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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JAMES J. DAVIS, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner

BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES'!
BUREAU OF LABOR STA T ISTIC S/
INDUSTRIAL

ACCIDENTS

AND

........ No. 426
HYGIENE

SERIES

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING




BY

FREDERICK L. HOFFMAN, LL. D.
Consulting Statistician, Prudential Insurance Co.
Newark, N. J.

FEBRUARY, 1927

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1927




CONTENTS
Page

Part I.— Statistics of chronic lead poisoning in the United States and
foreign countries......................... ................................................................ 1-14
1, 2
United States registration area__________________________________
Industrial experience of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co___________
2
United States Navy-------- ----------------------- ----------------- ---------------2, 3
State and city statistics:
3
California----------------------------------------- ------------ ------- ------- ---Chicago, 111............................................ . ......................................
3,4
St. Louis, Mo_________________ _______- ...................................
4
New Jersey------------------------------------------------------------. --------- 4, 5
New York State____________ ______________ ____________ ____
5
New York City.......... ...................... ..............................................
5, 6
Buffalo, N. Y............. ......... ...................................................... .
6
Ohio................... ........................................................... ..................
6
Pennsylvania__ _______ ______________ _____________________
7
Providence, R. I_ „----------------------------------- --------------- ----------7
Maine______________________________________ ________ ______
7, 8
New Hampshire___________________________________________
8
8
Connecticut_______________________________________________
Wisconsin_________________________________________________
8, 9
Canada-------------------------------- ------- ---------- ---------------------------- —
9
Ontario______________________ ________ ____________________
9
Great Britain__________________________________________________ 10-13
England and Wales________________________________________
12
Scotland__________________________________________________ 12, 13
Australia-____ _________________________________________________
13
New Zealand__________________________________________________
13
Italy..................................... ...................... ............................................
14
Paris, France__________________________________________________
14
Oppeln, Germany________________________________________ ______
14
Part ft.—Analysis of deaths from chronic lead poisoning in the United
States registration area, 1914-1924-------------------------------------------------- 15-34
Lead workers____________________________ ________ _____________ 16, 17
Miners_______________ __________________ ______ - --------- ------------ 17, 18
Painters_______________________________________________________ 18-23
Paint mixers___________________________________________________
23
Plumbers.--------------- --------------- ------------- ---------------- ----------------- 23, 24
Potters and tile workers__________________ ______ _______________ 24, 25
Rubber workers-------------- --------- -------------------------- -------------------25
25
Storage battery workers________________________________________
Printers_________________________________________________ _____ _ 25-27
Tin and copper smiths---------------------- -------------------- -------------------27
Glass workers.............. - ------------------------------ -----------------------------27
Metal workers_________________________________________________
27
Carpenters and woodworkers____________________________________ 27, 28
Laborers---------- ------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------28
Farmers................................................ .................... .............................28-30
Professional occupations________________________________________ 30, 31
Miscellaneous occupations.------------ -------------------------------------------- 31,32
32
Unknown or retired__________ __________________ _________ ______
Women............................. ................................... ............................... . 32,33
Boys under 18.------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 33, 34
Girls under 18. ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------34
Part III.— Statistics of chronic lead poisoning from State industrial acci­
dent boards_______________________________________________ ______ 34-40
Massachusetts__________________________________________ _____ 34,35
35
Pennsylvania— .......... - --------- --------------------- — --------- --------------California______________________ __________________ - ...............—
36
New York State_______________________________________________ 36-40
Bibliography......... .......................... ...................... ..... l....... .................... . 41-45




hi




BULLETIN OF THE

U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
WASHINGTON

n o . 426

F e b r u a r y , 1927

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING
PART I.— STATISTICS OF CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN
THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The present investigation is primarily concerned with the available
statistics of chronic lead poisoning, for the United States and certain
foreign countries, which are useful for practical purposes. In most of
the works on lead poisoning there are numerous statistical references
suggestive of the urgent need for a more comprehensive viewpoint
of the past and present situation. Most of the data included in
the present inquiry are for the last 10 years, which should prove
sufficient at least as an introduction to the proper statistical treat­
ment of this important subject.
UNITED STATES REGISTRATION AREA

Through the courtesy of the Division of Vital Statistics of the
United States Bureau of the Census, I have been furnished with
original death certificates representing all the deaths from lead
poisoning which are a matter of record for the registration area for
the period 1914-1924. I am not aware that in any previous investi­
gation original death certificates have been considered with a due
regard to all essential facts contained therein.
Table 1 shows the number of deaths classified as chronic lead
poisoning for the United States registration area during each of the
years 1910 to 1924.
T a b l e 1.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, U NITED STATES REGISTRA­

TION AREA, 1910 TO 1924, BY YEARS

Year

1910.........................
1911.........................
1912.........................
1913.........................
1614.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................

Death
Num­ rate per
Population ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
53,831,742
59,183,071
60,359,974
63,200,625
63,813,315
67,095,681
71,349,162
74,964,498




136
145
148
162
149
155
190
147 l
ii

2.5
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.3
2.3
2.7
2.0 ,

Year

1918..
1919..
1920..
1921..
1922..
1923..
1924..

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

81,333,675
85,166,043
87,486,713
88,667,602
93,241,643
96,986,371
99,200,298

124
148
120
142
137
141
142

1.5
1.7
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4

1

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

According to this table there were 1,085 deaths from lead poisoning
during the first seven years of the period and 959 deaths during the
last. The rate in proportion to population decreased from 2.5 per
million in 1910 to 1.4 per million in 1924.
The decrease in the death rate is progressive and obviously reflects
the results of the efforts that have been made in the direction of
improving factory and workshop hygiene on the one hand and the
personal hygiene of the worker on the other.
INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE OF METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO.

The returns for the United States registration area are in a large
measure confirmed by corresponding data representing the industrial
insurance experience of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for the
years 1911 to 1924, which are shown in Table 2.
T a b l e 2 . — DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, INDU STRIAL D E P A R T M E N T

OF THE M ETR O PO LITA N LIFE INSURANCE CO., 1911 TO 1924, B Y YEARS

Year

1911.
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.

Number
exposed
to risk

7,790,227
8,219,695
8,696,543
9,247,323
9,665,699
10,177,060
10,847,852

Death
rate per
1,000,000
exposed

Num­
ber of
deaths

17!I

37
35
39
30
33
25

i
i
j
!

i

Year

2.2

1918..
4.5 1919..
4.0 1920..
4.2 1921..
3.1 1922.
3.2 1923..
2.3 h 1924.

Number
exposed
to risk

11,553,347
12,424,509
13,086,725
13,500,762
13,776,239
14,534,242
15,382,916

Death
Num­ rate
per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths exposed
2.5
2.1

2.2
1.9
2.2
2.3
1.6

Leaving out of the comparison the first year of the period, it is
shown that the rate decreased from 4.5 per million in 1912 to 1.6
per million in 1924. This experience represents the wage-earning
population of the country and, largely, employments in which chronic
lead poisoning is most likely to occur. It is therefore of particular
interest and value in supporting the returns of the registration area
of the country as a whole. During 1925, in the experience of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., there were 26 deaths from chronic
lead poisoning, equivalent to a rate of 1.6 per million; for white males
the rate was 3.4 per million and for colored males 3.2.
UNITED STATES NAVY

Through the courtesy of the Surgeon General of the United States
Navy I have been furnished with the chronic lead poisoning statistics
of the Navy, differentiating the acute and the chronic lead poisoning
cases which have occurred in the Navy during 1913-1924. Table 3,
which presents these statistics, is of general interest, as it illustrates
that the case frequency rate may be high, while the resulting mor­
tality may be practically nil. The returns also indicate a decrease
in the relative frequency of the disease, except as regards acute
cases, which in 1923 were 25. During 1925, there were 6 cases of
acute lead poisoning, but no deaths, in the United States Navy,
giving a case rate of 5.2 per 100,000. There were 3 cases of chronic
lead poisoning, but no deaths, giving a case rate of 2.6 per 100,000.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

3

T a ble 3 .— N UM BER OF OASES AND DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING, UNITED STATES
N A V Y, 1913 T O 1924, BY YEARS

Acute lead poisoning
Com­
plement

Year

1913...........................................................
1914.......................................... ...............
1915...................... ...................................
1916..........................................................
1917........................................... ..............
1918.................................... ....................
1919................................ .........................
1920......... ................................................
1921...........................................................
1922................... .................... .................
1923................ ..........................................
1924...........................................................

65,926
67,141
68,075
69,294
245,580
503,792
298,774
140,773
148,861
122,126
116,565
119,280

Cases

Chronic lead poisoning

Case
Deaths rate per
1,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

25
34
46
45
19
12
19
4
3
7
25
1

0.4
.5
.7
.6
.08
.02
.06
.03
.02
.06
.2
.008

Cases

86
30
24
20
21
13
11
1
1
7
8
6

Case
Deaths rate per
1,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

0.5 '
¥
.4
.3
.09
.03
.04
.007
.007
.06
.07
.C5

STATE AND CITY STATISTICS

It has not seemed necessary for the present purpose to tabulate in
detail the statistics of chronic lead poisoning for the several States
otherwise than as appears in connection with the analysis of the
data for the period for which actual death certificates have been
available. (See Part II.) The data in Tables 4 to 17 have been in
most cases furnished by the local health authorities and the figures
may possibly differ slightly from the returns for the United States
registration area in view of differences in methods of death classifi­
cation.
CALIFORNIA

The first of this series of tables is for the State of California,
limited to the years 1912 to 1920, no later data being available.
T a b l e 4 . — DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN CALIFORNIA, 1912 TO 1920,

B Y YEARS

Year

1912.........................
1913....... .................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.......................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

8
16
14
7
8

3.1
5.9
4.9
2.4
2.6

2,616,234
2,724,317
2,832,400
2,940,464
3,048,568

Year

Population

1917.........................
1918.........................
1919.........................
1920.........................

3,156,652
3,264,736
3,372,819
3,480,902

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
6
0
7
4

1.9
2.1
1.1

The indications are strongly to the effect that chronic lead poison­
ing in California, as reported by the State board of health, has been
considerably on the decrease during the last half of the decade.
CHICAGO, ILL.

That the conclusions drawn from the general returns for the coun­
try are in full conformity to the local rates for representative cities
in which certain lead industries are represented on a large scale is
shown in Tables 5 and 6, though in St. Louis the rate for 1924 shows
an increase over 1923. Table 5 is for the city of Chicago, covering




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

the period 1914 to 1924. The frequency rate at the beginning of
the period was 3.3 per million, but during the last year under obser­
vation the rate was only 0.69.
T a b l e 5 .— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN CHICAGO, ILL., 1914 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

Population

1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................
1919.........................

2,411,018
2,464,452
2,517,486
2,570,120
2,622,754
2,675,388

Death !
Num­ rate per 1
ber of 1,000,000 j
deaths popula- !
tion
8
2
5
3
2
5

3.3
.8
2.0
1.2
.8 ;
1.9 j

Year

Population

1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923.........................
1924.........................

2,728,022
2,780,655
2,833,288
2,886,971
2,900,000

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
2
5
7
2
2

0.7
1.8
2.5
.7
.69

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Table 6 gives corresponding statistics for the city of St. Louis
for 1913-1924.
T a b l e 6.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN ST. LOUIS, MO., 1913 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

715,405
724,250
733,095
741,940
759.630
759.630

0
4
1
3
2
1

5.5
1.4
4.0
2.6
1.3

Year

| 1919.........................
1 1920.........................
I 1921.........................
! 1922.........................
i 1923.........................
! 1924.........................
i

Population

768,475
777,320
786,164
795,008
803,853
812,700

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
4
0
1
0
0
4

5.2
1.3
4.9

NEW JERSEY

Of special interest in this connection are the returns for the State
of New Jersey, in which lead-using industries, particularly the
pottery industry, are carried on on a considerable scale. These
returns are shown in Table 7.
T a b l e 7 .— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN NEW JERSEY, 1914 T O 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

! NumTopulation1 ber of
; deaths
i

!
1 9 1 4 .............................
1 9 1 5 .............................

1916 ......................
1917
.........
1918.........................
1919.........................

2,806,375
2,869,107
2,932,839
2.996,671

\
|
i
i

3,060,303 !
3,124,035 i

9
9

16
9
7
4

Death
rate per
1,000,000

Population

1920..............................
1921..............................

3,187,767
3,251,499

8
6

3,315,231
3,378,963
3,442,695

8
6
4

popula­
tion
j
3.2
3.1

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion

Year

5. 5 1922.........................
3.0 1923.........................
2.3 : 1924.........................
1.3

2.5
1.6

2.4
1.8
1.2

The frequency of chronic lead poisoning in New Jersey reached
a maximum of 5.5 per million in 1916, while during the last year
the observed rate was only 1.2. The strenuous efforts of the New




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

5

Jersey Bureau of Labor in cooperation with manufacturing indus­
tries, especially the pottery industry which has left little undone
to reduce the lead-poisoning hazard, are considered primarily respon­
sible for these gratifying results. The facts in the case are fully
confirmed by certain statistics of labor organizations, which also
show that chronic lead poisoning is no longer an occupational hazard
of serious concern, at least in the pottery industry.
NEW YORK STATE

Table 8 gives data for the State of New York, furnished by the
State health officer. Other statistics for lead poisoning, derived
from the State department of labor, will be dealt with later.
T a b l e 8.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN NEW Y O R K STATE, 1915 to

1924, BY YEARS

Year

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

9,795,808
9,926,790
10,057,772
10,188,754
10,319,736

1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
2.5
1.5
2.2

2.1
1.8

Year

Population

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths

pot e -

1920.
1921.
1922
1923.
1924

10,450,718
10,581,700
10,712,680
10,843,661
10,974,642

1.3
1.4
.7
1.3
1.4

The preceding table, amplified to some extent by returns for New
York City (see Table 9) fully confirms the downward trend of the
lead poisoning death rate in a section of the country in which leadusing industries are represented on a considerable scale. During
1915-1924 the rate for New York State decreased from 2.5 to 1.4
per million.
NEW YORK CITY

Table 9 presents data for the city of New York covering the period
1901-1924. It is a most illuminating return, in view of the enormous
building activity in New York, involving an exceptional amount of
exposure to the risk of lead poisoning on the part of painters,
plumbers, and others.
T a b l e 9 . — DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN THE C ITY OF NEW YORK,

1901 TO 1924, BY YEARS

Year

1901.........................
1902.........................
1903.........................
1904.........................
1905.........................
1906.........................
1907.........................
1908.........................
1909.........................
J910.........................
1911.........................
1912.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

7
13
7
18
8
9
11
10
15
18
16
16

2.0
3.5
1.9
4.5
1.9
2.1
2.5
2.2
3.2
3.8
3.3
3.2

3.544.000
3.665.000
3.781.000
3,971,422
4,104,977
4,238,532
4,372,087
4,505,642
4,639,197
4,772,752
4,862,057
4,951,362

4682°—27----- 2




Year

1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.

Population

5,040,667
5,129,972
5,219,277
5,308,582
5,397,887
5,487,192
5,576,497
5,665,803
5,755,107
5,844,411
5,933,715
6,023,019

Num­
ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
2.8
2.3
2.5
1.9
2.8

2.6
1.6
1.2
1.2
.9
1.5

1.2

6

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

While the population of New York City in the 20 years from 1904
to 1924 increased 54.6 per cent, the actual number of deaths from
lead poisoning decreased from 18 in 1904 to 7 in 1924, while the rela­
tive frequency rate decreased from 4.5 to 1.2 per million. During
1925 there were 5 deaths from chronic lead poisoning in the city of
New York in an estimated population of 6,877,000, or 0.7 per million.
BUFFALO, N. Y.

Returns for the city of Buffalo, presented in Table 10, are equally
suggestive of a decided diminution in deaths from lead poisoning
during the period 1914-1924. There were six deaths from lead
poisoning during the first five years and only three during the last,
regardless of an increase in lead-using industries. It would have
been interesting to have had an extended and detailed statement of
the lead-poisoning cases of Niagara Falls, where certain lead-using
industries with a high degree of hazard are in operation on a large
scale. Unfortunately, the data can not be furnished by the local
board of health, but some information has been obtained through the
State department of labor and will be dealt with later. The local
hazard of Niagara Falls is particularly connected with the making of
electrical storage batteries, which seems to involve a special liability
to lead poisoning, but probably most cases are of a minor or mild
character, while the fatality rate has apparently been very low.
T a b l e 10.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN BUFFALO, N. Y.,1914 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

1914 ......................
1915 ....................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................
1919.........................

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

459,718
468,273
476,829
485,385
493,941
502,497

1
2
1
1
1
1

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

Year

2.2 ! 1920.........................
4.3 1921.......................
2.1 1922.........................
2.1 1923.........................
2.0 : 1924.........................
2.0
i

Population

511,053
519,608
528,163
536,718
545,273

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
9
0
0
2
1

3.7
1.8

OHIO

Table 11 shows data for the State of Ohio, covering the period
1913-1924. It is also suggestive of a decline in frequency, regardless
of the expansion of lead-using industries.
TABLE 11.— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN OHIO, 1913 TO 1924, BY YEARS

Year

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

1913
_.
1914
. .
1915
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918........................

5,095,042
5,197,250
5,299,458
5,401,666
5,503,874
5,506,082

12
12
9
18
13
6

2.4
2.3
1.7
3.3
2.4
1.1




Year

Population

1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923.........................
1924.........................

