5 2 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



The volume commences with a description of the process of Lead Smelting, 

 and of the manufacture of red and white lead. It is pointed out that the British 

 miner is free from any danger of lead poisoning, but the trouble begins with the 

 smelting of the ore. Not only the workmen, but even domestic animals which are 

 exposed to the noxious fumes are liable to suffer. There are many interesting 

 examples of cows, dogs, poultry, etc., rapidly succumbing to an acute form of 

 the disease. Herbage and flowers in the neighbourhood of the works may be 

 destroyed. 



There is an account of industrial lead poisoning, with special reference to the 

 injurious emanations from freshly painted surfaces. Lead may not be the only 

 harmful substance in paint. It is possible that carbon-monoxide gas, or certain 

 aldehydic bodies given oft as vapour, may produce symptoms resembling 

 Saturnism. Again, turpentine, petroleum spirit, and benzene, employed in 

 mixing paints, are liable to cause serious mischief. 



The benefits to the workmen afforded by the Home Office regulations, which 

 apply to the inspection of factories, have been particularly marked in industries 

 in which lead is employed, and are likely to lead in the future to a still further 

 reduction in the prevalence of lead poisoning. The statistics given in the book 

 show the progressive diminution in the frequency of the disease. The question of 

 the relative values of lead paints and leadless paints is discussed in detail, the 

 difficulty in this respect being to meet the somewhat opposite requirements of 

 the artisan and the sanitary authority. 



Lead poisoning as it occurs in various trades— viz. among painters, in the 

 manufacture of china and earthenware, in painting, plumbing, dyeing, glass- 

 making, and tinning — is dealt with fully, the particularly dangerous department 

 in each of these industries being clearly indicated. The" author's experience in 

 the potteries of Hungary makes good reading. The ravages of lead are much 

 worse there than in England. The workers themselves, and their wives and 

 children, until comparatively recently, suffered terribly from its effects — paralysis, 

 blindness, and insanity being rife. 



The remainder of the volume is devoted chiefly to the medical aspect of the 

 subject. The mode of entrance of the poison, the symptoms and complications 

 of the disease, the pathological features, and the preventive measures and curative 

 treatment are described in a concise and lucid manner. The dangers of lead in 

 food and drinking-water are mentioned, and it is shown that in the latter case 

 widespread suffering may be caused. It is, however, in the form of dust that lead 

 is the most troublesome, since it can enter the body through the skin, the respi- 

 ratory tract, and the mouth and alimentary canal. The author is of opinion that, 

 even in cases where the dust is inhaled, the bulk of the poison first passes into 

 the alimentary canal before entering the system. For this reason it is important 

 that workmen should have a good meal in the morning, since, when proteid 

 digestion is proceeding, the amount of lead absorbed is insignificant. 



From the pathological aspect the pros and cons of basophilic granulation of 

 the red blood corpuscles as a diagnostic sign of early plumbism are considered. 

 Sir Thomas disagrees with the views of some British and Continental physicians 

 who claim that it is of value. Individual sections of the book are devoted to the 

 pathology and clinical features of the blue line on the gums, colic and constipa- 

 tion, headache, loss of vision, and muscular and nervous symptoms, etc. The 

 frequency of a positive Wassermann reaction in lead poisoning is on a parallel 

 with the close resemblance of saturnine pseudo-general paralysis to the condition 

 found in general paralytics. 



