The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-01-25

| Therapay
By w. d. Robson, Medical Director, !
II Mcintyre Research, Limited,
II Toronto, Ont.
The second of series of articles
dealing with the efficiency of metal
lie aluminium as a preventive for
silicOsis in humans.
Selection OF Individuals For
Treatment
The selection of individuals for
treatment was made with great care
from volunteers, and an effort was
made to choose only those who had
simple silicosis, with symptoms of
respiratory disability. In order that
these cases might have the benefit of
intensive observation while under
treatment, their number was restrict
ed, particularly at first.
The following requirements were
formulated to govern the selection Of
men for treatment:
(D All should be acknowledged by
the Workmen's Compensation Board
as suffering from silicosis, with or
without disability.
(2) Those with definite disability
resulting from silicosis were to be
preferred.
(3) They must have sufficient
knowledge of English to understand
what was being done and to be CO.
operative.
(4) They must volunteer to under
go the various tests and subsequent
treatment.
(5)They should not be over 55
years of age.
co. They should have worked at
least five years underground and
should not have been removed from
dust exposure more than two years.
CD They must be in good general
condition and free from such compli-
cations as tuberculosis, severe en-
physema, syphilis, renal and cardio
vascular diseases.
Out of 102 cases examined, Al full
filled these requirements. Of the
latter, 34 completed the desired course
of treatments; all were acknowledged
silicotics with characteristic x-ray
findings; Is showed little or no dis
ability. All except one of the "a con-
tinued to be exposed to siliceous dust
throughout the test period as they
worked at their usual occupations.
The exception mentioned changed
during the investigation from under
ground to surface work where dust
was not hazard.
Examination OF Subjects
Before treatment with aluminium,
each subject was put through def
mite routine examination which in
some instances required several days.
A complete physical examination was
made, special attention being given
to the respiratory and heart systems.
Various types of chest x-ray pictures
were employed. Laboratory investi-
cation included complete blood exami-
nation, urinalysis, sedimentation time,
electrocardiogram, tuberculin skin
test, Wasserman and repeated eXami-
nation of the sputum for tubercle
bacilli. In addition, a detailed history
of the individuals dust exposure and
past illnesses was recorded.
A primary cosideration of the clinic
was the selection of a method where
by the degree of lung disability or
distinction could be actually meas
ured. After careful study of the
means available, it was decided to
apply the method developed by Pro-
fessor McCann and his co-workers at
the University of Rochester in New
York State. AS these tests are ex-
tremely complicated, they will not be
described in this paper. 1t suffices to
say that they involved measurement
of the various components which de-
termine the efficiency of the lung
lung while the subject is at rest and
while he is doing a given amount Of
work.
All tests of lung function were
carried out in the morning, after the
individual had had a satisfactory
nights rest. The tests were per-
formed several times prior to treat
ment with aluminium and once every
three months during the course of
treatment. After treatments were dis
continued, the phsical tests were
carried out at various intervals. In
all, several hundred complete tests of
lung funtion were made-not only on
the subjects under treatment but on
another group of silicotics which
served as a control group.
Apparatus Used To Provide
Aluminium
The aluminium administered was
in manner similar to that
used in the, animal experimentation.
it consisted of tub-mill
j Inn