5,708,290
5,810,498
5,912,706
6,014,914
6,117,122
6,200,000

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
10
10
13
7
8
11

1.8
1.7
2.2
1.2
1.3
1.8

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

7

PENNSYLVANIA

Quite similar are the returns shown in Table 12 for the State of
Pennsylvania, where the frequency rate has decreased from a maxi­
mum of 2.8 per million in 1916 and 1917 to 2.1 per million in 1924.
T a b l e 12.—DEATHS FROM OHRONIO LEAD POISONING IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1913 TO

1924, BY YEARS

Year

1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.................... —
1917............ ............
1918.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

8,013,727
8,122,387
8,231,047
8,339,707
8,448,367
8,557,027

17
17
15
23
24
12

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
2.1
2.1
1.8
2.8
2.8
1.4

Year

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

1919.........................
1920 .
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923J........................
1924.........................

8,665,687
8,774,347
8,883,006
8,991,666
9,100,326
9,208,986

19
9
13
11
12
19

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
2.2
1.0
1.5
1.2
1.3
2.1

PROVIDENCE, R. I.

Table 13 shows the lead poisoning deaths for the city of Provi­
dence, in which, however, such deaths have been of extremely rare
occurrence.
T able

13.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN PROVIDENCE, R. I., 1913
TO 1924, BY YEARS

Year

191 3
191 4
191 5
191 6
1917_.......................
1918.........................

Population

228,710
230,077
231,444
232,811
234,178
235,545

Num­
ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

0
0
0
1 ...........4.3
0
1

Year

191
192
192
192
192
192

9
0
1
2
3
4

Death
Num­ rate per
Population ber of 1,000,000
deaths
POt?o ^
236,912
238,279
239,635
241,011
242,388
244,000

1
0
0

4.2

?

.......... 4.1

MAINE

In somewhat curious contrast to the foregoing are the lead poison­
ing returns for the State of Maine, presented in Table 14, which
show an increase from 29 deaths during the six years ending with
1918 to 37 deaths during the six years ending with 1924. The average
rate for these groups of years has increased from 6.4 to 8 per million.
T a b l e 14.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN M AINE, 1913 TO 1924, BY

YEARS

Year

1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
pojula-

4
5
4
4
7
6

5.5
6.6
5.3
5.3
9.2
6.5

750,840
753,482
756,124
758,766
761,406
764,050




Year

1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.................
1923.........................
1924.........................

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

766,692
769,334
771,976
774,617
777,259
779,900

10
4
3
10
3
7

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
13.0
5.2
3.9
12.9
3.9
9.0

8

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

In Maine very few deaths from chronic lead poisoning are due
to industrial causes, practically all the deaths being the result of
water contamination from lead pipes. As will be shown later the
lead-poisoning hazard in Maine is largely concentrated in two
counties, where most of the deaths have occurred.
NEW HAMPSHIRE

Much the same conclusions apply to the State of New Hampshire,
where, in proportion to the population, the mortality from lead
poisoning is also excessive, although the actual number of deaths is
relatively small. Table 15 gives the facts for the years 1913 to 1924.
T a b l e 15.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN NEW HAM PSH IRE, 1913 TO

1924, BY YEARS

Year

1913 ......................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

434,712
436,000
437,288
438,576
439,864
441,152

4
1
2
6
4
0

9.2
2.3
4.6
13.7
9.1

Year

1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.......................
1923......................
1924.........................

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

442,440
413,726
445,016
446,304
447,592
448,882

1
1
1
3
1
2

Death
rate per
1,000,000

2.3
2.3
2.2
6.7
2.2
4.5

The preceding table, however, indicates a substantial reduction
in the frequency rate during recent years, although the returns for
1924 are suggestive of a continued risk, the entire elimination of
which is, of course, a matter of great practical difficulty.
CONNECTICUT

Table 16 includes fragmentary returns for the State of Connecticut,
covering the period 1910-1918, suggestive of a decline in the rate during
the later years of the period as compared with earlier years.
T a b l e 16.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN CONNECTICUT, 1910 TO

1918, BY YEARS

Year

1910.......................
1911.........................
1912.........................
1913.........................
1914.........................

i Death
Num- | rate per
Population ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
1,122,512
1,149,898
1,177,284
1,204,670
1,232,056

1
6
4
7
2

0.9
5.2
3.4
5.8
1.6

Year

1915.........................
1916..... ...................
1917.........................
1918.........................

Population

1,259,442
1,286,828
1,314,214
1,341,600

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
2
1
1
2

1.6
.8
.8
1.6

WISCONSIN

Table 17, for the State of Wisconsin, covers the period ending
with 1924 and suggests a material decrease in the mortality from
chronic lead poisoning in that State.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

9

T a b l e 1 7 .— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN WISCONSIN, 1914 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................
1919.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

2.463,130
2,493,846
2,524,562
2,555,278
2,565,994
2,616,710

3
l
3
10
3
0

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
1.2
.4
1.2
3.9
1.2

Year

Population

Num­
ber of
deaths

1920.........................
1921...................... .
1922.........................
1923.........................
1924.........................

2,647,426
2,678,142
2,708,559
2,739,574
2,300,000

3
4
2
1
15

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
1.1
1.5
.7
.4
2.2

1 Deaths due to mineral inhalation containing lead.

In addition to the preceding statistics for the United States and
certain selected States and cities, I am able to include some returns
for foreign countries which will be found both interesting and valuable.
CANADA

Table 18 is for the Dominion of Canada, covering the registration
area of that country for the period 1921-1924. The rate has been
relatively low, the deaths being largely concentrated in the Province
of Ontario, as shown in Table 19.
T a b l e 1 8 .— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN CANADA, 1921 TO 1924, BY

YEARS

Number
Population of
deaths

Year

1921...........................................................................................................
1922................................................................................. ........................
1923............................................................................................................
1924....................................................... ...................................................

8,788,483
8.900.000
9,000,000
9.100.000

Death rate
per
1,000,000
population

3
4
5
6

0.3
.4
.6
.7

ONTARIO

Ontario statistics covering the period 1913-1924, shown in Table 19,
are indicative of a slight tendency toward a diminishing rate of fre­
quency, more or less corresponding to the observed decline in this
country.
T a b l e 1 9 .— DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN ONTARIO, 1913 TO 1924, BY

YEARS

Year

1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

1
1
4
5
5
3

0.4
.4
1.5
1.8
1.8
1.1

2,605,352
2,646,390
2,687,429
2,728,468
2,769,507
2,810,546




Year

1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923.........................
1924.........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

2,851,584
2,892,623
2,933,662
2,981,182
3,028,907
3,062,000

l
2
1
4
3

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
0.4
.7
.3
1.3
1.0

10

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

GREAT BRITAIN

For Great Britain, data are available from two different sources:
First, there are the returns of cases and‘deaths made annually by
the Chief Inspector of Factories, and second, the returns of deaths
from chronic lead poisoning as returned by the Registrar General.
The former, of course, cover only the employed population, while
the latter cover all ages and both sexes. Table 20 gives a report of
the cases of lead poisoning for 1914 to 1923 according to the returns
of the Chief Factory Inspector, differentiating important industries
and employments. The returns are particularly suggestive as
indicating a decline in the frequency of lead poisoning among house
painters and house plumbers.
T a b l e BO.—NUM BER OF CASES OF CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN FACTORIES AN D

WORKSHOPS IN GREAT BRITAIN , 1914 TO 1923, BY YEARS
1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

Smelting of metals...................................
Plumbing and soldering...........................
Printing....................................................
File cutting and hardening......................
Tinning and metals....................... _........
Other contact with molten lead_______
White and red lead works........................
Pottery.....................................................
Vitreous enameling-................................
Electric storage batteries............ ..........
Paint and color works..............................
India rubber.............................................
Coach building. .......................................
Shipbuilding....................... ....................
Paints used in other industries...............
Other industries......................................

36
27
23
11
10
21
35
28
11
41
21
9
57
31
39
45

47
17
27
2
3
16
48
26
5
64
12
8
39
18
16
33

39
12
12
8
4
29
33
23
5
44
22
9
33
25
20
30

46
34
6
4
2
27
30
15
1
27
10
8
21
19
20
47

15
24
8
2
2
7
2
11

T otal..............................................

445

381

348

317

144

108
23

52
20

43
14

Industry

House painters i_..................................... ! 207
House plumbers *..... ...............................
34
!

i

i

1919 |1920
24

1
0!
io !

0!
2 ;
9
25
21
1
48
11
5
11
8
9
13

16
3
7
12
9
15
11

25 ]

207

243

37

46
10

3

10!

45
6
9
3
2
13
28
25
2
47
9
7
13
9
10
15

1921

1922

25
14
12

9
25
11

19
46
6

1
7
17
35
8
35
13
4
20
4
12
23

2
15
22
42
3
32
14
3
15
12
23
19

2
12
37
44
5
95
11
5
13
8
21
13

230 |
1 247

337

42 !1 40 |
8
!
18 i

i

1923

53
17

* Not compulsorily reportable under the factory and workshop act, 1901.

Table 21 gives the deaths from lead poisoning as reported by the
Chief Inspector of Factories in an identical manner.
T a b l e 21.—NUM BER OF DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN FACTORIES

AND WORKSHOPS IN GREAT BRITAIN, 1914 TO 1923, BY YEARS
Industry

Smelting of metals....................................
Plumbing and soldering ..
.
___
Printing................. .................................
File cutting and hardening..
____ _
Other contact with molten le a d ............
White and red lead works. .................. .
Pottery......................................................
VitreoUS ftnamftUng__________ _________
Electric storage batteries..
Paint and color works..............................
India rubber.............................................
Coach building........ ...... ........................ Shipbuilding..... ................ ......................
Paints used in other industries............ .
Other industries.......................................

1914
3
2
1
1
2
1
6

4
5

1915
1
2
3

4
1

1916
4
2
1
1
7

1917

1918
i

1
3
1

1919

1920

1921

1922

5

3
1

4

2

1
2
1 |
I
1
I

1
i
8
j
1
7 i!.....
i
1
1 1
2
i
_____i_____ 1_____
3
2 ! 32
2
3
i !
3
5
1
1
2

4

5
2
2
1

Total...............................................

29

21

21

21 i

House painters *.......................................
House plumbers *.....................................

35
4

29
8

15
5

13
5

11
13
7

* Not compulsorily reportable under the factory and workshop act, 1901.




1

1
2
13
2

1

1
1
1
11
1
1
1
1

1923
2
1
1
1

2
17

11

1

2
1

1
1
2

3
1

1

2

26

23

23

26

25

16
1

21
6

15
4

12
5

17
7

DEATHS PROM LEAD POISONING

11

In amplification of the foregoing statistics on lead poisoning for
Great Britain I am able, through the courtesy of the Chief Inspector
of Factories, to present a table of statistics for the period 1900-1925,
which is also indicative of a decided downward trend in cases of lead
poisoning in both fatal and nonfatal form. Table 22 is for all the
principal industries in which the disease is most likely to occur, but
does not include house painters and plumbers, for whom the return
of information is not obligatory.
T a b l e 2 2 . — N U M BER OF CASES OF LEAD POISONING IN GREAT BRITAIN, 1900 TO 1925,

BY YEARS AND OCCUPATIONS

Occupation or industry

1900

Average, Average, Average,
1915-1917 1918-1920 1921-1923

Smelting and refining___ ______ ______________
Plumbing and soldering_______________ ______
Ship breaking.................... ...................................
Printing____ _____ ____ _____________________
Tinning..................................................................
Other contact with molten lead...........................
White and red lead works_________ ____ ______
Vitreous enameling.______ __________ ____ ___
Potteries.............................. ......... ........................
Electric storage batteries......................................
Paints and colors_____ ___ __________________
India rubber____ _______________ ____________
Coach building............................................ .........
Shipbuilding................................................... ......
Paints used in other industries________________
Other industries....................................................

34
9

44
21

18
5
30
377
11
210
33
56
1
70
32
50
122

Total............................................................

1,058

1924

15
3
24
37
4
21
45
15
8
31
20
19
42

28
11
2
9
2
10
18
1
19
37
8
6
12
9
11
15

18
8
21
10
2
U
24
5
40
54
13
4
16
8
19
18

38
6
131
6
3
23
20
9
47
101
15
3
30
8
24
22

349

198

271

486

1925
22
7
31
8
4
17
19
9
47
73
8
2
23
13

}

43
326

Excluding house painters and plumbers, for whom notification is
not obligatory, the number of cases of lead poisoning in 1925 was
326, as against 486 in 1924; in 1900, however, the number of such
cases was 1,058. The number of deaths from lead poisoning in
1925 was only 13 against 32 in 1924 and 38 in 1900.
In the smelting of metals there were 22 cases in 1925 against 38
in 1924. In plumbing and soldering there were 7 in 1925 and 6 in
1924. In ship breaking, which no doubt had to do chiefly with dis­
mantling of ships after the war, there occurred 31 cases in 1925
and 131 cases in 1924. In printing there were 8 cases in 1925 and
6 in 1924; in 1900, however, the number of such cases was 18. In
the manufacture of white and red lead there occurred 19 cases in
1925 and 20 in 1924; in 1900, however, the number of such cases
was 377 with 6 deaths, as against 1 death in 1925. In the pottery
industry there occurred 47 cases in 1925 and the same number in
1924; in 1900, however, the number of such cases was 210. The
number of deaths in the pottery industry in 1925 was^5 as against 18
in 1924. The indications are that since 1915 conditions in this respect
in the pottery industry have not improved but rather grown worse.
In the manufacture of electric storage batteries there were 73
cases in 1925 against 101 cases in 1924; in 1900, however, the num­
ber of such cases was only 33. In the manufacture of paints and
colors there were 8 cases in 1925 and 15 in 1924; in 1900 there were
56. In the manufacture of india rubber there were 2 cases in 1925
and 3 in 1924, as against an average of 8 cases during the period




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

12

1915-1917. In coach building, which has reference chiefly to paint­
ing and enameling, there were 23 cases in 1925, as against 30 cases
in 1924; an average of 90 cases occurred in this industry during
1909-1911. In shipbuilding there were 13 cases in 1925, as against
8 in 1924.
With reference to house painters and plumbers, it is said that for
1925 information was obtained for 89 cases of lead poisoning with
9 deaths among house painters and that the corresponding number
for 1915 was 108 cases with 29 deaths.
ENGLAND AND WALES

The returns of the Registrar General for England and Wales,
shown in Table 23, cover the period 1908-1922, differentiating the
sexes and in the summary the occupational and nonoccupational
cases, suicides, and accidents.
Table 23.—DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING, ENGLAND AND WALES, 1908 TO 1922, BY
YEARS
Number of deaths

Year

1908...............
1909...............
1910...............
1911...............
1912...............
1913...............
1914...............
1915...............
1916...............

Number of deaths

Death
rate per
1,000,000 Occupa­
Fe­ Total popula­ tional
Males males
tion
105
90
82
108
108
87
84
71
57

12
14
11
13
9
6
6
1
4

117
104
93
121
117
93
90
72
61

3.33
2.34
2.60
3.34
3.21
2.54
2.44
2.04
1.76

105
91
86
110
106
81
79
67 ;
54 |

Year

Death
rate per

1,000,000 Occupa­
tional

Fe­ Total popula­
Males males
tion

1917..
1918..
1919..
1920..
1921..
1922..

1.75
1.08
1.36
1.62
1.58
1.42
Total.. 1,087

50
36
48
61
58
48

101 1,188

Su m m a r y

Occupational, males................................................................................................................................. 1,046
Occupational, females...............................................................................................................................
34
Nonoccupational................................... ...................................................................................................
67
Accidents...................................................................................................................................................
36

It is explained in this connection by the Registrar General that:
Before 1911 chronic nonoccupational poisonings were listed to violence. The
nonoccupational chronic poisonings of females prior to 1918 were probably due
to the use of diachylon as an abortifacient. In 1917 the sale of diachylon was
restricted by its being scheduled as a poison. Some lead deaths before 1917 are
omitted owing to. their being classed as criminal abortion without distinction of
lead as the agent/
SCOTLAND

Through the kindness of the Registrar General of Scotland I have
been furnished with the returns for that country, covering the period
1917-1924, and they are presented in Table 24. Chronic lead poison­
ing is obviously a disease of much less frequency in Scotland than in
England.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

13

T a b l e 2 4 . —DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN SCOTLAND, 1911 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Estimated population

Deaths from lead poisoning

Males

Rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

4
2
2
3
4
4
3
4
3
2
3
2
3
1

1.7
.9
.9
1.3
1.7
1.7
1.3
1.7
1.3
.9
1.3
.8
1.3
.4

Year

1911...............................................................
1912...............................................................
1913...............................................................
1914...............................................................
1915...............................................................
1916..............................................................
1917...............................................................
1918...............................................................
1919...............................................................
1920...............................................................
1921...............................................................
1922...............................................................
1923...............................................................
1924...............................................................

Males

Females

2,304,100
2,300,941
2,295,370
2,307,334
2,312,946
2,318,722
2,320,493
2,308,024
2,313,600
2,337,010
2,347,642
2,358,201
2,356,587
2,347,228

2,447,032
2,440,136
2,431,762
2,439,833
2,457,852
2,475,986
2,489,845
2,504,250
2,506,477
2,527,386
2,534,855
2,546,255
2,544,513
2,534,409

Fe­
males

Rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

11
21

0.4
.4

» Female child, age 4 months; it is stated that “ the mother vfas using lead nipple shields.”
* Wife of a railway surfaceman, age 53.

