CHAPTER IV. 



INDUSTRIAL WORK (Continued). 



Work with Pruning Shears. Imbert ( l ) measured the 

 effort needed in trimming vine shoots with pruning shears 

 (secateur) worked by one hand. This work in the " Midi " is 

 performed by women. He obtained, by the methods already 

 described the following results : 



Thickness of vine shoot, in milli- 

 metres 3-5 4- 6-75 10-5 



Effort in kilogrammes 2- 3-4 4-4 13- 



The average output of a good workwoman was 3,000 cuts, 

 equivalent to an output of muscular effort of, at least, 27,138 

 kilogrammes. No determination was made of the expenditure 

 of energy. 



The variation in output of different women was about 100%. 

 This variation was due to differences in manual skill which re- 

 sulted in saving time as much as to variations in the thickness of 

 the shoots cut. The experienced woman arranged matters so 

 as to move her body as little as possible and to interupt the 

 motion of the sheais for only such a time as was needed to pass 

 from one shoot to another. A graphical record of such work 

 shows great regularity, except in the case of a woman new to the 

 work. 



323. Working in Wood. No investigation has yet been made 

 of the work of the joiner or the wood turner, nor has any scientific 

 study been made of wood-working tools and machinery. It 

 would seem to have been thought that such study would be 

 wanting in practical value. Yet here also scientific organisation 

 might render possible some reduction in the hours of labour, a 

 desirable consummation since the dust of certain woods may 

 have toxic qualities ( 185). 



324. Glass Polishing. Amontons ( 2 ) made some measure- 

 ments of this with a spring balance, and from his data it may 

 be calculated that a glass polisher exerts an average effort of 

 12-24 kg. at a speed of -97 metres for an effective working day 

 of 10 hours, the daily production being 205,109 kilogrammetres. 

 This figure must undoubtedly represent the maximum obtainable. 



( J ) A. Imbert (Revue d'Hygiene, 1909, p. 749; Rev. Gin. des Sc., 1911, 

 p. 481). 



( 2 ) Amontons (Mem. Acad. Roy. Sc., 1699, p. 112). 



