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Abstract
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The manufacture of coal tar products in almost endless
variety has developed tremendously within the last few years.
Since the outbreak of this world's war the coal tar industry
has introduced in this country an entirely new set of prob
lems. As the fields of investigation in this line grow larger
and more complicated, the needs of workers in the coal tar
industries make greater demands upon our ingenuity. These
new conditions confront the workers in the manufacture of
munitions, dyes, and rubber goods. Physicians who are re
sponsible for the health and welfare of the great army of em
ployees in these various factories are just beginning to meet
the demands in a scientific way.
It is only during the last few years that clinical records
can be found of such pathological conditions as benzol der
matitis, for example, to mention only one of many conditions
resulting from aniline poisoning. It is unfortunate that we
have so few observations on record to aid the industrial
physician. Tt seems that the seriousness of these conditions
is not sufficiently grasped by the profession at large. Tt is
necessary for every physician to make himself acquainted
with the dangers connected with the manufacture of muni
tions, rubber goods, dyes, and aniline products in general.
The various gases evolved in the process of manufacture of
munitions and colors have a most deleterious, effect upon the
blood elements and the circulation as well as upon the genito
urinary tract and liver. The gases evolved in the nitration
of various coal tar products, vdien carelessly inhaled by the
worker, have a very disastrous effect on the blood cells where
their destructive power is manifested in a most serious man
ner. The benzol vapors, whether bi-nitro-benzol, or tri-nitro-
chlor-benzol act as very strong toxins on the blood cells and
their effects on the nerves and nerve centers are severe and
of a most alarming character.
Tn this form of poisoning, the first symptom that strikes
us is decided cyanosis of the lips and tongue, sallow color of
the face, apathetic expression and a varying degree of blue
ness of the finger nails as in poisoning by acetanilid. As a
rule, the breathing is difficult and shallow, often amounting
to dyspnoea...
Language: en |