Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

in constant pastures, as that of a man
holding a pneumatic tool.
There are many occupational sources
OF infections, wholly aside from trifiing
accidents causing slight abrasions Con- .
slant handling of hides in leather fac
tories will bring anthrax; handlers of
horses contract CHAMBERS, and what are
known among the workers as "machin-
lists boils" develop from handling lubri-
cants and compounds.
Difficult to Force Protection.
A very ancient occupational class OF
eye diseases Is caused by working in i'll
lighted places. Obviously, miners suf-
/ fer chiefly from these. But in the
class known as illumination diseases
some are distinctly modern and might
almost be said to have been invented
by Mr.. Edison. Electrical ophthalnia
is one and Kleig eye another Kleig eye
might sound to the layman like disease
peculiar to Hollywood but Kleig lights
or lights of similar intensity are used
in many lines of industrial work. York
ers with acctylene torches wear goggles
| and the public is warned not TO look at
the lights flashed out by these contriy-
anceS, but nevertheless, workers become
careless or in some way find that long
work with torches emitting such star
tlingly bright beams brings an occupa-
, tional ailment.
Constant work in very high tempera-
lures is another cause of we'll defined
occupatiCnal ailments. Factories max
ing certain articles must be kept at
very high temperatures, because in
some cases the product can only be
worked under such conditions. Beet
sugar factories. steel mills, stokeholds
of shipS-a score CT places of employ
ment-must be kept normally hot. Low
temperatures produce yet other all
ments
Noise now is recognized as a cause
of occupatiOnal ear difficulties. Atmos-
pheric preSSures present another source.
There is certain work which must be
done under compressed air, notably
tunneling, especially under rivers. Shifts
OF workers are very short. but never
theless the strong pressure on the
body is abnormal for any length of
time and abnormality must be paid for.
A wholly modern atmospheric set Of
diseases aft1icts aviators Rarefled air
has various effects upon them. They,
obviously, do some Of their work in the
highest attitudes Of any workers. but
the diminished pressure of the air on
high peaks takes its toll. too.
As the ramiflcationS of modern in
duStry steadily increase, so new occu-
pational diseases are discovered. It
must be realized that there are scores
of industries which did not exist until
few years ago. With their own adj
vent they have brought malignant
shadows.
1t is very difficult to enact protective
laws in this matter. man has GER
tain basic right to engage in any kind
Of work he desires. Some years ago
there was great agitation for laws pro-
hibiting the manufacture OF white
phosphorus matches, but the prohibition
to be constitutional had to be round
about one. A proh!bitive tax was
placed on the product. Manufacturers
themselves have done much to cut
down the hazards. The fireworks that
gladden. many an eye on the Fourth of
July formerly used white phosphorus,
but makers have reached an agreement
to abandon its use. Radium watch dials
also contain this deadly phosphorus.
but this is expected soon to be cor
rected by agreement rather than By
law.
The interests of the workers are net
being neglected. Both National and
State agencies are studying all branches
of the problem of occupational dis
eases and a maximum of correction
with a minimum of prohibitory law Is
! expected to be the outcome.