262 
THIRTEENTH REPORT. 
case, the problem of machine accidents is a problem of short duration 
only, provided proper action is taken to procure a remedy. 
2. Poisoning — A second problem is that of industrial poisoning. The 
cases of the use of phosphorus in the match industry and of lead in its 
industries are examples of this point. There are many kinds of poisoning- 
in industry due to the use of poisonous substances in the manufacture 
of goods. The analysis of the cases of poisoning show them to be due 
to either ignorance or carelessness of the employee, the lack of foresight 
and care of the employer, and a few non-preventable causes of poisoning. 
These matters come to public attention when they become destructive 
to life and health. When they do come to notice, thev take the usual 
course of legislation for remedy, or the dangers are removed gratu- 
itously by the producers and are remedied within a reasonable period of 
time. 
3. 'Ventilation — A third problem is that of ventilation. This is ap- 
plicable only in certain industries, particularly in the manufacture 
of woolen and cotton goods, and mining. Upon the face of the question 
it is evident that any suffering due to the lack of ventilation is due 
to negligence. Machinery for systems of ventilation is so well known 
that there is no excuse for any plea against an efficient system of ventila- 
tion. The laborer suffers, but he suffers not because of the lack of 
any knowledge which society has, but because that knowledge is not 
used. To base the labor problem upon any such scheme would be to 
consider the problem as a very simple case, and unworthy of serious 
consideration. 
4. The Hours of Wo?'k — The hours of labor which the laborer must 
perform has the most severe results. The effects which the number of 
hours of labor has upon the laborer are far-reaching. It may be the 
cause of some severe illness. It may be the cause of some severe acci- 
dent. I have seen laborers go from the factory so completely exhausted 
by the hours of labor that they were unable to eat. A man in such physi- 
cal condition does many things which he would not do when in the proper 
physical condition. He may stoop to wash his hands or rub his hands 
with a rag, not noticing the belt which is ready to grab him and tear 
off a limb or kill him. He may come in contact with some contagious 
disease, his physique not being in position to keep it olf, due to an ex- 
cess of labor; or it may be the direct cause of the degeneration of the 
character of the man. Not having time to enjoy any recreation, not 
having time even to develop the ordinary capacities of a man by means 
of having the ordinary acquaintance with current events, takes a man 
entirely out of communication with the world, destroys all interest a 
man may have in society or in himself. It leaves for the man nothing 
to lose by whatever acts he may perform. The only thing he has is 
the present misery. To relieve himself of it he takes to drink, 
and through the saloon affiliates himself with all of its institutions. 
That this is the usual course of a laborer laboring an excessive number 
of hours is needless to deny. Life bears it out in many cases of a 
group of employes with an excess of number of hours of labor. 
This most serious portion of the laborer’s difficulty arising from the 
conditions of the place of employment in hours is already largely solved 
through the eight and nine hour day in many of the industries. The 