AUSTRALIA

From the Commonwealth of Australia I have been able to secure
returns of chronic lead poisoning for the period 1913-1924, as shown
in Table 25.
T a b l e 25.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN AUSTRALIA, 1913 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918........................*

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

4.800.000
4.900.000
5.000.000
5.000.000
5.000.000
5.000.000

10
6
11
18
18
10

Death
rate per
1,000,000

2,1
1.2
2.2
3.6
3.6
2.0

Year

1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923.........................
1924.........................

Death
Num­ rate per
Population ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
5.200.000
5.400.000
5.500.000
5.600.000
5.700.000
5.800.000

18
13
20
25
22
26

3.5
2.4
3.5
4.5
3.9
4.5

In Australia the rate has shown a tendency to increase rather than
to decrease, though the situation is more or less stationary.
NEW ZEALAND

Lead poisoning is relatively uncommon in New Zealand, where
lead-using industries are not developed on a large scale, but Table
26 gives the returns for 1912 to 1923.
T a b l e 2 6 . —DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN N EW ZEALAN D, 1912 TO 1923'

B Y YEARS

Year

1912.........................
1913..........................
1914.........................
1915..........................
1916.........................
1917..........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

1,052,627
1,084,662
1,095,994
1,102,794
1,100,563
1,097,672

4682°—27---3




Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion

2

1.8

3

2.7

Year

Population

1918.........................
1919.........................
1920.........................
1921.........................
1922.........................
1923.........................

1,108,373
1,177,405
1,207,835
1,239,966
1,265,397
1,290,000

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
1
3
1

0.9
2.5
.8

1
1

.8
.6

14

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

ITALY

There is also included in the present discussion a rather interesting
return on chronic lead-poisoning deaths in Italy covering the period
1908-1915, later records being as yet unavailable. It is shown by
Table 27 that the rate has not been excessive, but corresponds in
a general way with the rate for this country, while there is apparently
a slight decrease.
T a b l e £ 7 . —DEATHS FROM

Year

1908 ........................
1909 ........................
1910.........................
1911.........................

CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN IT A LY , 1908 TO 1915, B Y
YEARS

Num­
Population ber of
deaths

33,826,688
34,077,068
34,376,610
34,688,814

58
64
57
54

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
1.7
1.9
1.7
1.6

Year

Population

1912.........................
1913.........................
1914.........................
1915.........................

35,026,486
35,418,391
35,858,951
36,394,325

Death
Num­ rate per
ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
70
56
48
55

2.0
1.6
1.3
1.5

PARIS, FRANCE

Finally, I include in the foreign statistics Table 28, covering deaths
from chronic lead poisoning in Paris during the period 1908-1919.
T a b l e 28.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD

POISONING IN PARIS, 1908 TO 1919, B Y
YEARS

Year

1908_____ _________
1909 ....... ..............
1910..........................
1911_____ ________
1912.........................
1913........................

Num­
Population ber of
deaths
2,772,530
2,797,430
2,822,329
2,888,110
2,889,946
2,891,782

20
30
20
15
14
18

Death
rate per
1,000,000
popula­
tion
7.2
10.7
7.1
5.2
4.8
6.2

Year

1914.........................
1915.........................
1916.........................
1917.........................
1918.........................
1919.........................

Death
Num­ rate per
Population ber of 1,000,000
deaths popula­
tion
2,893,618
2,895,454
2,897,291
2,899,127
2,900,983
2,902,799

10
8
12
8
5
9

3.5
2.8
4.1
2.8
1.7
3.1

The returns for Paris also indicate a material decline during the
period under observation, corresponding to the observed decline
in chronic lead poisoning in this country.
OPPELN, GERMANY

Efforts were made to secure statistics for Germany, but the data
furnished are not so comprehensive as would be desirable. Table 29
gives a record of sickness^ experience of persons employed in lead
smelters in the administrative district of Oppeln.
T a b l e 3 9 . — CASES OF LEAD POISONING IN LEAD SM ELTERS I N T H E A D M IN ISTR A ­

TIVE D ISTR IC T OF OPPELN, G E R M AN Y, 1903 TO 1912, B Y YEARS

Year
1903..........................
1904..........................
1905..........................
1906..........................
1908..........................




Number Number
of
workers of cases
875
912
999
897
828

340
321
329
190
165

Case rate
per 1,000
workers
388.6
352.0
329.3
211.8
199.3

Year
1909.........................
1910.........................
1911.........................
1912.........................

Number Number Case rate
of
per 1,000
workers of cases workers
834
803
798
822

106
204
224
277

127.1
254.0
280.7
337.0

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

15

PART IL— ANALYSIS OF DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD
POISONING IN THE UNITED STATES REGISTRATION
AREA, 1914-1924

For the purpose of a reasonably thorough study of the recent
chronic lead poisoning situation, I decided upon a detailed examina­
tion of the original death certificates representing the recorded
mortality in the United States registration area during the 11
years 1914 to 1924. Through the courtesy of William M. Davis,
chief of the division of vital statistics of the United States Bureau
of the Census, I was able to obtain transcripts of original death
certificates comprehending the entire recorded mortality frotn
chronic lead poisoning during the 11 years under observation, repre­
sented by 1,592 deaths. This mortality was found to have been
distributed, by principal occupations or otherwise, as follows:
T a b l e 30.—OCCUPATIONAL

DISTRIBU TION OF DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD
POISONING, U NITED STATES REGISTRATION AREA, 1914 TO 1924

Occupation

Lead workers________________________
Metal miners__ . . . ________________ . . .
Painters-____ . . . . . ___________________
Paint mixers__ . . . . . . _________________
Plumbers____________________________
Potters and tile workers_____________
Rubber workers._______ _____________
Storage battery workers_______________
Printers_____________________________
Tin and coppersmiths
Glass industry_____ __________________
Metal workers...... ....................................

Number
of deaths
62
35
841
15
25
13
3
5

67
g
9
23

Occupation

Carpenters and joiners________________
Laborers_________________ . . . ________
Farmers___ __________ ______________
Professional________________________
Miscellaneous______ _________________
Unknown or retired__________________
W omen _______________________ ______
Boys under 1 8 .. ______ __________________
Girls under 18........................................ .........
T o t a l .................................

Number
of deaths
18
93
61
29
114
103
48
11
8
1,592

As far as known, this is the first definite statement of its kind
ever published revealing the true extent of the mortality from chronic
lead poisoning among the American people. It brings out the
startling fact that a considerable proportion of the deaths are non­
industrial or not connected directly with lead-using industries.
This conclusion will be more clearly emphasized in a detailed analysis
of the different 21 groups. It will certainly prove a surprise that
48 of the deaths should have occurred among women a and 19 of the
deaths among boys and girls under 18 years of age. Of particular
interest also is the relative frequency of chronic lead poisoning
among farmers, who are, of course rarely exposed to the risk of
industrial lead poisoning, except occasionally in connection with
painting jobs done on the farm.
• With reference to the liability of women to lead poison, it may be said that excepting five deaths, all
the deceased were nonindustrial. Of the five deaths, one was a school tcacher, one a florist, one a
weaver, one a dressmaker, and one a waitress, all involving no industrial occupational lead hazard.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

16

A question of considerable interest is the age distribution at death
from the disease, which will be dealt with in each and every group
individually, but which is here briefly summarized in Table 31.
T a b l e 3 1 . — AVERAG E AGE A T D EATH FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914-1924,

B Y OCCUPATION

Occupation

Lead workers..............
Metal miners..............
Painters.......................
Paint mixers................
Plumbers.....................
Potters.........................
Rubber workers...............
Storage battery workers..
Printers.......................
Tin and coppersmiths....
Glass industry............
Metal workers_______

Aver­
Num­ Aggre­
gate
age age
ber of years
at
death
deaths of life (years)
62
35
841
15
25
13

3

5
67
9
9

2,808
1,507
43,165
659
1,205
588
141
228
3,044
438
345
987

45.3
43.1
51.3
43.9
48.2
45.2
47.0
45.6
45.4
48.7
38.3
42.9

Occupation

Num­ Aggre­ Aver­
gate age age
ber of
years at death
deaths of
life (years)

Carpenters and joiners...
Laborers_______________
Farmers..____________ _
Professional_________ __
Miscellaneous_________ .
Unknown______________
Women_______________„
Boys under 18_____ ___. . .
Girls under 18_________ . . .

18
93
61
29
114
103
48
11
8

1,035
3,894
3,460
1,463
5,396
5,440
2,485
84
41

57.5
41.9
56.7
50.4
47.3
52.8
51.8
7.6
5.1

Total...... ................

1,592

78,413

49.3

According to this tabulation the average age at death in 1,592 fatal
cases of chronic lead poisoning was 49.3 years, while, leaving out
of consideration boys and girls, the average was as high as 57.5
years for carpenters and joiners and as low as 38.3 years for the
glass industry. The boys and girls were mostly little children who
accidentally contracted lead poisoning as the result of reckless
exposure.
LEAD WORKERS

In the group of lead workers there occurred 62 cases, distributed as
follows:
At smelting plants there occurred 28 deaths, of an aggregate age
of 1,334 years and an average age of 47 years. Some of the smelting
operations were unquestionably merely incidental to other lead plants
while most of the smelters were probably chiefly devoted to lead
production processes. Other smelting plants were in connection
with silver and zinc smelting. The largest number of deaths in
any one State occurred in smelting plants in Utah, where there
were 9 deaths, mostly in and about Salt Lake City. A specific
occupation mentioned is “ yard foreman,” but the remainder of the
deaths were of laborers. There were 3 deaths in Colorado, one of
which occurred at a silver smelter; 2 in Kansas, 2 in Nebraska, 4
in Missouri, 1 each in Washington and Texas, 2 in Illinois, 3 in
Essex County, N. J., and 1 in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Of deaths of lead workers not otherwise specified, practically all
common laborers, there were 19, and of this number 5 were colored
persons, most of whom were employed in East St. Louis and in Essex
County* N. J.
Four deaths were returned of lead burners, 2 of whom were em­
ployed in New Jersey, 1 in Maryland, and 1 in Indiana. There
were only 8 deaths of persons (2 of whom were colored) directly con­




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

17

nected with white lead plants, as far as it is possible to judge from
the certificates. One of the plants in question was located in Essex
County, N. J.; 2 in Cook County, N. Y.; 1 in Philadelphia; 2 in
St. Louis; 1 at Anderson, Mo.; and 1 in Madison County, 111. One
of the persons was a fireman, 1 was a packer, and 1 was a foreman
and the remainder were laborers.
One person died from chronic lead poisoning while employed in a
lead-dipping shed in a cutter factory in Michigan, and 1 was a lead
puller at a white lead works in East St. Louis. Finally, there was 1
person engaged in spraying lead who died from chronic lead poison­
ing in Detroit. In Table 32 is given the age distribution at death
of lead workers from chronic lead poisoning, which will be useful for
comparative purposes. The lowest age at death was 17 years and
the highest age 78.
T a b l e 33.—DEATHS OF LE AD

Age group

Under 20 years_______________
20 to 29 years_________________
30 to 39 years
40 to 49 y e a rs___ ____ ______ _
50 to 59 years_________- _____ —

W ORKERS FROM CHRONIC LE AD POISONING, BY
AGE GROUPS

Num­
ber

Per cent

2
6
15
16
9

3.2
9.7
24.2
25.8
14.5

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

60 to 69 years___________
70 years and over__________ . . .

13
1

21.0
1.6

Total. ............................

62

100.0

MINERS

Among miners there were 35 deaths from chronic lead poisoning,
excluding 1 death of a coal miner, which was included in miscellaneous
occupations. The mining occupations represented by this group
were as follows:
Number
of deaths

Mining and quartz mining________________________________
Silver lead mines_________________________________________
Lead mines______________________________________________
Jiggerman in mines_______________________________________
Laborer in mines_________________________________________
Zinc miner______________________________________________

28
2
2
1
1
1

Total_____________________________________________

35

By States the distribution of the deaths have been as follows:
California, 2; Washington, 3; Colorado, 4; Utah, 14; Montana, 1;
Kansas, 3; Missouri, 5; Illinois, 1; Virginia, 1; and Florida, 1. The
14 deaths in Utah were distributed by locality as follows: Salt Lake,
7; Summit County, 3; Toole County, 2; Wasatchie County, 1; and
Jordan County, 1. The Missouri deaths occurred in St. Louis (2),
Jasper County (2), and Jefferson County (1). Of the total deaths
12 were persons of foreign birth, 5 having been bom in Austria, 2 in
Finland, 1 in Poland, 1 in Russia, 1 in Germany, 1 in Denmark, and
1 in England. The number of deaths of single persons was 11 and
of married persons 24. By divisional periods of life the ages at death
follows.




18

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

T a b l e 3 3 . — DEATHS

OF M IN ERS FROM CHRONIC LE AD POISONING, B Y AGE
GROUPS

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

6
9
11
4

17.1
25.7
31.4
11.4

20 to 29 years__ __ . __ ____ . __
30 to 39 years____ __. . . _______
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years_. ___ _____. . __

Num­
ber

Age group

Per cent

60 to 69 years_____ ____ ____ . . .
70 years and over___ __ ____ . . .

4
1

11.4
2.9

Total_________ _________

35

100.0

The aggregate number of years lived by the 35 miners was 1,507,
giving an average age of 43.1 years. The deaths occurring in the
individual years were as follows: 1914, 6; 1915, 6; 1916, 4; 1917, 4;
1918, 3 (1914-1918, 23); 1919, 1; 1920, 4; 1921, 2; 1922, 2; 1923, 2
(1919-1923, 11); 1924, 1—making a total of 35 deaths.
PAINTERS

Deaths from chronic lead poisoning among painters represent ap­
proximately one-half of the total mortality during the period under
observation. There were in the aggregate 841 deaths of painters
distributed during the period 1914-1924, as follows:
T a b l e 34.—DEATHS OF PAINTERS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914-1924, BY

YEARS

Year or period

Aver­
Num­ Aggre­
age age
gate
ber of years
at
death
deaths of life
(years)

1914...................................
1915...................... —.........
1916...................................
1917...................................
1918...................................

81
85
99
75
67

3,992
4,266
5,096
3,790
3,440

49.3
50.2
51.5
50.5
51.3

Total, 1914-1918....

407

20,584

506

Year or period

Aver­
Num­ Aggre­
gate age age
ber of years
at
deaths of life death
(years)

1919...................................
1920...................................
1921...................................
1922...................................
1923...................................

72
67
73
74
74

3,812
3,430
3,771
3,834
3,845

52.9
51.2
51.7
51.8
52.0
51.9

Total, 1919-1923.__

360

18,692

1924...................................

74

3,889

52.6

Total, 1914-1924....

841

43,165

51.3

It is shown that the average age at death has increased from 49.3
years in 1914 to 52.6 years in 1924. During the first five years of the
period the average age at death was 50.6 years, while during the
five years ending with 1923 it was 51.9 years. Distributed by
divisional periods of life, the mortality has been as follows:
TABLE 35.—DEATHS OF PAINTERS FROM CHRONIC LE AD POISONING, 1914-1924, BY

AGE GROUPS

Deaths
Age group

20 to 29 years______ ______
30 to 39 years..___________
iA t.AAQvpArfi
60 to 59 y e a r s ......._______




Num­
ber
33
112
214
257

Per
cent
3.9
13.3
25.4
30.6

Aggre­
gate
years
of life

858
3,958
9,550
14,011

Deaths
Age group

Num­
ber

Per
cent

Aggre­
gate
years
of life

60 to 69 years_____________
70 to 79 years_____. . . . ____

179
46

21.3
5.5

11,454
3,334

Total..........................

841

100.0

43,165

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

19

The geographical distribution of deaths from chronic lead poisoning
among painters during the period 1914-1924 is given in Table 36.
T able

3 6 . — GEOGRAPHICAL

DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS OF
CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914-1924
Number
of deaths

State
Connecticut.......................
Rhode Island.....................
Massachusetts...................
New Hampshire................
Vermont.............................
Maine.__.......................... .
Total, New England

131

New York..........................
New Jersey........................ .
Pennsylvania......................

127
52
96

Total........................ .

275

Ohio...................................
Illinois................................ .
Indiana.............................. .
Michigan........................... .
Wisconsin............................
Minnesota.........................
Iow a ................................. .
Nebraska........................... .
Missouri..............................
Kansas............................... .
Total, Central West

242

PAINTERS, FROM

Number
of deaths

State
District of Columbia............
Maryland..............................
Virginia............- ...................
West Virginia.......................
Tennessee..............................
Kentucky............................ .
North Carolina.....................
South Carolina.....................
Georgia................................
Florida..................................
Alabama..............................
Mississippi............................
Louisiana..............................
Texas.....................................

16
9

5
16
9

2
7

12
9
11

5
4
4

1

Total, Southern States

110

California.......... ..................
Oregon...................................
Washington...........................
Colorado................................
Utah......................................
Montana...............................
Hawaii...................................

54
5
14
5

Total, Pacific coast___

83

2
2
1

Grand total.................

It would have been of interest had it been possible to have given
frequency rates in proportion to the total number of painters ex­
posed to risk. But such a calculation is not possible in the absence
of accurate information regarding the geographical distribution of
painters for the period under observation. It is possible, however,
to work out an approximate death rate of painters from chronic
lead poisoning on the basis of the available membership of painters’
unions as given in the report on The Growth of American Trade
Unions, by Leo Wolman, published by the National Bureau of
Economic Research in 1924. This, of course, does not make allow­
ance for the painters not connected with labor organizations, but
their number in proportion to the total is probably relatively small.
In any event, it will be sufficient to make allowance for this omis­
sion and consider that the rate is somewhat understated throughout
the period under observation.
T a b l e 37.—CHRONIC LEAD POISONING:

DEATH RATES OF PAINTERS, BASED ON
T R A D E-UNION M EM BERSHIP, 1914 TO 1924, BY YEARS

Year

1914...................................
1915...................................
1916...................................
1917...................................
1918...................... ............
1919...................................




