The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-25

human body. In a seasonal trade
such as the furriers with periods of
speeding-up alternating with months
of unemployment, want and hardship,
the strain of trying to make ends
meet is bound to have it's effect.
Anaemia, malnutrition and neurasthe-
mia are only some of the results.
Disease on the Increase.
That exhausting conditions of work
and occupational hazards have not p
creased in the past 10 years is str :
ingly brought out by an examinati a
of 2S9 furriers completed for the fur
riers' union. This study shows a de-
cided increase in the number of work
ers suffering from disturbances of the
nose, throat and air passages. Where
the 1916 study showed SO per cent
cases Of bronchitis, the 1926 report
shows 14.5 per cent, an increase of
245 per Cent. Whereas in 1915 II
per cent of the workers had throat
trouble Qaryngitis and pharyngitis)
the 1926 report shows almost double
the number, 21.7 per cent. Acute IT.
ritations of the nose and throat show
the same alarming increase-29.7 per
cent in 1915 as against $50 per cent
in 1926. The report discloses other
equally significant danger signs, such
as 1875 per cent of the workers suf-
fering from neurasthenia and 1856 per
cent were found to have fiat feet.
This latter condition is not surpris q,
since nailers stand up all day i'd
cutters most of the time.
The conclusion to draw from these
findings is that dangerous working
conditions are undermining the health
Of fur workers and that immediate
safeguards are necessary in all shops
to get rid of existing hazards. Spe-
cific recommendations for' this pur-
pose were made in the 1915 report,
but from all indications these have
been fiagrantly ignored. There can
be no defense for situation of this
kind in the fur industry in New York
City, the richest fur center in the
country with products valued at $780,
100000 out of a total of $19S,000,O00
for the entire country.
Occupational diseases are caused by
poisons, gases, dust, fumes, 'unsani-
tary conditions, dangerous machinery
and exhausting conditions of labor.
A small part Of the profits piled up in
the industry would provide mechani
cal devices urgently needed to remove
dust, and all other necessary safe
guards for the control of present haz-
ards.
NJ Need Health Protection.
"A vast sacrifice of life and limb rs Z
exacted from workers in the UnitNd
States, which today leads and dol 10
mates the world In economic resources
and wealth. Labor must be aroused
to the seriousness of this situation.
In every dangerous trade union work
ers are confronted with the necessity
Of fighting for safeguards. Under cap
italism strength and energy are
ground into proflts-exploitatio Is the
rule of the game and labor invariably
pays the price. Every health measure
as we'll as every slight economic ad-
vance are gained only as the result
Of struggle.
Existing hazards in the furriers'
trade are within control and should
be abolished. The unions demands
for the 40-hour week is an essential
safeguard necessary to enable work
ers to gain a little strength to Offset
the effects OF harmful conditions and
at the same time would help to bring
about a more equal division of wnk.
The workers health bureau offers ne
furriers' union its services in the 4 hit
to gain these demands and Is pre-
pared to draw up set Of health regu-
lations in the form of health agree
ment to guarantee health safeguards
to organized workers In thes1ndustry.