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

sion unanimously decided that publi
hearings would be unnecessary, SUI
lperfluous and create an unwarrantet
expense" emphasis supplied).
1t was in its acceptance of the
premise that complete data as tt
all silicotics is now available" thai
the commission made its original mis-.
take. And all of its conclusions that
follow from this bum premise, are,
| likewise, mistaken.
Actually, data as to silicotics is
ONLY available concerning those
cases with complete disability who
ere now receiving aid from the
state. These are persons having
siIicosis in the third, or last, stage
who are unfit for manual work
But for every one MINER having
silicosis in the third stage, authori-
tative studies show that there are
several who have the disease in the
first and second stages. No data is
available as to the extent of silicosis
in these stages in Montana. The
commission made the great error of
assuming that since the majority of
third stage silicotics receiving aid
from the state are over AZ years of
age, there is no silicosis among
younger miners. They went even
further and assumed that "silicosis
is no longer menace in Montana"
because of preventive measures
taken by the mining companies.
The last survey conducted among
the Butte miners by DR.. A. J. LAMA
of the U. S. Public Health Service
(1917) showed that of all silicotics
examined, 25 per cent had silicosis
in the third stage, 80 per cent in the
second stage, and as per cent in the
first stage.
A similar survey made by the U.
5. Public Health Service in Utah
1880 showed no cases in the third
stage, "a cases in the second stage,
md AZ cases in the first stage.
A study of silicosis made by the
government (1919-1922) /
howed 6 cases in the third stage, 81 |
n the second stage, and 113 in the
irst stage.
Two surveys made by the Cana
Ian government show the following
esults: In Ontario (1925-1926) for
1 third stage cases found there were
1 second stage cases and So first
tage cases. In British Columbia
1880 there were 35 second and
bird stage cases and 70 first stage
asses.
A study made in France as re-
orted in "Occupational Medicine"
August 1947) showed Is third
Bage cases, 40 second stage cases,
nd $50 first stage cases.
According to DR.. Leroy Gardner,
foremost authority on silicosis,
riting in international Clinics"
Vol. 2, Series 35, 1850 the average
fe expectancy after silicosis is first
elected is 1877 years. Life expect
1cy for advanced and intermediate
ases is " years. When silicosis
caches the third stage, the average
CIliIl Call Ollly liOPS W live + yOesl ..
Even when miners leave the min Q
G industry for other work where / f
ere is no silica dust hazard, 20 S
II cent of first stage silicosis cases o
'ogress to the second stage, 40 per s
mt of second stage cases progress z
the third stage; and 100 per cent t.
third stage cases progress until q
,ath. public Health Reports, Aug @
It 1889.
In South Africa, where silicosis S;
S long been recognized as an oc-' tt
pational disease and considerable F
yislation for it's prevention has a
en- in effect, government report
ows that the average miner devel- Ia
ed silicosis in 141a years, even
ough the dust count in the mines te
ldied was only 3 million particles A
r cubic foot. The accepted stand al
Continued on Page Three ic