Tradeunion Total
mem­ num­
ber of
ber­
ship deaths

74,400
75,300
78,200
85,200
84,500
82,700

81
85
99
75
67
72

Death
rate
per
1,000
union
mem­
bers
1.09
1.13
1.27
.88
79
.87

Year

1920...................................
1921...................................
1922...................................
1923................................
1924__ _ _____________

Trade- Total
union
mem­ num­
ber of
ber­
ship deaths

103,100
113,300
97.800
92.800
93,500

67
73
74
74
74

Death
rate
per
1,000
union
mem­
bers
0.65
.64
.76
80
.79

20

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

Granting the inherent deficiencies of this tabulation the results
are nevertheless of considerable interest as suggestive of a measurable
decline in the relative frequency of chronic lead poisoning among
painters during the period 1914-1924.
It would, of course, serve no practical purpose to have worked
out frequency rates on the basis of the general population. But
for certain large cities some additional information may be of interest.
The number of deaths from chronic lead poisoning in Boston, Mass.,
during the period under observation was 16. In New York City
it was 69, distributed by boroughs as follows: Manhattan, 27;
Brooklyn, 24; Bronx, 9; Queens, 7; Richmond, 2.
In Philadelphia there were 24 deaths; in Newark, 8; in Cincin­
nati, 9; in Cleveland, 16; in Columbus, 6; in San Francisco, 13;
and in Los Angeles, 7. For other cities the numbers are too small to
justify extended consideration.
The economic loss from chronic lead poisoning is, of course, partly
proportionate to the marital condition. It has therefore seemed of
some value to extract from the data the information as regards the
married and single, with the following results. Of the 841 deaths
from chronic lead poisoning among painters 134 were of single persons
while 707 were of married, widowed, or divorced; in other words, the
proportion of the unmarried was 15.9 per cent. This proportion
can be compared with the proportion of the unmarried in other
important occupations.
The race factor is not apparently of much relative importance,
except in certain specified lead-using industries in which a con­
siderable number of negroes are employed. Whether the latter
have a lesser or greater liability to lead poisoning can not be deter­
mined. For painters I have extracted such information for the
Southern States only, and it shows that out of 110 deaths from
chronic lead poisoning 18 were deaths of colored persons. The
question of nativity is somewhat more significant, but here again
it is not possible to calculate frequency rates for the different racial
elements. As a matter of interest, the following information is,
however, included. Of the 841 deaths, 224 were deaths of painters
born in foreign countries, distributed as follows: Fifty-six were born
in Germany, 28 in Canada, 22 in Russia, 20 in Ireland, 20 in Sweden,
15 in England, 13 in Austria, 10 in Hungary, 9 in Norway, 6 in Italy,
4 in Denmark, 3 each in Scotland, Poland, and France, 2 each in
Finland, Rumania, Belgium, and Spain, and 1 each in Greece,
Switzerland, Holland, and China.
I have throughout proceeded upon the assumption that the present
methods of death certification are at least approximately complete
and scientifically correct. A careful examination of each and every
certificate leaves a question of doubt in a small number of cases in
which the word “ probably” is used, while in others circumstances
justify a suspicion of incorrectness. Examining the certificates with
particular reference to contributory causes or conditions it is evident
that the terms have been introduced convertibly as regards primary
and secondary causes; in other words, in some cases lead poisioning
is given as the primary cause and in others as the contributory cause.
But under a rule of statistical practice of the Census Office all such
certificates are listed in the final classification as deaths from chronic
lead poisoning which is assumed to be the primary cause through­




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

21

out. The contributory causes are of considerable interest, and they
have therefore been separately tabulated with the following results:
T a b l e 38.—C O N TRIBU TORY CAUSES OF DEATHS OF PAINTERS, FROM CHRONIC

L E AD POISONING, 1914-1919

Contributory causes

Num­ Aggre­
gate
ber of years
deaths of
life

Aver­
age
age at
death
(years)

9,499
5,908
3.320
2,378
2.320
1,999
1,923
1,118
1,254
881
558

49.2
52.3
58.2
45.7
52.7
52.6
54.9
48.6
54.5
51.8
50.7

452

50.2

Chronic and acute ne­
phritis...........................
Cardiovascular............... .
Arteriosclerosis............... .
Intestinal and digestive..
Respiratory.................... .
Apoplexy.........................
Anemia........................... .
Encephalitis................... .
Paralysis..........................
Liver diseases..................
Spinal cord..................... .
Tumors, benign, and ul­
cers.............................. .

193
113
57
52
44
38
35

Contributory causes

Aver­
Num­ Aggre­
age
gate
age at
ber of years
deaths of life death
(years)

Miscellaneous..................
No complications.............

9
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
49
152

450
190
149
125
116
108
57
41
2,589
7,730

50.0
47.5
49.7
41.7
58.0
54.0
57.0
41.0
52.8
50.9

Total.......................

841

43,165

51.3

Insanity...........................
Alcoholism.................. .
Diabetes...........................
Appendicitis....................
Leucaemia.......................
Drug addiction—.............
Tuberculosis............ ........

Chronic and acute nephritis.—The outstanding fact of the preceding
table is the predominating occurrence of acute and chronic nephritis
in complication with chronic lead poisoning. Since there is some
question as to the absolute accuracy of the statements it does not
seem advisable to separate acute from chronic nephritis cases or from
other renal complications. The average age at death in these cases
was 49.2 years, which compares with 51.3 years for all the cases
whether complicated or not.
Cardiovascular diseases.—The second most important complication
is the group of cardiovascular diseases, chiefly myocarditis. Here
again it has not seemed advisable to specify the different forms of
complications in the table but myocarditis appears to have been
more common than endocarditis. In a good proportion of cases
there was dilation of the heart, in others, mitral insufficiency, and in
still others, cardiac asthma or aortic insufficiency. In 11 cases chronic
lead poisoning was complicated by angina pectoris. The specified
indications of myocarditis number 34 and of endocarditis 11.
Arteriosclerosis complicated lead poisoning in 57 cases, the average
age at death being 58,2 years. In a few cases arteriosclerosis com­
plicated other oirculatory affections included under diseases of the
heart.
Intestinal and digestive complications accounted for 52 cases with
an average age at death of 45.7 years. This group includes a large
variety of affections which it would hardly serve a useful purpose to
discuss in matters of detail. As would be natural in chronic lead
poisoning there are quite a number of cases of intestinal obstruction,
intestinal paralysis, diarrhea, etc., but none of them seem to be of
special significance.
Respiratory affections of a nontubercular type occurred to the num­
ber of 44 cases, chiefly in the form of pulmonary embolism, pneu­
monia, lung abscesses, pulmonary oedema, lung paralysis, etc. The
average age at death in these cases was 52.7 years.
Apoplexy and brain softening.—There were 38 cases of this group,
of an average age of 52.6 years. The certificates reveal no facts of
special interest.
4682°—27------1




22

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

Anemia, both in the common and the pernicious form, occurred to
the extent of 35 cases, of which 17 specified the anemia as having
been of the pernicious type, while 7 stated it to have been of the
secondary type. The average age at death in these cases was 54.9
years.
Encephalitis occurred in 23 cases with an average age at death of
48.6 years. The inflammation of the encephalon or brain is of
comparatively common occurrence in fatal cases of lead poisoning,
but no doubt often obscured by other concurrent diseases to which
the preference is given in death certification. Legge and Goadby,
in their treatise on Lead Poisoning, give a tabulation of cases of
encephaloma which shows a fairly consistent occurrence in Great
Britain. They also describe a case of chronic lead encephalitis,
with an examination of the nervous system, which may be referred
to for the purpose of a better understanding of this important aspect
of lead poisoning.
Paralysis is one of the most important contributory effects in
chronic lead poisoning but apparently not as common at the present
time as would be assumed. There were only 23 cases of various forms
of paralysis but mostly of the progressive type involving the extrem­
ities. Unfortunately, the death certificates do not contain much
information regarding the part or portion of the body chiefly affected
corresponding to those which are included in the treatise by Legge
and Goadby, which indicates a larger relative degree of frequency
than is met with in this country.
Liver.—Diseases of the liver have been almost as common as
paralysis. There were 17 cases, with an average age at death of
51.8 years. In 11 of these cases, the affection was cirrhosis of the
liver. Curiously enough, Legge and Goadby do not mention liver
diseases in their tabulation of 264 cases. It is, of course, an open
question as to how far those cases were complicated by alcoholism.
Of the other complicating diseases special reference may be made
to ulcers and benign tumors. There were 9 of these cases, of an
average age at death of 50.2 years. In view of the extended recent
discussion of the possible influence of lead on malignant tumors,
the question has arisen whether cancer is met with among workers
exposed peculiarly to lead poison. The present investigation con­
cerned with 841 death certificates does not reveal a single case in
which the occurrence of malignant tumor concurrently with lead
poisoning is indicated. Ulcers, abscesses, and benign tumors, how­
ever, have occurred, and in detail were as follows: One case was that
of a chronic epileptic who had what is referred to as probably a brain
tumor, most likely of a nonmalignant type; 5 cases were gastric or
peptic ulcers; 1 case was an ulcer of the duodenum, 1 a case of ulcer­
ative colitis, and 1 a pelvic abscess. There were 4 cases of alcohol­
ism, 3 of diabetes, and 3 of appendicitis, and 2 drug addicts. There
was 1 case of tuberculosis, probably pulmonary, and 1 case of goiter
in a painter, aged 41 years, who died in Holt County, Nebr. The
proportion of cases of insanity seems rather large, there having been
D cases at an average age of 50 years. In 1 of these cases chronic
lead poisoning is referred to as the cause of paresis, while the other
cases of this type of insanity are referred to as acute and chronic
melancholia, possibly directly induced by the physical condition re­
sulting from lead poisoning.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

23

Of the miscellaneous affections, which number 49, reference may
be made to 4 cases of sclerosis, 3 of peritonitis, 3 of neuritis, 4 of
rheumatism, 3 of thrombosis, and 2 of meningitis.
Death certificates indicating no complications number 152, of
which the average age was 50.9 years. For all cases combined,
with or without complications, the average age at death, as previously
stated, was 51.3 years.
I conclude the foregoing discussion with Table 39, showing the age
distribution by divisional periods of life for the four principal joint
causes and for the group without complications.
T able

39.—C ON TRIBU TORY CAUSES OF DEATHS OF PAINTERS FR OM CHRONIC
LEAD POISONING, 1914HL919, B Y AGE GROUPS
Cardio­
vascular

Nephritis

Arterio­
sclerosis

No compli­
cations

Anemia

Age group
Num­
ber

Per
cent

Num­
ber

Per
cent

Num­
ber

Per
cent

Num­
ber

Per
cent

Num­
ber

Per
cent

Under 30 years_____
30 to 39 years............
40 to 49 years............
60 to 59 years______
50 to 69 years............
70 to 79 years............

4
34
60
57
32
6

2.1
17.6
31.1
29.5
16.6
3.1

2
16
31
25
33
6

1.8
14.2
27.4
22.1
29.2
5.3

1
8
22
21
5

1.8
14.0
38.6
36.8
8.8

3
5
13
12
2

8.6
14.3
37.1
34.3
5.7

9
19
36
52
24
12

5.9
12.5
23.7
34.2
15.8
7.9

Total..............

193

100.0

113

100.0

57

100.0

35

100.0

152

100.0

PAINT MIXERS

There have been only 15 deaths of paint mixers during the 11year period, who died at an average age of 43.9 years. The certifi­
cates reveal nothing of special interest, with the possible exception
of one case in which a laborer was employed as a maker of paint
sand paper at a Ford plant in the city of Newark, N. J. An even
more interesting case is that of a salesman for a paint and glass
house, who may possibly have formerly been a worker. This death
occurred in Highland Town, Md. There was also the death of a fore­
man of a paint company in St. Louis, Mo. Three of the deaths were
of negroes.
PLUMBERS

Relatively to the number of plumbers employed throughout the
country the number of deaths from lead poisoning appears dispro­
portionately low. The number of plumbers in labor organizations
is fortunately known so that an approximate estimate can be given.
There were 25 deaths during the 11-year period, distributed by age
groups as follows:
T a b l e 40.—DEATHS OF PLU M BERS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914-1924, B Y

AGE GROUPS

Age group

20 to 29 years.......................................................................................................... .........
30 to 39 years........................................................... .......................................... ............ .
40 to 49 years_______ _____ ____ _____________ _____ _____ ______________ ________
50 to 59 years.....................................................................................................................
60 to 69 vears
_
_
T otals




Num­
ber

Per cent

4
4
10
5
2

16
16
40
20
8

25

100

24

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

The union membership has changed so much from year to year that
it probably does not exceed at the present time 60,000, which if
increased by an arbitrary estimate of the nonunion membership,
would give an approximate number of 100,000 plumbers throughout
the country, which for the year 1924 would give a rate of 7 per
100,000. This can not be considered excessive and may be compared
with the corresponding rate for painters given as 79 in the previous
discussion.
There have been included in this group three acetylene burners or
welders. Two of the deaths occurred in Philadelphia and one in the
city of Detroit, Mich. The subject of lead poisoning among acetylene
burners has been discussed with admirable thoroughness by Lieut.
Commander E. W. Brown in the United States Naval Medical
Bulletin for 1925. I quote from a summary of his conclusions the
following statement:
The lead poisoning in this study was induced by the inhalation of lead volatil­
ized in fumes arising from the burning of paint adherent to scrap metal in the
process of cutting by the oxyacetylene torch. The lead particles are extremely
fine being about one-half micron for the average diameter, or one-fifteenth of
the diameter of a red blood cell.

With reference to the admissions it is said:
Eighty-three first admissions of plumbism over a period of observation approxi­
mating 8 months—i. e., from June 6, 1924, to February 15, 1925; 29 recurrences;
total of 112 cases; number of men employed the entire time, 221; number work­
ing not less than 1 week, 201; average period worked per man, 3.6 months;
37.5 per cent of first admissions and 50.7 per cent of total admissions based on
221 men; 41.2 per cent and 55.7 per cent based on 201 men. Of the 82 cases of
plumbism, the shortest period was 7 days, the longest 13.2 months, the average
2.4 months. The duration of disability varied from 3 days to 69 days, average
20 days.

For first admissions the rate varied from 225.3 per 1,000 in June,
1924, to 5,830 in January, 1925. The average admission rate was
2,578 per 1,000 for all classes.
The preventive measures recommended are as follows:
The essential requirement is a protective apparatus to prevent the inhalation
of the lead fume. Among the various devices tested the modified Burrell indus­
trial gas mask was found to be decidedly the most efficient.
POTTERS AND TILE WORKERS

The occupation of potters and tile workers is generally thought of
as one in which lead poisoning is proportionately still of considerable
frequency. As a matter of fact, the present investigation reveals a
surprisingly small number of fatal cases. There have been in the
aggregate only 13 cases, distributed by specific occupations, as fol­
lows: Potters, 3; dippers, 3; kiln men, 1; enamelers, 5; and tile
workers, 1. Five of these cases were of persons born in foreign
countries, 2 having been born in England, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Sweden,
and 1 in Poland. By conjugal condition, 11 were married while 2
were single. The average age at death was 45.2 years. One of the
deaths occurred in 1914, 2 in 1916, 1 in 1917, 1 in 1918, 2 in 1919,
1 in 1920, 3 in 1922, 1 in 1923, and 1 in 1924. The membership of
the potters’ labor organizations in 1920 was 8,000. The number of
wage earners employed in the pottery industry in 1920 was returned
by the census as 29,273 Assuming, therefore, an average member­
ship of 30,000 for the 11-year period and making no allowance for




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

25

©namelers and tile workers, who have been included in the mortality
returns, the average fatality rate from chronic lead poisoning was
approximately 4.3 per 100,000.
In this connection references may be made to a consolidated mor­
tality report for the 9 years ending with 1923 published by the
National Brotherhood of Operative Potters. In the aggregate there
were 839 deaths, of which only 2 were specifically attributed to lead
poisoning.
RUBBER WORKERS

Of rubber workers there were only 3 deaths each reported from
Passaic, N. J.; Providence, R. I.; and Walpole, Mass.
STORAGE BATTERY WORKERS

The occupation of storage battery workers is frequently referred to
as one of exceptional hazard, with particular reference to liability to
chronic lead poisoning. A special bulletin on the subject published
by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1915 1 gives a
record of 164 cases of chronic lead poisoning among 915 workers in
5 large factories during 1913, equivalent to a rate of 17.9 per cent of
the number of persons employed. Information derived from other
sources, particularly the New York Department of Labor, is decidedly
suggestive of an extraordinarily higher degree of frequency of cases
of lead poisoning in the manufacture of electric storage batteries,
but as far as it is possible to judge the affections as a rule are nonfatal and are of a comparatively slight degree of intoxication. Be
this as it may, it is certainly suggestive that there have been only
5 deaths reported for the United States registration area for the 11
years ending with 1924, or 1 in 1915, 1 in 1917, 2 in 1919, and 1 in
1920. The cases occurred at the following points: Two in Chicago,
1 in St. Louis, 1 in Camden, N. J., and 1 in Philadelphia. None
appeared to have occurred at Niagara Falls, from which a large
number of cases have been reported through the New York Depart­
ment of Labor. The experience suggests possible inaccuracies in
death certification in connection with lead poisoning, well deserving
of more extended consideration.
PRINTERS

The printing trades have for many years been charged with a
specific and exceptional liability to chronic lead poisoning. It is
rather curious that most of those who have written on the subject
should have been satisfied with rather crude data, in many cases
derived from foreign sources. Granting that deaths from chronic
lead poisoning are not necessarily a satisfactory index of disease
liability in the nonfatal form, it is, nevertheless, decidedly suggestive
that during the last 11 years only 67 deaths from chronic lead poison­
ing should have been reported for the United States registration
area for the different branches of the printing trades. The death
certificates, unfortunately, do not indicate the specific occupation
followed, with a few exceptions in which the employment is given
1U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 165: Lead poisoning in the manufacture of storage batteries.
Washington, 1915. 38 pp.




