden OF large manufacturing company re-
signed from the Public Health Service by which he was
employed In order to supervise the health OF the workers
In The companys factories Later the vice president re-
signed, and the other officers who had taken little interest
In the health work. seriously considered dropping IT, They
broached Tie subject TO the medical director who pro-
duced his records and charts clearly demonstrated
how greatly accidents illness and abseneesm and turn
over Of employees had been decreased in direct conse-
quence OF his work Not only did the company continue
the work but they promptly voted the doctor thousand
dollar increase in salary.