Public Health

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE PREVENTABLE CAUSES OF DISEASE, INJURY, AND DEATH IN AMERICAN MANUFACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS, AND THE BEST MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR PREVENTING AND AVOIDING THEM. By GEORGE H. IRELAND, Springfield, Mass. Copyright, 1886, By Irving A. Watson, Sec. American Public Health Association. All Rights Reserved. THE PREVENTABLE CAUSES OF DISEASE, INJURY, AND DEATH IN AMERICAN MANUFACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS, AND THE BEST MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR PREVENTING AND AVOIDING THEM. We are aware that the home life of the average American mechanic is not what it should be. In considering our subject, we must assume that he comes from a clean house, well ventilated; that he has a pure water- supply; that he brings a well nourished body; that his clothes are clean, and duly cared for;?in fact, his wife's work should praise her in the gates. The location of the factory is an important subject for the workman. In the city he is exposed to lung disease from a smoky atmosphere and impure air, bad eyes from poor light during the day-time, great danger from fire owing to the buildings' being huddled together, and also from the combustible nature of the surroundings. The suburban factory presents disease in the shape of malaria and pulmonary troubles, owing to the fog that rises from the undrained land, and from fevers from the bad or no sewer connection. Unfortunately the builders of factories have not that latitude of choice open to builders of private residences. The manufacturer has many limitations, such as water-power, and proximity to railroads and other factories. Some, of strict necessity, must be carried on in the midst of thickly settled cities. Manufacturers are, however, each year loosening the fetters that seemingly have bound them, and are exercising more thoughtful ca...