26

DEATHS FEOM LEAD POISONING

as that of linotype or monotype operator. The approximate number
of printing employees in the United States is probably not less than
300,000, while the average number of deaths from chronic lead poison­
ing is about 6; in other words, the frequency rate is equivalent to
about 2 per 100,000 workers. Of course, a considerable proportion
of these workers are not in any way exposed to the risk of lead poison­
ing, but for the present it is not feasible to calculate more specific
death rates for particular branches of the printing trades.
The 67 deaths which occurred were distributed during the last 11
years as follows:
T a b l e 41.—DEATHS OF PRINTERS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914-1924, B Y

YEARS

Year

Aver­
age age
Num­ Aggre­
gate
at
ber of years
death
cases
of life (years)

Year

Aver­
Num­ Aggre­
gate age age
ber of years
at
cases
of life death
(years)

1914
1915 ........................... .
1916...................................
1917
1918...................................

5
4
11
4
2

238
168
534
185
61

47.6
42.0
48.5
46.3
30.5

1921...................................
1922...................................
1923...................................

10
7
10

445
314
487

44.5
44.9
48.7

Total, 1919-1923....

38

1,739

45.8

Total, 1914-1918....

26

1,186

45.6

1924...................................

3

119

39.7

302
191

43.1
47.8

Total, 1914-1924....

67

3,044

45.4

1910...................................

7
4

The distribution of deaths by divisional periods of life is given
below:
T a b l e 42 .—DEATHS OF P R IN TE R S

Age group

Under 20 years_______________
20 to 29 years_________________
30 to 39 years_________________
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years___ __ ___________

FROM CHRONIC LE AD POISONING, B Y AGE
GROUPS

Num­
ber

Per cent

2
5
9
27
15

3.0
7.5
13.4
40.3
22.4

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

60 to 69 years........... ..................
70 to 79 years_________________
Unknown____________ _______

3
5
1

4.5
7.5
L5

Total..................................

67

100.0

The youngest death occurred at the age of 19 and the oldest at
the age of 75.
The subject of lead poisoning in the printing trades will be ex­
haustively dealt with in a forthcoming report on Health Survey of
the Printing Trades,2 which includes extended field investigations
and analysis of the mortality experience of printers’ labor organiza­
tions for recent years. The evidence contained in that report will
confirm the conclusion that th# rate of fatal incidence is not a matter
of serious concern at the present time, while the relative frequency
of the affliction is unquestionably diminishing. Of the 67 printers
who died from chronic lead poisoning, 13 were single and the re­
mainder were married, widowed, or divorced. Only one was a colored
person. All but a few were native born, there having been 2 deaths
of printers born in England, 1 in Ireland, 2 in Canada, 1 in Germany,
* U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. 427. {In press.]




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

27

and 1 in Italy. The outstanding complicating diseases were ne­
phritis in six different forms, there having been 19 cases, or 28.4 per
cent. Other complications were not of sufficient numerical impor­
tance to justify detailed consideration. The average age at death
for this group was 45.4.
TIN AND COPPER SMITHS

In the group of tin and copper smiths there occurred 9 deaths from
chronic lead poisoning, of which 6 were returned as tinners and 3 as
coppersmiths, including 1 mentioned as a coppersmith’s laborer.
The average age at death in these cases was 48.7 years. The certifi­
cates reveal nothing additional of special interest.
GLASS WORKERS

There were 9 deaths of workers in the glass industry, occurring at
an average age of 38.3 years. The occupational distribution is fairly
well indicated, the different employments having been as follows:
One glass worker, 1 laborer in a plate-glass company, 1 glass molder,
1 glass mixer, 1 glass decorator, 1 glass cutter, 2 glaziers, and 1 glass
worker not otherwise specified. Deaths occurred in the following
places: Philadelphia, 1; Beaver County, Pa., 1; Chicago, 1; Oak
Park, 111., 1; Jefferson County, Mo., 1. Of the 9 glass workers 6
were foreign born, 1 having been born in Germany, 1 in Bohemia, 2
in Austria, 1 in England, and 1 in Italy.
METAL WORKERS

The group “ Metal workers” includes a variety of specific occupa­
tions which for the sake of convenience have been combined. There
were 23 deaths in this group, of an average age of 42.9 years, dis­
tributed by specific occupations as follows:
Metal pattern maker_____________________________________ __ 1
Sheet metal workers________________________________________ 3
Laborer in iron shop_____________ _________________ ________ 1
Metal polishers__________________________________________ __ 2
Iron worker_____________________________________________ __ 1
Helper in machine shop_____________________________________ 1
Moulder________________________________________________ __ 1
Foundry worker_________________________________________ __ 1
Superintendent metal specialties_____________________________ 1
Laborer in steel works____________________________________ __ 1
Riveter_________________________________________________ __ 1
Metal workers not otherwise specified______________________ __ 2
Machinists______________________________________________
7

Six of the 23 were single. Most of the metal workers were native
bom, 2, however, having been born in Germany, 1 in England, 3
in Austria-Hungary, and 1 in Canada.
CARPENTERS AND WOODWORKERS

The number of deaths from chronic lead poisoning among carpen­
ters and woodworkers was 18, with an average age at death of 57.5
years. In the nature of the carpenter’s occupation he is apt to do
painting to a limited extent. By specific occupations 12 were car­
penters, 3 were wood finishers, 2 were woodworkers, and 1 was a
cabinet maker. Certificates reveal nothing of special interest, except­
ing that in one case it is specifically stated that “ lead poisoning was




28

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

due to drinking water through a lead pipe.” This death occurred in
the township of Hampden, Me. In another case which occurred in
Cheshire County, N. H., a woodworker died from chronic lead poison­
ing, the cause being specifically stated to have been the drinking
water. In another case a woodworker is mentioned also as having
been a painter by trade, and the same statement was made with
reference to a carpenter.
LABORERS

The group “ Laborers” includes all whose occupations were simply
designated as laborers, with no clue to a more specific employment
followed. There were 93 deaths in this group, occurring at an aver­
age age of 41.9 years. The most suggestive aspect of the mortality
is the distribution by nativity, 51 having been native bom, while of
the remainder 3 were bom in Germany, 1 in Switzerland, 9 in Poland,
2 in Russia, 11 in Austria, 6 in Ireland, 1 in Belgium, 1 in Holland,
1 in France, 3 in Italy, 1 in Armenia, 1 in the Azore Islands, 1 in the
West Indies, and 1 in Mexico.
The geographical distribution of the deaths of laborers from
chronic lead poisoning is a matter of some interest in view of the
possible concentration of lead-using industries in particular sections.
The deaths were distributed as follows: Pennsylvania, 18; Missouri,
11; Ohio, 10; New York, 9; Indianapolis, 6; Illinois, 6; California, 5;
Michigan, 4; New Jersey, 4. There were two deaths each in Wiscon­
sin, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Utah, Virginia, and Connecti­
cut, and one death each in Minnesota, Nebraska, Kentucky, Wash­
ington, Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. The
geographical distribution is more or less suggestive of the conclusion
that many of the laborers were employed in connection with leadusing industries, particularly in the States of Pennsylvania and
Missouri. It is regrettable that the death certificates should not be
more definite with reference to the specific occupation of the deceased,
for the term “ laborer” for practical purposes is, broadly speaking,
meaningless.
FARMERS

There were 61 deaths of farmers from chronic lead poisoning, at
an average age of 56.7 years. By divisional periods of life the deaths
were distributed as follows:
T a b l e 43.—DEATHS

OF F A RM E R S FROM CHRONIC LE AD POISONING, BY AGE
GROUPS

Age group

20 to 29 years
. ...........
30 to 39 years_______ . . . . . . . . . .
dO tn AQvpflrs
50 to 59 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60 to 69 years__ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Num­
ber

Per cent

3
4
9
16
16

4.9
6.6
14.8
26.2
26.2

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

70 to 79 years_____ ___________
80 years and over...................... .

10
3

16.4
4.9

Total.................................

61

100.0

It has previously been intimated that deaths from chronic lead
poisoning among farmers are, to a certain extent, the result of painting
done on the farm and probably in a more or less careless manner.
The large majority of the deaths was unquestionably nonindustrial
and attributable to drinking water obtained through lead pipes, as is
clearly proven by definite statements to this effect on some of the
death certificates. The first question of importance, therefore, is the




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

29

geographical distribution of the deaths of farmers from chronic lead
poisoning, which presents some really extraordinary aspects. The
deaths by States are given in Table 44.
T a b l e 4 4 . — GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

OF DEATHS OF FARM ERS FROM
CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914 TO 1924
Number
of deaths

State

Connecticut_________________________
Rhode Island________________________
Massachusetts_______________________ J
M aine._____________________________
New Hampshire_____________________
Total, New England......................
New York______________________ ____
Pennsylvania________________________
O hio.........................................................
)
Michigan
Illinois____________________ ______ _ I
Wisconsin................................................. J
Missouri______________________ ______
Total...............................................

18
.7

Number
of deaths

State

Colorado____________________________
Utah..........................................................
Wyoming___________________________ }
Washington_________________________ I
California________ ______________ ____ |

3
2
4

29

Total...............................................

9

4
4

Maryland___________________________
North Carolina.......................................
Virginia_____________________________

1
1
3

3
3

Total...............................................

5

4

Grand total____________________

61

18

It is shown by the preceding table that nearly one-third of all of the
deaths of farmers from chronic lead poisoning occurred in the State
of Maine, while a relatively large number of such deaths also occurred
in the adjoining State of New Hampshire. On further examination
it appears that the 18 deaths in Maine were distributed as follows:
Oxford County, 10; Franklin County, 5; Knox County, 1; Cumber­
land County, 1; city of Lewiston, 1. For New Hampshire the county
distribution was as follows: Carroll County, 2; Merrimack County,
2; Sullivan County, 2; Grafton County, 1.
The preceding analysis of deaths by counties is strongly suggestive
of local conditions favoring chronic lead poisoning through lead pipes,
for there are no industrial conditions in the counties referred to which
could possibly have a bearing upon the occurrence of chronic lead
poisoning cases among farmers. As a matter of fact, the death returns
for Maine specifically mention water supplied through lead pipes as
a contributory cause of chronic lead poisoning in 8 out of the 18 deaths
which are a matter of record. No mention of lead pipes, however,
is made in the 7 death certificates for New Hampshire.
The distribution of the deaths by years has been quite irregular,
due possibly to the relatively small number of cases involved. The
information is given in the statement following as a matter of record:
T a b l e 4 5 . — DEATHS OF FARM ERS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING, 1914 TO 1924,

BY YEARS

Year

Maine

New
Hamp­
shire

Year

New
Maine Hamp­
shire

1 1921................................................
1914................................................
1 1922.................................................
4
1
1915..................................................
1916................................................
1
1
1923................................................
1
1
4
1
1917
—1918..................................................
10
1
1
Total, 1919-1923...................
Total, 1914-1918....................

7

1919..................................................
1020..................................................

5




4

1924.................................................

1

2

Total, 1914-1924...................

18

7

30

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

In the 18 cases for Maine, chronic and acute nephritis was the*
principal complicating contributory cause, observed, however, in only
4 instances out of 11 showing complications, the remainder having
been arteriosclerosis, 2; apoplexy, 2; and heart disease, pulmonary
oedema, and spinal sclerosis, 1. In 7 cases there were no complica­
tions. In the New Hampshire cases the complications were paralysis,
2; pneumonia, 1; myelitis, 1; and hemorrhage of the brain, 1.
The preceding data are decidedly suggestive of the risk of nonin­
dustrial lead poisoning in certain sections of the country where pecul­
iarly soft water supplies very probably aid in the introduction of’
minute but accumulative substantial quantities of dissolved lead into
the human system. It is certainly extremely significant that one
county in the State of Maine should have had more than twice as
many deaths from chronic lead poisoning among farmers as the entire
State of New York or the entire State of Pennsylvania. The subject
matter is certainly one fully deserving of more extended investiga­
tion on the part of the authorities directly concerned.
PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS

Differentiating obviously professional or exceptionally scheduled
occupations from general industrial pursuits classified as miscellaneous;
for the present purpose, there were 29 deaths thus classified, of an
average age at death of 50.4 years. These deaths are of exceptional
interest in revealing a wide range of employments, most of which
have no connection whatever with lead-using industries. It is quite
probable that the consideration emphasized in the case of farmers
applies also to professional occupations—that is, the general risk of
chronic lead poisoning due to water supplies derived from lead pipes.
The professional occupations classified for the present purpose are as
follows:
Physician who died of chronic lead poisoning in Franklin County*,
Me., at the age of 56 years.
Dentist, Huron County, Ohio, who died at the age of 70 years.
Accountant, Spokane, Wash., 64 years of age.
Chemist, Dayton, Ohio, age 24, death attributed to tetraethyl lead
poisoning.
Chemist, Columbus, Ohio, age 32.
Musician, Canton, Ohio, age 35.
Commercial artist, Minneapolis, Minn., age 40.
Art teacher, Johnson County, Kans., age 54.
Policeman, Grant County, Ky., age 56.
Fire marshal, Chester, Pa., age 56.
Mail clerk, San Diego, Calif., age 59.
Electrician, age 18, Putnam County, Ohio.
Electrician, age 42, Manhattan, N. Y.
Civil engineer, Pittsburgh, Pa., age 46, complicated by Addison's
disease.
Civil engineer, age 64, Stevens County, Wash.
Railroad engineer, 69 years of age, Pueblo County, Colo, (this man
died at the county poor farm).
Gas engineer, Bronx Borough, N. Y., age 55.
Engineer, age 54, Mecorta County, Mich.
Engineer, age 41, Northampton, Mass.
Stenographer, age 58, Chester County, Pa.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

31

The remainder were commercial occupations, including traveling
salesmen, real estate dealers, grocers, etc.
MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

This relatively large group of employments not directly or obviously
connected with lead-using industries is represented by 114 deaths
at an average age of 47.3 years. Of course, in possibly quite a num­
ber of cases persons concerned may have been incidentally engaged
in painting operations. A rather suggestive group of employments,
however, concerns the ship trades or workers at navy yards. There
were 9 such cases, distributed by specific occupations, as follows:
Lighthouse keeper, 1; shipyard worker, 1; navy-yard helper, 1; chief
gunman, United States Navy, 1; shipyard laborer, 1; mariners, 2;
seaman, 1; quartermaster, 1. The risk of lead poisoning on ship­
board or in lighthouses where drinking water may be kept in lead
tanks is, of course, self-evident. Of considerable interest also are
deaths among persons connected with the automobile industry.
There were 5 deaths in this group, 1 auto dealer, 1 auto mechanic, 1
garage man, and 2 chauffeurs. The death certificates do not indicate
whether deaths in any of t lese cases were the result of tetraethyl lead
poisoning. There were 3 deaths of barkeepers, regarding which it
may be said that in former years lead pipes were rather extensively
used in old bar fixtures, and the risk may possibly repeat itself in
soda-water fountains unless carefully supervised. There was 1
sudden death from tetraethyl lead poisoning, complicated by duo­
denal ulcer, at a dye works in, Salem County, N. J. The man died at
the age of 28. Particularly suggestive also is the death of a horti­
culturist who died at Danville, 111., at the age of 35, possibly because
of the use of lead arsenic in spraying. There were also 2 deaths
of foresters, who likewise may have been employed in spraying oper­
ations for the destruction of insects injurious to forest life. In one of
these cases, at Boston, Mass., the death certificate contained the
specific statement that “ lead poisoning was due to exposure to lead
from arsenic spray for many years.” The other death, at the age of
72, occurred in Essex County, Mass., also of a forester, but with no
further specific information except that the disease had a duration of
only six months. There were three deaths of brass finishers and
bronzers, all occurring in the city of New York. Another case of
tetraethyl lead intoxication occurred in the case of a janitor, also
employed at Salem, N. J., who died at the age of 47 years. Curiously
enough, there were 4 deaths from chronic lead poisoning among shoe
workers, occurring, however, in 4 different places, or Alameda
County, Calif.; Norfolk County, Mass.; Stafford County, N. H.; and
Fulton County, Ohio. The last case was of special interest, it being
stated that the same was of a duration of 8 years. It would hardly
serve a useful purpose to further enlarge upon the deaths of this
group, but a few individual occupations may be mentioned: One
railroader, 1 switchman, 1 clock maker, 1 building contractor, 1
lumberman, 1 electric worker, 1 elevator operator, 1 file cutter, 1
boiler engineer, 1 electric laborer, 1 silver gilder, 1 boilermaker, 1
slater, 1 furnace keeper, 1 lineman, 1 bottler, 1 laundryman, 1 cement
worker. There were also 5 blacksmiths. The latter, no doubt, may
have been employed also in the painting of coaches or in using paint
materials otherwise. It is, however, suggestive that one of these




32

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

deaths should have occurred in Oxford County, Me., and one in
Hillsboro County, N. H. The wide occupational distribution of these
deaths would seem to indicate that in most cases chronic lead poison­
ing was of a nonindustrial character and more probably the direct
result of lead absorption through drinking water conveyed through
lead pipes.
UNKNOWN OR RETIRED

The number of deaths in the group “ Unknown or retired” was 103,
of an average age at death of 52.8 years. The distribution of deaths
by divisional periods of life was as follows:
T a b l e 46.—DEATHS FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING IN GROUP OF “ UN KNOW N

OR R E T IR E D ,” B Y AGE GROUPS

Age group

Under 30 years.
__ . . . . . . . .
30 to 39 years_________________
Af\ AQTTPQrQ
___
50 to 59 years _ .
60 to 69 years_____ . . . _________

Num- i Per cent
ber
8
11
26
20
20

7.8
10.7
25.2
19.4
19.4

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

70 to 79 years_________________
80 years and over_____________

15
3

14.6
2.9

Total.................................

