946
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
1701. 8, NO. I O
SYMPOSIUM ON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHEMICALTRADES^ Abstracts of Papers and Discussions a t 53rd Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York City
Occupational Diseases in the Chemical Trades. DR. CHAS.BASKERVILLE, Chairman of the Committee on Occupational Diseases in the Chemical Trades. Dr. Baskerville outlined the work done so far, beginning with the First Congress in Milan in 1906. Great Britain is ‘very much in advance of t h e U. S. in industrial disease investigations. The A. C. S. Committee has been as active since its appointment as the entire absences of funds would permit. The establishment of a National Museum of Safety in Washington was suggested. The Occupational Hazard in the Chemical Industry; The Surgeon, Need for Prophylaxis. DR. J. W. SCHERESCHEWSKY, U. S. LMarine Hospital Service, Pittsburgh, Pa. The specific hazards provided by the nature of chemical substances add to the complications of the chemical industries. The value of the products of these industries increased j 3 per cent in the period from 1909 to 1914. The industry has been little studied in this country from the point of industrial hygiene. The Illinois Commission on Occupational Diseases and the New York State Factory Investigation are notable, however, in the face of discouraging conditions. Some of the ordinary hazards of the industries are classed under superficial poisons, blood poisons and poisons of remote, delayed and cumulative effect. Poi. sonous fumes and dusts are a danger not to be neglected. Aniline and Other Coal Tar Products. DR. GEORGEP. ADANSON,General Chemical Co., Easton, Pa. This paper brought out the necessity of handling aniline with unusual precautions since the poison is absorbed through the skin, through open sores and from fumes; even leather shoes permit infection. Absolute cleanliness and special care of the health are essential for those working with it. A weak solution of acetic acid has been found to remove the material from the skin better than any other wash, the oil being almost insoluble in water. Poisoning is ordinarily indicated by a bluish appearance of the mucous membranes but occasionally even this sign is not evident, so that a factory physician and close watch of the employees is absolutely essential. Poisoned patients, if properly cared for, recover in a short time. Bureau of Mines Studies on Occupational Diseases. DR. \T. A. LYSOTT,TI. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington. This paper was abstracted from recent Bureau of Mines bulletins. Dangers Other than Accidents in the Manufacture of Explosives. DR. ALICE HAMILTON, U . S. Department of Labor, spoke of the extreme lack of statistics concerning the dangers and accidents due to occupational diseases in this country. In her investigations Dr. Hamilton has encountered from 30 to 35 poisonous substances; they include the mineral acids, benzene and toluene and their many derivatives, the aromatic nitro-compounds, phenol and phenolic compounds, nitrophenols, ammonium picrate and a great many of the dye materials. Also quite a number of the explosive materials are dangerous from the poisonous side as well as the explosive. There is an increasing number of deaths from hydrogen sulfide. Deaths from nitrogen oxides are also increasing. The dangers from nitrous fumes is particularly great as they are neither irritating nor corrosive as are other acid fumes, and men may easily obtain fatal poisoning without realizing that anything dangerous is happening. Picric acid as manufactured in this country is particularly dangerous, probably due to the hastily and poorly constructed temporary plants in which the men are working. The symptoms of various poisons were described. DISCUSSIONS
DR. W. GILMAX THOMPSON,Professor of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, iYew York City, complimented the American Chemical Society on taking up this
question, as it is the first organized scientific body to do so and is only about three years behind the special consideration by even the medical profession for occupational diseases. DR. F. L. HOFFMAN, Chief Statistician, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, N. J., called attention to the mistakes that can be made by ignorant treatment of the subject of occupational diseases, as is especially illustrated by the findings of the Selby Smelter Commission. DR. FRANCISD. PATTERSON,Department of Labor and Industry of the State of Pennsylvania, suggested that much could be brought about a t the present time by requiring physicians to report to the state the details of occupational poisonings, which would necessitate, of course, pay lor the physicians if the work is to be properly done. I n the State of Pennsylvania there are 1000 industrial accidents for every working day. DR. LESTERL. Roos, Medical Inspector of the Division of Industrial Hygiene, New York State Industrial Commission. The fallacy of the statement by capitalists that labor is unwilling to use hygienic safety devices is indicated by the fact that cases of poisoning and illness were decidedly cut down when a “comfort house” accommodating 50,000 men was installed in a large white lead plant. The necessity for the study of occupational diseases by physicians was illustrated by cases. An amendment to the labor laws requiring occupational illnesses t o be reported by law is now being considered. MR. REWELLT. GORDOX,Department of Labor of New Jersey (in place of Miss Erskine), plead for frankness between the manufacturer and employees and stated that many manufacturers did not explain the dangers of their industries to employees because they were afraid to do so. DR. TRACY H. CLARK,Medical Director, The Kational Union, Chicago, suggested that the American Chemical Society should bring about cooperation between insurance inspectors and plant physicians, as this would be the quickest way to secure results. MR. MEEKER,U.S. Commission of Labor, called attention to the very limited facilities of his department and prime need for revision of the list of industrial poisons given in Bulletin 101 of the Labor Bureau. All the poisons need to be listed by Industry and Occupation and the cooperation of every physician and chemist in the United States is necessary. MR. C. I . JOHXSOS,Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, stated that they had changed from a 12- to an 8-hr. day in their aniline manufacture and had found that the health of their employees was greatly improved. Alcoholics are more susceptible to the poisoning than others, The speaker thinks there should be some way to separate the extremely susceptible people from others and put them where there would be less danger of infection. MR. GOODWIN called attention to the use, suggested’by a German, of a few drops of chloroform in a glass of water as an antidote for nitric oxide fumes. He criticized an Italian book for saying that the manufacture of T. N. T. is not dangerous and reported his own experience in being poisoned by working on this. He also called attention to the dangers from nickel carbonyl poisoning. DR. JOHTSON stated that the poisonings from the aromatic nitro-acids came from the lower nitrated compoullds that were formed during the process and were volatile. MR. WILLIAMP. MasoN testified concerning bonajitide cases of immunity and said they are of no subsequence whatever in treatment of the occupational diseases subject. [A vote of thanks was extended by the Division of Industvial Clzemists aizd Chenzical Engineers to Dr. Baskerville for arranging the symposium. The papers of the symposium will appear in full in our next iSSUe.--EDITOR.]
