The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-01-21

|
commission reports, does that mean
no more silicosis? Not if weight is
given to the opinions of outstanding
authorities on the subject. Take the
case of the South African study
where the dust count had been re-
duced to 3 million particles per cubic
foot, well below the accepted stand
ard of million particles, and still
the average miner developed silicosis
lin 141a years. Apparently, reduc-
ton of silica dust count underground
simply means that it takes longer to
contract the disease, and not that
the danger from silicosis disappears.
The end result is the same.
Did the commission take into ac-
count other diseases to which sill
icosis is a major contributing fac
tor, according to medical author
tiles?
Evidently not. At least there is
no indication in its report that this
phase of the matter was even so
much as discussed. But the author
tiles state that silicosis causes tuber-.
culosis, heart diseases and diseases of
the liver.
Dr. A. J. LAMA in his book "Sili-
COSTS and Asbestosis" states, "Silico-
sis patients often die with all symp-
toms of heart failure. Secondary
infection with bronchitis and pneu-
monia is common. Silicosis in the
early stages, just as much as IN the
late stages, pre-disposes to tubercu-
losis"
An article appearing in the Amer
lean Heart Journal, august 1880
says that "Silicosis is considered an
important cause of heart disease"
Fatal results produced by silica
dust are due to tuberculosis in
majority of cases." (X-Ray Atlas of
Silicosis).
In Broken Hill, New South Wales,
Australia, the government found
that Is per cent of those who had
first or second stage silicosis devel-
oped tuberculosis after only one
year. As per cent showed advances
in the stage of silicosis. (Occupa-
ClOlldl NlcOlClliC, Qly 1Ot
The American Review of Tuber-
Iculosis June 1946) has this to say,
"Sihcosis can exert harmful effect
on resistance to tuberculosis even
when generalized pulmonary fibrosis
due to silicosis is so slight that the
evidence of it is meager or entirely
lacking"
TB Death Date in Silver
Bow Way High
Is it only coincidence then, or is it
due to silicosis, that the death rate
from tuberculosis is II times higher
in Silver Bow county than it is in
the other counties of the state? I'm
Silver Bow county the tuberculosis
death rate per 100000 was 1878; in
all other counties in Montana the
average death rate from tuberculosis
was 80 per 100000 population).
National tuberculosis Association
Report, 1939-194D.
Did the commission forget to in
clude in it's investigation occupa-
tional diseases other than silicosis?
Or did it just assume that there
are not any? What about lead
poisoning, acid fumes, etc. in the
smelters? Do these conditions
exist only in the imagination of the
workers?
Can it be that in the report of
he commission we have an attempt
n the part of the mining monopoly
o minimize grave danger to the
ealth and well-being of thousands
f workers and their families by de-
laring that no such danger exists?
urely, refusal to recognize the ex-
'tence of problem is no solution of
ne problem. On the contrary, it is
ggravation.
Can it be that the mining monop-
ly seeks to continue the burden of
airing for the victims of silicosis on
lie shoulders of the common people
{ the state, instead of assuming re-
possibility for these poor unfortun-
5es who have sacrificed their health
the interest of profits for the
onopoly?