103

100.0

The higher average age at death in this group is clearly suggestive
of the fact that many of the men, as occasionally intimated on the
death certificate, had retired, but, unfortunately, the previous occu­
pation is not indicated. In some cases a direct connection with pre­
vious painting operations is clearly evident. It is rather curious
that only one case of this group in which lead poisoning from water
supplied through lead pipes is indicated to have occurred was in
Penobscot County, Me. One certificate of a death in Cook County
Hospital, Chicago, states that death was due to involvement of kid­
neys and urinary organs, the results of lead absorption and mercury
taken in medicine. The certificates reveal nothing else of special
interest, but it may be pointed out in this connection that investiga­
tions of this kind would be materially facilitated if the death cer­
tificates were more completely filled out, especially as to the specific
occupation followed and possible contributory causes or conditions
bearing upon the death of the deceased.
WOMEN

There were 48 deaths of women from chronic lead poisoning, at an
average age at death of 51.8 years. These deaths are of special sig­
nificance, in that it is self-evident, of course, that with few exceptions
the women in question were not exposed to lead as an industrial
hazard. Yet relatively the number of deaths is very large and de­
serving of extended consideration.3 By divisional periods of life the
deaths were distributed as follows:
T a b l e 47.—DEATHS OF W OM EN FROM LEAD POISONING, B Y AGE GROUPS

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

3
7
11
11

6.3
14.5
22.9
22.9

Age group

Num­
ber

Per cent

60 to 69 years_____ ____________
70 years and over__ . . . . _______

11
5

Total..................................

48

100.0

3 See United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bui. No. 253: Women in the lead industres.
ton, 1919.

Washing­

Under 30 years_______________
30 to 39 years____ ____________
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years.............. ................




22.9
10.4

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

33

As in the case of farmers there is in the case of women an extraor­
dinary geographical distribution, with a peculiar concentration of
the deaths in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. In the
State of Maine there occurred 16 deaths of women from chronic
lead poisoning, distributed by counties as follows: Franklin County,
8, in 2 of which death was attributed directly to lead absorption from
water conveyed through lead pipes; Oxford County, 3, in 1 of which
death was attributed to lead poisoning by drinking water which passed
through 30 feet of lead pipe; Kennebunk County, 2; Cumberland
County, 1; Androscoggin County, 1; and Penobscot County, 1.
In New Hampshire there were 7 deaths, distributed as follows:
Carroll County, 2; Grafton County, 2; and 1 each in Hillsboro,
Merrimac, and Cheshire Counties. In the one which occurred in
Cheshire County, in the city of Keene, death was attributed to chronic
lead poisoning from the domestic water supply.
In Massachusetts 7 deaths occurred, distributed as follows: Wor­
cester County, 2; Hampshire County, 2; Middlesex County, 2; and
Plymouth County, 1. The death in Plymouth County was attributed
to water from lead pipes, one death in Middlesex County, in the city
of Lowell, being attributed to “ lead poisoning as the result of hair
dyes.” The death in Dracut, Middlesex County, was attributed to
the water supply, and likewise a death in Worcester was attributed
to drinking water drawn through a lead pipe.
In Connecticut 1 death occurred; in New York, 1; in New Jersey,
1; in Pennsylvania, 2; in Ohio, 4; in Missouri, 4. One of these
deaths, the case of a woman 34 years of age, was attributed to “ lead
poisoning from using white flake face powder.” The remainder of
the deaths occurred, 1 in Indiana, 1 in Illinois, 1 in Kentucky, 1 in
Kansas, and 1 in Louisiana attributed to drinking water from a roof
painted red. Only 5 of the 48 deaths were of unmarried women,
suggesting the seriousness of the deaths from a social economic point
of view, in that 43 were married and no doubt, in many cases,
mothers. As shown before, 18 of the deaths were of women between
30 and 50 years of age. The evidence is quite suggestive that in
most of the cases deaths were directly the result of drinking con­
taminated water but particularly so in the cases in the States of
Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
BOYS UNDER 18

There were 11 deaths of boys under 18. The youngest of these
was only 9 months of age, it being stated that death was caused by
the “ unwarranted use of lead ointments by the parents.” The
death occurred in Wellesville, Columbiana County, Ohio. The sec­
ond death occurred at the age of 1 year and 7 months, it being at­
tributed to “ eating paint.” This death occurred in New Orleans.
The third death, which occurred in Baltimore, was that of a boy
1 year and 10 months, and was also attributed to “ eating paint off
toys.” A death in Franklin County, Me., occurred at the age of
5 years and 4 months. Another death in Baltimore, that of a boy
6 years and 11 months old, was attributed to “ eating paint and
enamel off toys,” while another in the same city at the age of 7 years
and 9 months was attributed to “ playing in a paint shop.” Other
deaths were 1 at 11 years and 7 months, a boy in Reynolds County,




34

DEATHS FEOM LEAD POISONING

M o.; 1 at 16 years of age, a school boy in Scott County, Minn.;
I at the age of 17 years and 4 months in King County, Wash., the
death being attributed to “ chewing lead foil.” There was also a
death at the age of 17 years and 8 months of a boy who died in the
city of Indianapolis.
GIRLS UNDER 18

There were 8 deaths of girls under 18 regarding which the follow­
ing details are of interest. One girl died in New Haven, Conn.,
at the age of 10 months, death being attributed to the infant having
“ gnawed lead paint from the side of the bed.” One at the age of
II months occurred in Madison County, 111. The third death oc­
curred at the age of 2 years and 4 months in Westchester County,
N. Y., being attributed to “ eating paint from window sill and paint
can.” The fourth case occurred in New Rochelle, N. Y., at the age
of 2 years 8 months; the fifth case in Boston, Mass., at the age of
3 years and 1 month; the sixth case in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age
of 3 years and 2 months, it being attributed to “ eating enamel off
bed” ; the seventh case in New Haven, Conn., at the age of 13; and
the eighth case in Minneapolis, Minn., at the age of 16 years and 1
month, death being attributed to “ face powder containing white lead
carbon flake.”
PART III.— STATISTICS OP CHRONIC LEAD POISONING
FROM STATE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARDS

M y efforts to secure a reasonably complete statement of lead
oisoning cases and deaths reported to industrial accident boards
ave not been successful. I am able, however, to furnish statistics
for a few States, which make a useful addition to the preceding in­
formation.

E

MASSACHUSETTS

According to the Department of Labor and Industries of the State
of Massachusetts the returns regarding chronic lead poisoning made
to that department during the period 1921-1925 have been as follows:
T a b l e 4 8 .—N U M BE R OF CASES OP CHRONIC LEAD POISONING A N D OF DEATHS

F R O M IT IN M ASSACHUSETTS, 1921-1925, B Y YEARS
Year

Cases

Deaths

1921...................................................................................................................................
1922.....................................................................................................................................
1923....................................................................................................................................
1924.....................................................................................................................................
1925.....................................................................................................................................

89
71
85
102
67

2
1
1

Total........................................................................................................................

414

4

This indicates approximately 1 death to every 100 cases, which
compares with Great Britain as follows: During 1925 there were
326 cases of lead poisoning, with 13 deaths, reported to the Chief In­
spector of Factories. This would give 1 death to every 25 cases,
suggestive of the poss'bility that in this country more mild cases are
reported than in England. In 1925 the British returns gave 89 cases
of lead poisoning among house painters, with 9 deaths, or approxi­




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

35

mately 1 death to every 10 cases. It is conceivable, of course, that
chronic lead poisoning cases in this country, while fairly common,
receive earlier and more qualified treatment and are therefore less
fatal than abroad. The Massachusetts returns, by industries and
years, are given in Table 49.
T a b l e 4 9 . — LEAD

POISONING OASES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1921 TO 1925, B Y YEARS
AND INDUSTRIES
1921-1925
1921

Industry

1922

1923

1924

1925
Num­
ber

Paint and varnishing......................... .......... ...................
Rubber...............................................................................
M etals._____________ ______________________________
Wire and cable mnufacturing________________________
Automobile................................... ...................................
Printing__________ ____ _________________ ___________
Plum bing.......__ ____________ ;____________________
Lead_____________________ ________________________
Shipbuilding..... .............................................. .................
Storage battery________ ____ ____________________
Brass and copper_____ ________________ _______ _____
Insecticide and spraying______________________ ,______
Carpenters and furniture.___________________________
Potteries________________________________________ .
Farmers__________________________________ _________
Glass...................................................................................
Paint manufacture_________________________________
Miscellaneous______________________________________

49
9
13

3

1
9

10

17

Total............................................................... .........

89

71

85

104

1
2
6
1
1
1
2
1

24
6
7
4
7
2

43
21
1
3
4
2
1

2
2
2
2
1
2

43
20
8
5
3
3
2
2

Per
cent

6

187
68
23
21
18
14
10
5
5
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
45

45.2
16.4
5.6
5.1
4.4
3.4
2.4
1.2
1.2
1.0
.7
.7
.7
.5
.2
.2
.2
10.9

65 |

414

100.0

28
12
9
3
4
2
1

1

As shown by this return, during the five years under review there
were 187 cases of chronic lead poisoning among painters out of a
total of 414, or 45.2 per cent. The next most important industry
in Massachusetts as affected by lead poisoning is the rubber industry,
reporting 68 cases. Plumbing accounts for 10 cases, while in the
printing industry there occurred only 14 cases. Other occupations
mdicate a wide distribution of lead poisoning in Massachusetts
industries, which, however, suggests that in a few cases the disease
was probably not the result of the employment. Rather suggestive
also is the relatively large number of cases occurring in the manufac­
ture of steel and wire, while there have been only a few cases in con­
nection with the handling of lead and none in the manufacture of
white iead.
PENNSYLVANIA

The Department of Labor and Industry of the State of Pennsyl­
vania has been good enough to furnish me with the following informa­
tion:
The department receives cases of lead poisoning from only a very small propor­
tion of the industries of this State in which workers are exposed to the hazards
of lead. The reports we have been receiving are from the manufacturers of white
and red lead, with occasionally a report from an industry using these substances.
The data which we have on hand are as follows: 1920, 4 cases; 1921, 5 cases;
1922, 5 cases; 1923, 2 cases; 1924, 13 cases; 1925, 13 cases.




36

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

CALIFORNIA

The chairman of the Industrial Accident Commission of California
informs me that—
The number of cases of lead poisoning reported to the board involving injuries
that caused disability lasting longer than the day of the injury have been shown
by the following returns. During 1919 there were 31 cases; 1920, 38 cases; 1921,
84 cases; during 1922 and 1923 no record was kept, while during 1924 there
were 370 cases and during the first six months of 1925 there have been 117 cases.
It is explained, however, that of the 370 cases reported for 1924, 278 were due to*
inhalation of fumes in burning paint from discarded battleships; of the 117
cases reported for the period January 1 to June 30, 1925, 60 were due to the
same cause.
NEW YORK STATE

I have been favored with more detailed information by the Depart­
ment of Labor for the State of New York, which has placed at my
disposal the original certificates covering the reported cases of lead
poisoning during the period 1912 to January, 1925, inclusive. This
is perhaps the most interesting information which has thus far been
made available, but unfortunately there is incompleteness for cer­
tain years. The information consists of 707 certificates, in detail by
industries and principal occupations, as shown in Table 50.
T a b l e 5 0 . — LEAD POISONING CASES IN THE STATE OF N E W Y ORK, 1912 TO JANUARY,.

1925, BY INDUSTRIES

Industry

Num­
ber

Painters.................................
Electric storage batteries___
Lead workers_____________
Paint workers_____________
Brass and copper..................
Machinists, metal workers..
Tin and solder____________
Plumbers.._______________
Rubber
Automobiles______________
Wire and cables....................

285
228
47
29
25
16
8
7
7
5
4

Aggre­ Aver­
gate
age
ages
age
(years) (years)
41.0
33.4
36.6
40.9
41.0
32.8
35.1
40.6
40.3
26.8
34.3

11,696
7,611
1,718
1,187
1,025
524
281
284
282
134
137

Industry

Num­
ber

Aggre­ Aver­
gate
age
ages
age
(years) (years)

Lead arsenate........................
Glass workers........................
Potters_____ _____ ________
Carpenters_________ ______
Linoleum...............................
Polishers and buffers............
White metal_____ _________
Miscellaneous_____________

3
3
3
2
2
2
2
29

114
140
160
80
63
62
104
1,235

38.0
46.7
53.3
40.0
31.5
31.0
52.0
42.6

Total___ _______ . . . .

707

26,837

38.0

The outstanding fact of this experience is the really extraordinary
relative proportion of cases reported in connection with the manu­
facture of electric storage batteries. An interesting parallel is the
comparatively large number of cases reported for the rubber industry
in Massachusetts. The incompleteness of the returns is best indi­
cated by the following statement of lead-poisoning cases in the
manufacture of electric storage batteries in New York during the
entire period under review.
Number

1912................................................
1913................................................
1914...............................................
1915................................................
1916...................... ..........................
1917............. ........ ............- ...........
1918-..............................................
1919................................................




2
7
12
23
16
41
2
13

Number

1920.............................. ..................
1921................ ............. ..................
1922........................... ____ _____
1923............................... ..................
1924_............ - .............. ..................
1925 (January)_______ ..................

17
10
5
31
38
11

Total...................... ..................228

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

37

It would appear from this statement that for 1918 and 1922, in
any event, the reports in all probability are incomplete, but no expla­
nation regarding the deficiency is at the present time available.
Of the 228 cases of chronic lead poisoning which occurred in the
manufacture of electric storage batteries, 164 were reported from a
single establishment in Niagara Falls; 23 were reported from a single
establishment at Depew; and 27 were reported from a single estab­
lishment in Brooklyn. When the certificates for Niagara Falls and
Depew are analyzed by years of occurrence, it appears that of the
164 cases at Niagara Falls, 92 occurred subsequent to 1920, while
out of the 23 cases at Depew only 2 cases have occurred since 1920.
Likewise of the 27 cases reported from a single establishment in
Brooklyn no cases have been reported since 1920. As far as it is
possible to judge, therefore, the conditions giving rise to lead poison­
ing, other than at Niagara Falls, have been brought quite effectively
under control.
The average age for all of the 707 cases was 38 years. The varia­
tions in the average age are apparently not of particular significance.
They are, however, in marked contrast to the ages at death in fatal
cases of chronic lead poisoning as dealt with in a preceding section
of this report.
In somewhat more detail the following observations concerning
certain important occupations may be of interest. Of the 47 lead
workers included in Table 50, mention is made of the following
specified occupations: Smelter working on lead and copper; burners
reducing dross and scrap lead and copper to original metal; sprinkler
in white lead works; lead workers recharging dry pans; tvpe makers;
laborer pouring molten lead; lead burner making copper; lead furnace
stoker; laborer unloading lead; lead-pipe worker; smelter of dross
lead and zinc; machine operator, copper and lead; lead pattern maker;
lead burner making all kinds of utensils; lead burner for oil company;
lead smelter; white-lead worker.
It is particularly significant in this connection that all of the whitelead workers’ cases should have been reported previous to 1921 or in
the following order: 1912, 1 case; 1914, 2 cases; 1915, 8 cases; 1916,
4 cases; 1917, 1 case; 1919,2 cases; 1920, 1 case. It would, therefore,
appear that the conditions giving rise to lead poisoning in white-lead
plants in the State of New York have been brought entirely under
control.
Cases of lead poisoning among other than white-lead workers in
this group of lead workers were distributed by years as follows : 1912,
2 cases; 1913, 6 cases; 1914, 5 cases; 1915, 12 cases; 1916, 8 cases;
1917, 7 cases; 1919, 4 cases; 1920, 5 cases; 1921, 3 cases; 1922, 1 case;
1923, 3 cases; 1924, 2 cases. In this group of occupations, therefore,
the trend has been measurably downward in the recent occurrence
of lead poisoning.
It is also highly suggestive that in connection with the entire experi­
ence there should not have been reported a single case of chronic lead
poisoning among employees in the different branches of the printing
trades. This, of course, may be considered evidence that the returns
are incomplete and defective in matter of detail.




