In Search of Occupational Illness
Authors: Kenneth G. Gould, Kent W. Peterson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Editorials1 August 1989In Search of Occupational IllnessKenneth G. Gould Jr., MD, PhD, Kent W. Peterson, MDKenneth G. Gould Jr., MD, PhDSearch for more papers by this author, Kent W. Peterson, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-3-195 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptPhysicians accustomed to precise definitions of diseases in specific molecular terms may be less accepting in today's rapid-paced environment of the efforts of those who classify and describe diseases in clinical or often in lay terms. Yet, such characterization of illness has occurred throughout the history of medicine from Hippocrates through Galen, Osler, and beyond (1). BeforeMycobacterium tuberculosiswas shown to cause consumption, tuberculosis was described in terms of cough, hemoptysis, fever, weight loss, and pallor leading to death. Concern over injury and death has led many since Ramazzini to describe diseases and death thought due to workplace exposure,...References1. Osler W. Physic and physicians as depicted in Plato. Medicine in the nineteenth century. In: Aequanimitas, with Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine. Philadelphia: Blakiston; 1932:45-71, 219-62. Google Scholar2. Ramazzini B. Diseases of Workers. Wright WC, trans. From: De Morbis Artificum. (Diatriba, 1713.) New York: Hafner; 1964. Google Scholar3. Hamilton A. Exploring the Dangerous Trades: The Autobiography of Alice Hamilton, M.D. Boston: Little, Brown; 1943. Google Scholar4. Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the U.S. by Industry. 1987 Survey of Workplace Illnesses and Injuries. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1987; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics publication no. 181-519/64256. Google Scholar5. Key M. State and local health departments. Forgotten resources in occupational safety and health. J Occup Med. 1985;27:379-85. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Blanc P, Rempel D, Maizlish N, Hiatt P, and Olson K. Occupational illness: case detection by poison control surveillance. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:238-244. LinkGoogle Scholar7. Prevention of leading work-related diseases and injuries. MMWR. 1986;35:185-8; 613-4; 619-21. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. Litovitz T, Martin T, and Schmitz B. 1986 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1987;5:405-45. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Peterson K. Directory of Occupational Health & Safety Software. Chicago: American College of Occupational Medicine; 1989. Google Scholar10. Role of the Primary Care Physician in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1988; Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Institute of Medicine publication no. IOM 88-05. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Kenneth G. GouldJr., MD, PhD; Kent W. Peterson, MD PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDescriptive epidemiology of clinically significant occupational poisonings, United States, 2008–2018A National Survey of Regional Poison Control Centers' Management of Occupational Exposure Calls 1 August 1989Volume 111, Issue 3Page: 195-197KeywordsFeversHistory of medicineMycobacterium tuberculosisWeight loss ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1989 PDF downloadLoading ...