38

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

The 29 miscellaneous cases referred to in Table 50 report the follow­
ing particular employments: Fireman of furnaces melting scrap lead,
furnace man in tin and brass plant, longshoreman, manufacture of
window sashes, butcher, baker, gas engineer, grist mill, grocery clerk,
ink mixer, surgical maker, flour maker, gas-meter inspector, elevator
man, optical-instrument maker, laborer in copper company, worker
in photo apparatus companv, truck driver for builders’ supplies com­
pany, stock handler, supply clerk and chauffeur. The remainder
were common laborers or not specified.
Of special interest and importance, naturally, are painters, repre­
senting the largest number of certificates, 285 out of a total of 707, or
40.3 per cent. These have been distributed by years of occurrence
as follows:
Number

1912____________ ______________
1913____________ ________ _____
1914____________ ______________
1915____________ ______________
1916____________ ______________
1917____________ ______________
1918____________ ______________
1919____________ ______________

34
43
37
46
60
19
4
12

Number

1920.______ _________ _________
1921_________________ _________
1922_________________ _________
1923_________________ _________
1924_________________ _________
1925 (January)_______ _________

6
8
5
4
5
2

Total.................._________ 285

The certificates contain no information of importance that would
justify extended consideration. Indications are, however, that there
has been a substantial reduction in lead poisoning cases in the State of
New York during the last five years, as compared with earlier years.
Since the foregoing data for New York State were received, I have
been furnished with 45 additional lead-poisoning certificates covering
the five months from February 1 to June 30, 1925. The details of
these reports are as follows:
TABLE 51.—LEAD POISONING CASES IN THE STATE OP NEW YORK, FEBRU ARY TO
JUNE, 1925, B Y INDUSTRIES

Industry

Number

Electric storage battery_______ ______ _____ _______ ______ ____________
Paint grinding.......... .......................................... ................... ........................
Painting....................................... .................................................... .............
Building construction_______________________________________________
Lead arsenate___________________ ______ ____ ______ ______ ___________

40
1
1
1

Total_____________________ ____________ ____ _____ ______ ______

Aggregate Average
ages
age
(years)
(years)

2

1,429
29
36
31
74

35.7
29.0
36.0
31.0
37.0

45

1,599

35.5

It is shown by this table that the average age of the 45 cases was
35.5 years, which compares with an average age of 38 years for 707
cases for the years 1912 to January, 1925, shown in Table 41.
It is highly significant that during the five months there should
have been only one case of lead poisoning in painting. There were,
however, 40 cases of lead poisoning in the manufacture of electric
storage batteries. As I have previously pointed out, these cases
occur at the present time chiefly at a single establishment at Niagara
Falls, and all of the 40 cases have been reported by this one corpora­
tion during the five months under observation. I have thought it
worth while to go somewhat farther into this matter and find that




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

39

of the 40 eases 14 were men employed as pasters, 7 as mixers, 3 as
lead burners, 3 as inspectors, 2 as potsmen, 2 as repair men, 2 as
sweepers, 1 as yardman, 1 as pressman, 1 as lead dipper, 1 as sawyer,
1 as weigher, and 1 as millwright.
It also appears that of the 45 cases reported for all occupations, 30
were married and 15 were single. Divided by race it appears that
37 were white and 8 were negroes. According to nativity there were
20 natives (1 from Porto Rico) and 25 foreigners, born respectively in
the following countries: Italy, 8; France, 1; Bulgaria, 1; Poland, 2;
Russia, 2; Lithuania, 1; England, 4; Wales, 1; Scotland, 1; Ireland,
1; Canada, 2; and Cuba, 1. In 3 of the 45 cases the report indicates
a previous instance of lead poisoning. A blue line on the gum was
observed in 5 out of the 45 cases. Otherwise the general symptoms
were pain, nausea, and vomiting.
I
have also been furnished by the chief medical examiner of the
New York State Department of Labor with a statement of lead poison­
ing cases and deaths during the period September 1, 1911, to June 30,
1925. According to this statement there were in this period in the
aggregate 890 cases of lead poisoning, with 105 deaths, or at a ratio
of 1 death to every 7.6 cases. Of the foregoing, 375 affected painters
with 67 deaths, while the ratio is 1 death to every 5.6 cases. Of the
375 cases in painters, 289 concerned house, structural or ship painting,
while 85 cases concerned factory or shop painting. It is of interest
that of the 85 cases, 31 should have occurred in the painting of
automobiles.
In general manufacturing there occurred 465 cases with 26 deaths,
or a ratio of 1 death to every 17.9 cases. The 465 cases in manu­
facturing represent chiefly the following industries:
T a b l e 52*—LEAD POISONING IN NEW Y O R K M AN UFACTURING INDUSTRIES, SEP­

TE M B E R 1, 1911, TO JUNE 30, 1925

Industry
Electric storage batteries________
White lead.................................. Smelting or casting.......................
Printing.........................................
Wire goods____ ________ ____ ___
Electric goods___________ _____ _
Brass and copper goods. ...............

Cases ! Deaths
I
269
69
23
21
8 !
15 i
11 1

3
5
4
5
2
1

Industry
Rubber g oods................... ..........
Tin goods......................................
Copper smelting............................
Cut glass........................................
Linoleum................................. ......
Sheet-metal work________ ______

Cases
8
5
4
3
3
3

Deaths

2
1

The remainder of some 19 different industries are represented by
only one or two cases each. The manufacturing industries in which
one or two cases of lead poisoning occurred are as follows: Breweries,
white-metal goods, bridges, canned goods, casket trimming, chinaware, wagons, pumps, telephone, typewriters, surgical instruments,
gas meters, automobiles, and insecticides. Aside from the foregoing
there were 12 cases in plumbing with 3 deaths, 6 cases at electric
power stations with no deaths, 12 cases in connection with tree
spraying, 1 case in shipbuilding, and 29 miscellaneous cases with
11 deaths. To emphasize more clearly the distribution of cases and
deaths by single years since 1912, Table 53 has been prepared, show­
ing the essential facts for all industries, for painters, for white lead,
and electric storage batteries.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

40

T abu e 5 3 . —N UM BER OF OASES AND OF DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING IN SPECI­

FIED INDUSTRIES IN N EW Y O R K STATE, SEPTEM BER 1, 1911, TO JUNE 30, 1925, BY
YEARS

All industries

Painters

White lead

Electric storage
batteries

Cases Deaths

Cases Deaths

Cases Deaths

Cases Deaths

Year

1912.......................................................
1913.......................................................
1914.......................................................
1915......................................................
1916._______ ___________________

125
114
74
98
73

8
23
25
11
12

73
66
43
42
35

5
16
15
9
8

9
9
4
16
7

1
1

15
14
12
21
13

1
2

3

Total, 1912-1916......................... !

484

79

259

53

45

2

75

1917
1918
1919
1920 ....................................................!
1921

133
38
37
18
28

12
5
3
2
3

59
16
12
4
8

6
2
1
2
1

10
4
1
1
2

2
1

47
4
8
6
11

Total, 1917-1921......................... i

254

25

99

12

18

3

76

1

4
5
3
5

2

1
1
2
2

105

375

67

69

1922
1923
1924. .................................. 1
!
1925
Total, 1912-1925......................... |

6
45
34
67 i
890

1
34
28
55
5

269

3

This table brings out in a very suggestive manner the very sub­
stantial decline in cases of lead poisoning in New York State indus­
tries, with the exception of the manufacture of electric storage
batteries. It is particularly significant that cases of lead poisoning
among painters, which in 1912 numbered 73, should by 1923 have
diminished to 5, with no deaths. Equally significant is the reduction
in the manufacture of white lead which in 1915 reached a maximum
of 16 cases, while in 1925 there were only 2 cases. In electricstorage-battery manufacture the largest number of cases occurred in
1925 when there were 55 cases, closely approaching a previous
maximum of 47 cases in 1917.




BIBLIOGRAPHY

Au b , J o s e p h
P a u l.

C.,

F a ir h a ll,

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L aw ren ce

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M in o t,

A.

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Bleivergiftungen in Huttenmannischen und
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gewerblichen

Betrieben.

Part 1. Causes and prevention; Part 2. White lead and lead oxide; Parts 3 and 4. Official inspec­
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Reports of the departmental committees appointed to investigate the
danger attendant on the use of paints containing lead in the painting
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and varnishing of coaches and carriages.
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134 pp. (Cmd. 7882.)
Vol. II.—Report of the committee on the use of lead compounds in the painting, enameling,
and varnishing of coaches and carriages. London, 1920. 43 pp. (Cmd. 630.)
Vol. III.—Appendixes to both reports. London, 1920. 73 pp. (Cmd. 631.)
Vol. IV.—Minutes of evidence taken by both committees. London, 1920. 804 pp. (Cmd.
632.)




41

42

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

G r e a t B r ita in .

Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau.

Laws and regulations relating to lead poisoning, by Gilbert Stone.
London, 1922. 250 pp.
— —Secretary of State.
Regulations: Lead compounds. Regulations, dated August 23, 1921, made
by Secretary of State under section 79 of the factory and workshop act,
1901, for the manufacture of certain compounds of lead, namely, any
carbonate, sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of lead. (Stat. rules and orders,
1921, No. 1443.)
London, Harrison & Sons (Ltd.), 1921.
H a m il t o n , A l ic e .

Industrial poisons in the United States. New York, The Macmillan Co.,
1925. 590 pp.
------ Occupational diseases in Pennsylvania: Lead poisoning.
Monthly Labor Review, July, 1919, pp. 170-172.
H a r n , O rlando C.

Lead, the precious metal.

New York, The Century Co., 1924.

H a r r i s , L o u is I .

Clinical types of occupational diseases.
Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 20, 1919, vol. 73,
pp. 880—886.
H a y h u r s t , E m e r y R.
Critical examination of 100 painters for evidences of lead poisoning.
Journal of the Medical Sciences, June, 1914, vol. 147, p. 788.
H o p e , E d w a r d W.
Industrial hygiene and medicine. New York, William Wood & Co., 1923.
766 pp.
H y g ie n ic I n s t it u t e o p C o p e n h a g e n .

Lead poisoning, by Johanus Lou.
Publications, 1923. Vol. 3.
H y g ie n ic m e t h o d s o f in d u s t r ia l p a in t in g .

British Medical Journal, Jan. 27, 1923, vol. 1, pp. 167, 168.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e .

Draft convention concerning the use of white lead in painting. Geneva,
November, 1921.
------ (New) article on lead poisoning.
Encyclopedia of Occupation and Health, Encyclopedia of Hygiene. Geneva,
1926.
------ Prohibition of the use of white lead in painting. Geneva, O'ctober, 1921.
Item III (6) of the agenda, International Labor Conference, 3d sess.
------ The use of white lead in painting. Geneva, Oct. 24,1921. 19 pp. (Studies
and reports, series F, No. 4.)
Translation of a memorandum of the Dusseldorf Chamber of Commerce.
I n t e r n a t io n a l p a in t in g e q u ip m e n t .

Malden, Mass., International Engineering Corp. [n. d.].
C. A.
Prevention of lead poisoning in industry: Part I. The India-rubber industry.
Journal of industrial Hygiene, July, 1926, vol. VIII, pp. 296-299.
K o b e r , G e o r g e M., and H a y h u r s t , E m e r y R.
Industrial health. Philadelphia, P. Blakiston’s Son & Co., 1924. 1184 pp.
K o e l s c h , F.
Bericht des Landesgewerbearztes. Munich, 1914, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921,
1922.
K l e in ,

Contains annual observations on lead poisoning in different trades.

------ Die Bekampfung der Bleivergiftung bei der Herstellung von Bleifarben
und anderen Bleiverhindungen auf Grund der Yerordnung vom 7, Januar 1920.
------ Die Bleischadigungen im Maler—und Lackierergewerbe. Hamburg, 1921.
L e a d p o i s o n in g a t t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a N a v y Y a r d .

United States Naval Medical Bulletin, February, 1925, vol. X X II, p. 191.




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

43

and G o a d b y , K e n n e t h W.
Lead poisoning and lead absorption: The symptoms, pathology and preven­
tion, with special reference to their industrial origin, and an account of
the principal processes involving risk. London, E. Arnold, 1912. 308 pp.

L b g g b , T h o m a s M .,

T h e MANUFACTURE OF STORAGE BATTERIES.

Inspection News Bulletin, June, 1921.
T h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f w h it e l e a d b y t h e m o d e r n C a r t e r p r o c e s s .

Chicago, Carter White Lead Co. [n. d.].
R.
Lead anemia.
Journal of Industrial Hygiene, May, 1926, vol. VIII, pp. 222-231.

M ayers, M ay

M cK a il , D a v id .

Prophylaxis in industrial lead poisoning.
Journal of Industrial Hygiene, February, 1926, vol. VIII, pp. 74-77.
N e w S o u t h W a l e s . Board of Trade.
Report on white lead as used in the painting industry: Its dangers and their
prevention.
Sydney^ 1921. 778 pp.
N e w Y o r k (C it y ) .
Department of Health.
A clinical study of the frequency of lead, turpentine, and benzine poisoning
in 400 painters, by Louis I. Harris.
Reprint series, No. 71. August, 1918.
N e w Y o r k (S t a t e ) .
Department of Health.
Suggestions for painters: How to avoid lead poisoning, [n. d.]
------ Suggestions for workers in lead and antimony, [n. d.]
A NOVEL SOURCE OF LEAD POISONING.

Journal of American Medical Association, Dec. 19, 1926, vol. 85, p. 1981.
State Board of Health.
Lead poison—its chief causes, with observations on its diagnosis and pre­
vention, by Emery R. Hayhurst.
Monthly Bulletin, May, 1914.
------ The standardization of a method for the detection of lead in urine, by
Charles H. Parkinson.
Monthly Bulletin, October, 1914.
O l i v e r , Sir T h o m a s .
Lead poisoning and the race.
The Eugenics Review, June, 1911.
------ Lead poisoning: From the industrial, medical, and social points of view.
London, H. K. Lewis, 1914. 294 pp.
O h io .

Lectures delivered at the Royal Institute of Public Health.
O n t a r i o . Provincial Board of Health.

Lead poisoning (a compilation of present knowledge), by R. M. Hutton,
Division of Industrial Hygiene.
Toronto, 1923. 304 pp.

T h e p r e v e n t io n o f p l u m b is m .

The New Statesman, April 14, 1923, vol. X XI, pp. 11, 12.
S a b in , A l v a h H o r to n .

White lead: Its use in paint.

New

Y ork ,

John Wiley & Sons (Inc.), 1920.

Se l l e r s , A r t h u r .

A contribution to the study of punctate basophilia in lead workers.
Journal of Industrial Hygiene, April, 1925, vol. VII, pp. 145-154.
S h a r p e , N. C.
Clinical aspects of industrial poisoning.
Public Health Journal, March, 1923, vol. 14, pp. 110-118; April, 1923,
vol. 14, pp. 172-174.
----- Report on an investigation to determine the hazard of the health of operators
using the spraying machine for painting: The risk of lead poisoning.
Journal of Industrial Hygiene, April, 1922, vol. Ill, pp. 378-386.




44

DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

T an qu erel des P lan ch es.

Lead diseases: A treatise from, the French of L. Tanquerel des Planches,
translated by Samuel L. Dana.
Lowell, 1850.
T e l e k y , L u d w ig .

Diagnosis of lead poisoning [in Austria].
Mtinchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, Feb. 29, 1924, vol. 71, pp.
266-269.
------ Report on lead poisoning among painters and decorators in Vienna.
0See Great Britain. Home Department. Reports of the departmental
committees appointed to investigate the dangers attendant on the use of
paints containing lead in the painting of buildings, etc. London, 1920.
Vol. Ill, pp. 40-47.)
T e l e k y , L u d w i g , G r o t j a h n , A., a n d K a u p , T.
Article on industrial poisons including lead, with bibliography.
Handworterbuch der Sozialen Hygiene, Leipzig, 1912.
T o l m a n , C. P.
Lead poisoning and its prevention.
(in National Safety Council, proceedings, eighth annual congress,
Cleveland, Oct. 1-4, 1919. [Chicago, 1919?], pp. 448-458.)
U n it e d S t a t e s . Bureau of the Census.
Census of manufactures: Smelting and refining (nonferrous metals).
Washington, 1923. 12 pp.
—
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Deaths from industrial lead poisoning (actually reported) in New York
State in 1909 and 1910, by John B. Andrews.
Washington, 1911. Bulletin No. 95, pp. 260-282.
----------- —
Clinical study of frequency of lead, turpentine, and benzine poisoning
in 402 painters.
Monthly Labor Review, March, 1919, pp. 226-229.
------------- Hygiene of the printing trades, by Alice Hamilton and Charles H.
Verrill.
Washington, 1917. 118 pp. (Bui. No. 209.)
------------- Industrial lead poisoning, with descriptions of lead processes in certain
industries in Great Britain and the western States of Europe, by Sir Thomas
Oliver.
Washington, 1911. Bulletin No. 95, pp. 1-188.
------------- Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, and porcelain enameled sanitary
ware factories, bv Alice Hamilton.
Washington, 1912. 95 pp. (Bui. No. 104.)
------------- Lead poisoning in the smelting and refining of lead, by Alice Hamilton
Washington, 1914. 97 pp. (Bui. No. 141.)
------------- Lead poisoning in the manufacture of storage batteries, by Alice
Hamilton.
Washington, 1914. 38 pp. (Bui. No. 165.)
------------- Mortality from respiratory diseases in dusty trades (inorganic dusts),
by Frederick L. Hoffman.
Washington, 1918. 458 pp. (Bui. No. 231.)
------------- Report of British departmental committee on the danger in the use of
lead in the painting of buildings.
Washington, 1918. 207 pp. (Bui. No. 188.)
------------- The white-lead industry in the United States, with an appendix on the
lead-oxide industry, by Alice Hamilton.
Washington, 1911. Bulletin No. 95, pp. 189-259.
------------- Women in the lead industries, by Alice Hamilton,
Washington, 1919. 38 pp. (Bui. No. 253.)




DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING

45

Public Health Service.
Lead poisoning in the pottery trades, by B. J. Newman, W. J. McConnell
O. M. Spencer, and F. M. Phillips.
Washington, May, 1921. 223 pp. (United States Public Health
Bulletin No. 116.)
------------- A note on the prevention of lead poisoning in certain rubber-working
industries, by L. Greenburg.
Public Health Reports, June 27, 1924, pp. 1567, 1568.
------ Women’s Bureau.
Women workers and industrial poisons, by Alice Hamilton. Washington,
1926. 5 pp. (Bulletin No. 57.)
U n it e d S t a t e s .

U n iv e b s it e t e t s H y g ie in is k e I n s t it u t .

Meddelelser.

Bind III.

Copenhagen, 1923.

Lead poisoning, by Johanus Lou.

V.
Clinical aspects of lead meningo-encephalopathy.
Annals of Clinical Medicine, March, 1923, vol. 3, pp. 604-613.
W e l l e r , C a r l V., and C h r i s t e n s e n , A i l e e n D.
The cerebrospinal fluid in lead poisoning.
Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, September, 1925, vol. 14, pp.
327-345.

W eller, C arl

T h e w h it e l e a d q u e s t io n .

An anonymous contribution.




[London, 1924 ?]

(Photostat.)




LIST OF BULLETINS OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
The following is a list of all bulletins of the Bureau of Labor Statistics published since
July, 1912, except that in the case of bulletins giving the results of routine surveys of the
bureau, only the latest bulletin on any one subject is here listed.
A complete list of the reports and bulletins issued prior to July, 1912, as well as the bul­
letins published since that date, will be furnished on application. Bulletins marked thus
(*) are out of print.

Wholesale Prices.
No. 284. Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries. [1921.]
No. 415. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1925.

Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
♦No. 121.
♦No. 130.
♦No. 164.
No. 170.
No. 357.
No. 369.
No. 418.

Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer. [1913.]
Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer. [1913.]
Butter prices, from producer to consumer. [1914.]
Foreign food prices as affected by the war. [1915.]
Cost of living in the United States. [1924.]
The use of cost-of-living figures in wage adjustments. [1925.]
Retail prices, 1890 to 1925.

Wages and Hours of Labor.
♦No. 146. Wages and regularity of employment and standardization of piece rates in the dress and waist
industry of New York City. [1914.]
♦No. 147. Wages and regularity of employment in the cloak, suit, and skirt industry. [1914.]
No. 161. Wages and hours of labor in the clothing and cigar industries, 1911 to 1913.
No. 163. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam-railroad cars, 1907 to 1913.
♦No. 190. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907 to 1914.
No. 204. Street-railway employment in the United States. [1917.]
No. 225. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1915.
No. 265. Industrial survey in selected industries m the United States, 1919.
No. 297. Wages and hours of labor in the petroleum industry, 1920.
No. 348. Wages and hours of labor in the automobile industry, 1922.
No. 356. Productivity costs in the common-brick industry. [1924.]
No. 358. Wages and hours of labor in the automobile-tire industry, 1923.
No. 360. Time and labor costs in manufacturing 100 pairs of shoes. [1924.]
No. 365. Wages and hours of labor in the paper and pulp industry, 1923.
No. 371. Wages and hours of labor in cotton-goods manufacturing, 1924.
No. 374. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1924
No. 376. Wages and hours of labor in the hosiery and underwear industry, 1907 to 1924.
No. 377. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1924.
No. 381. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1924.
No. 387. Wages and hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry, 1911 to 1924.
No. 394. Wages and hours of labor in metalliferous mines, 1924.
No. 404. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1925.
No. 407. Labor cost of production and wages and hours in the paper box-board industry. [1926.]
No. 412. Wages, hours, and productivity in the pottery industry, 1925.
No. 413. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber industry in the United States, 1925.
No. 416. Hours and earnings in anthracite and bituminous coal mining, 1922 and 1924.
No. 421. Wages and hours of labor in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry, 1925. (In press.)
No. 422. Wages and hours of labor in foundries and machine shops, 1925.

Employment and Unemployment.
♦No.
No.
♦No.
♦No.
No.

109.
172.
183.
195.
196.

♦No. 202.
No. 206.
♦No. 227.
No. 235.
♦No. 241.
No. 247.
No. 310.
No. 409.

Statistics of unemployment and the work of employment offices in the United States. [1913.]
Unemployment in New York City, N. Y . [1915.]
Regularity of employment in the women’s ready-to-wear garment industries. [1915.]
Unemployment in the United States. [1916.]
Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference held at Minneapolis, Minn., January,
1916.
Proceedings of the conference of Employment Managers’ Association of Boston, Mass.,
held May 10,1916.
The British system of labor exchanges. [1916.]
Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference, Philadelphia, Pa., April 2 and 3,
1917.
Employment system of the Lake Carriers’ Association. 11918.j
Public Employment offices in the United States. [1918.]
Proceedings of Employment Managers’ Conference, Rochester, N. Y ., May 9-11,1918.
Industrial unemployment: A statistical study of its extent and causes. [1922.]
Unemployment in Columbus, Ohio, 1921 to 1925.

Proceedings of Annual Meetings of International Association of Public Employment Services.

No. 192. First, Chicago, December 19 and 20, 1913; Second, Indianapolis, September 24 and 25, 1914:
Third, Detroit, July 1 and 2,1915.
No. 220. Fourth, Buffalo, N. Y., July 20 and 21,1916.
No. 311. Ninth, Buffalo, N. Y., September 7-9,1921.
No. 337. Tenth, Washington, D. C., September 11-13,1922.
No. 355. Eleventh, Toronto, Canada, September 4-7, 1923.
No. 400. Twelfth, Chicago, 111., May 19-23, 1924.
No. 414. Thirteenth, Rochester, N. Y., September 15-17, 1925.




(i)

Women and Children In Industry.
No. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in selected industries
in the District of Columbia. [1913?]
117. Prohibition of night work of young persons. [1913.]
118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons. [1913.]
119. Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin. [1913.]
122. Employment of women in power laundries in Milwaukee. [1913.]
160. Hours, earnings, and conditions of labor of women in Indiana mercantile establishments and
garment factories. [1914.]
•No. 167. Mmimum-wage legislation in the United States and foreign countries. [1915.]
♦No. 175. Summary of the report on conditions of women and child wage earners in the United States.
[1915.]
♦No. 176. Effect of minimum-wage determinations in Oregon. [1915.]
•No. 180. The boot and shoe industry in Massachusetts as a vocation for women. [1915.]
•No. 182. Unemployment among women in department and other retail stores of Boston, Mass. [1916.]
No. 193. Dressmaking as a trade for women in Massachusetts. [1916.]
No. 215. Industrial experience of trade-school girls in Massachusetts. [1917.]
•No. 217. Effect of workmen's compensation laws in diminishing the necessity of industrial employ*
ment of women and children. [1918.]
No. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war. [1917.]
No. 253. Women in lead industries. [1919.]

•No.
♦No.
•No.
♦No.
No.

Workmen’s Insurance and Compensation (including laws relating thereto).
♦No. 101.
•No. 102.
•No. 103.
No. 107.
•No. 155.
No. 212.
No. 243.
No. 301.
No. 312.
No. 379.
No. 423.

Care of tuberculous wage earners in Germany. [1912.]
British National Insurance Act, 1911.
Sickness and accident insurance law of Switzerland. [1912.]
Law relating to insurance of salaried employees in Germany. [1913.]
Compensation for accidents to employees of the United States. [1914.]
Proceedings of the conference on social insurance called by the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, Washington, D. C., December 5-9,1916.
Workmen’s compensation legislation in the United States and foreign countries, 1917 and
1918.
Comparison of workmen’s compensation insurance and administration. [1922.]
National health insurance in Great Britain, 1911 to 1920.
Comparison of workmen’s compensation laws of the United States as of January 1, 1925.
Workmen’s compensation legislation of the United States and Canada. [1926.]

Proceedings of Annual Meetings of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and
Commissions.
•No. 210.
No. 248.
No. 264.
•No. 273.
No. 281.
No. 304.
No. 333.
No. 359.
No. 385.
No. 395.
No. 406.

Third, Columbus, Ohio, April 25-28,1916.
Fourth, Boston, Mass.. August 21-25,1917.
Fifth, Madison, Wis., September 24-27, 1918.
Sixth, Toronto, Canada, September 23-26,1919.
Seventh, San Francisco, Calif., September 20-24,1920.
Eighth, Chicago, 111., September 19-23,1921.
Ninth, Baltimore, Md., October 9-13, 1922.
Tenth, St. Paul, Minn., September 24-26, 1923.
Eleventh, Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 26-28, 1924.
Index to proceedings, 1914-1924.
Twelfth, Salt Lake City, Utah, August 17-20,1925.

Industrial Accidents and Hygiene.

•No. 104. Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, and porcelain enameled sanitary-ware factories.
[1912.]
No. 120. Hygiene in the painters’ trade. [1913.]
•No. 127. Dangers to workers from dust and fumes, and methods of protection. [1913.]
•No. 141. Lead poisoning in the smelting and refining of lead. [1914.]
•No. 157. Industrial accident statistics. [1915.]
•No. 165. Lead poisoning in the manufacture of storage batteries. [1914.]
•No. 179. Industrial poisons used in the rubber industry. [1915.]
No; 188. Report of British departmental committee on the danger in the use of lead in the painting
of buildings. [1916.]
•No. 201. Report of committee on statistics and compensation-insurance cost of the International
Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. [1916.]
•No. 207. Causes of death by occupation. [1917.]
•No. 209. Hygiene of the printing trades. [1917.]
No. 219. Industrial poisons used or produced in the manufacture of explosives. [1917.]
No. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories. [1917.]
No. 230. Industrial efficiency and fatigue in British munition factories. [1917.]
•No. 231. Mortality from respiratory diseases in dusty trades (inorganic dusts). [1918.]
No. 234. Safety movement in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1917.
•No. 236. Effect of the air hammer on the hands of stonecutters. [1918.]
No. 249. Industrial health and efficiency. Final report of British Health of Munition Workers Com­
mittee. [1919.]
•No. 251. Preventable death in the cotton-manufacturing industry. [1919.]
No. 256. Accidents and accident prevention in machine building. [1919.]
No. 267. Anthrax as an occupational disease. [1920.]
No. 276. Standardization of industrial accident statistics. [1920.]
No. 280. Industrial poisoning in making coal-tar dyes and dye intermediates. [1921.]
No. 291. Carbon monoxide poisoning. [1921.]
No. 293. The problem of dust phthisis in the granite-stone industry. [1922.]
No. 298. Causes and prevention of accidents in the iron and steel industry, 1910 t;o 1919.
No. 306. Occupational hazards and diagnostic signs: A guide to impairments to be looked for in hazard­
ous occupations. [1922.]
No. 339. Statistics of industrial accidents in the United States. [1923.]
No. 392. Survey of hygienic conditions in the printing trades. [1925.]
No. 405. Phosphorus necrosis in the manufacture of fireworks and the preparation of phosphorus.
[1926.]
No. 425. Record of industrial accidents in the United States to 1925.




(h )

Conciliation and Arbitration (including strikes and lockouts),
*No. 124. Conciliation and arbitration in the building tiaies of Greater New York. [1913.]
“No. 133. Report of the industrial council of the British Board of Trade in its inquiry into industrial
agreements. [1913.]
*No. 139. Michigan copper district strike. [1914.]
No. 144. Industrial court of the cloak, suit, and skirt industry of New York City. [1914.]
No. 145. Conciliation, arbitration, and sanitation in the dress and waist industry of New York City.
*No. 191.
*No. 198.
No. 233.
No. 255.
No. 283.
No. 287.
No. 303.
No. 341.
No. 402.
No. 419.

Collective bargaining in the anthracite coal industry. [1916.]
Collective agreements in the men’s clothing industry. [1916.]
Operation of the industrial disputes investigation act of Canada. [1918.]
Joint industrial councils in Great Britain. [1919.]
History of the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board, 1917 to 1919.
National War Labor Board: History of its formation, activities, etc. [1921.1
Use of Federal power in settlement of railway labor disputes. [1922.]
Trade agreement in the silk-ribbon industry of New York City. [1923.1
Collective bargaining by actors. [1926.]
Trade agreements, 1925.

Labor Laws of the United States (including decisions of courts relating to labor).
No. 211.
No. 229.
No. 285.
No. 321.
No. 322.
No. 343.
No. 370.
No. 403.
No. 408.
No. 417.

Labor laws and their administration in the Pacific States. [1917.]
Wage-payment legislation in the United States. [1917.1
Minimum-wage legislation in the United States. [1921.1
Labor laws that have been declared unconstitutional. [1922.]
Kansas Court of Industrial Relations. [1923.]
Laws providing for bureaus of labor statistics, etc. [1923.]
Labor laws of the United States, with decisions of courts relating thereto.
Labor legislation of 1925.
Labor laws relating to payment of wages. [1926.]
Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1925.

[1925.]

Foreign Labor Laws.

*No. 142. Administration of labor laws and factory inspection in certain European countries.

Vocational and Workers* Education.

[1914.]

*No.
*No.
No.
No.

159.
162.
199.
271.

Short-unit courses for wage earners, and a factory school experiment.
Vocational education survey of Richmond, Va. [1915.1
Vocational education survey of Minneapolis, Minn. [1916.]
Adult working-class education in Great Britain and the United States.

No.
No.
No.
No.

331.
336.
338.
350.

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

351.
364.
375.
378.
382.
410.

Code of lighting factories, mills, and other work places.
Safety code for the protection of industrial workers in foundries.
Safety code for the use, care, and protection of abrasive wheels.
Specifications of laboratory tests for approval of electric headlighting devices for motor
vehicles.
Safety code for the construction, care, and use of ladders.
Safety code for mechanical power-transmission apparatus.
Safety code for laundry machinery and operation.
Safety 'code for woodworking plants.
Code of lighting school buildings.
Safety code for paper and pulp mills.

Safety Codes.

[1915.]
[1920.]

Industrial Relations and Labor Conditions.
No. 237.
No. 340.
No. 349.
No. 361.
No. 380.
No. 383.
No. 384.
No. 399.

Industrial unrest in Great Britain. [1917.]
Chinese migrations, with special reference to labor conditions. [1923.]
Industrial relations in the West Coast lumber industry. [1923.]
Labor relations in the Fairmont (W. Va.) bituminous-coal field. [1924.]
Postwar labor conditions in Germany.
Works council movement in Germany. [1925.]
Labor conditions in the shoe industry in Massachusetts, 1920 to 1924.
Labor relations in the lace and lace-Curtain industries in the United States. [1925.]

Welfare Work.

*No. 123. Employers’ welfare work. [1913.]
No. 222. Welfare work in British munitions factories. [1917.]
*No. 250. Welfare work for employees in industrial establishments in the United States. [1419.1

Cooperation.

No. 313. Consumers’ cooperative societies in the United States in 1920.
No. 314. Cooperative credit societies in America and in foreign countries.

Housing.

[1922.]

•No. 158.
No. 263.
No. 295.
No. 424.

Government aid to home owning and housing of working people in foreign countries.
Housing by employers in the United States. [1920.]
Building operations in representative cities in 1920.
Building permits in the principal cities of the United States, 1925.

No. 266.
No. 307.
♦No. 323.
No. 352.
No. 389.
No. 411.

Seventh, Seattle, Wash., July 12-15, 1920.
Eighth, New Orleans, La., May 2-6,1921.
Ninth, Harrisburg, Pa., May 22-26, 1922.
Tenth, Richmond, Va., May 1-4, 1923.
Eleventh, Chicago, 111., M ay 19-23, 1924.
Twelfth, Salt Lake City, Utah, August 13-15, 1925

[1914.]

Proceedings of Annual Conventions of the Association of Governmental Labor Officials of the United
States and Canada.




(in)

Miscellaneous Series,
*No. 174. Subject index of the publications of the United St ates Bureau of Labor Statistics up to May 1,
1915.
No. 208. Profit sharing in the United States. [1916.]
No. 242. Food situation in central Europe, 1917.
No. 254. International labor legislation and the society of nations. [1919.1
No. 268. Historical survey of international action affecting labor. [1920.]
No. 282. Mutual relief associations among Government employees in Washington, D. C. [1921.)
No. 299. Personnel research agencies. A guide to organized research in employment, management,
industrial relations, training, and working conditions. [1921.]
No. 319. The Bureau of Labor Statistics: Its history, activities, and organization.
No. 326. Methods of procuring and computing statistical information of tne Bureau of Labor Statistics.
No. 342. International Seamen’s Union of America: A study of its history and problems. [1923.]
No. 346. Humanity in government. [1923.]
No. 372. Convict labor in 1923.
No. 386. The cost of American almshouses. [1925.]
No. 398. Growth of legal-aid work in the United States. [1926.1
No. 401. Family allowances in foreign countries. [1926.]
No. 420. Handbook of American trade-unions. [1926.]




(nr)

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BT THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Description of occupations, prepared by the United States Employment Service, 1918-19,
•Boots and shoes, harness and saddlery, and tanning.
•Cane-sugar refining and flour milling.
Coal and water gas, paint and varnish, paper, printing trades, and robber goods.
•Electrical manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance.
Glass.
Hotels and restaurants.
•Logging camps and sawmills.
Medicinal manufacturing.
Metal working, building and general construction, railroad transportation, and shipbuilding.
•Mines and mining.
•Office employees.
•Slaughtering and meat packing.
•Street railways.
•Textiles and clothing.
Water transportation.




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