100 parts to the million of air. The average amount of carbon monoxid present in these shops was 325 parts to the million of air, the maximum being 1,881 parts, while the minimum was 105 parts. Of the samples taken in these shops near windows, at points as far away as possible from sources of contamination, the amounts of carbon monoxid present ranged from 2 to 39.6 parts per million of air, or an average carbon-monoxid content of 11. parts per million.

It is evident from the figures just given that the contamination of the ar of the shops examined was significant only in the vicinity of pressing irons, Presers, therefore, are the group of garment workers particularly exposed to the hazard of chronic poisoning by carbon monoxid. In considering the results of the air analyses, however, it should be considered that this study was made during the openwindow season, when nearly all the shop windows were open. In the shops studied there was very little attempt to provide any aids to natural ventilation. No mechanical exhaust system was used in any of the shops visited. Electric fans were provided in only 6 per cent of the shops inspected. Less than one-half of such places used the fans. An odor of gas was perceptible in 93 establishments, or in 35 per cent of the total number. Of 29 shops in which the amount of carbon monoxid present exceeded 100 parts per million, an odor of gas was present in 27. *

In many instances defective tubing was found conveying ga- to pressing irons, Such defective tubing was found in 66 shops, or in about 27 per cent of the total number. Of the 244 shops studied, 122, or 30 per cent, used ordinary gas irons only; 102 shops, or 41 8 per cent u el “blower" irons exclusively, while the rest used miscel

That the amounts of carbon monoxid found in the air of workshops were not fortuitous was shown by the resuits of reinspections. În some instines the amounts of this gis found at a second visit ercer le l that present at the first examination.

The sources of carbon monoxid in the air of workshops of the Women's garment and try were found to be:

try. Defective combustion of gas in pressing irons

ca D fluson of illuminating gas through the walls of gas hose not VI. V defective.

c) Levage from defective gas connections and defective gas Love, The • three sources of the contamination of air with carbon motoved were therefore investigated.

『,

aten produite of premist ironx Two general types of gas are in general use in the women's garment trades, s born ng a mixture of gas and air at atto phere rear 1 425 pressig itots in which the gas and at mature opped under presure by means of Howing apparaten, Con toration of the cot, truction and analyses of the combustion prod 1 ts of t⚫ atmosphere iron in many instances showed that t:.. t: n of the gas and ar nxture is defective In one in tabee 2 per cent of carbon monox. I was found in the com chu-ti in prodits

... one type of atmospheric iron, while the average for og at different Te comiast on preds, ts from an im not the from proper'ya tel el to ̧.9% te prate of cat on peroxid in mal quantities were pix ant.

Permeability of walls of gas tubing and gas connections to illuminating gas. Some 68 tests were made of the permeability to illuminating gas of the walls of gas hose.

The results of these tests show, (1) that none of the tubing tested was found to be perfectly gas tight, (2) that the permeability of new tubing is increased if gas be passed through it for a certain period (30 to 60 hours) before making the test, (3) that rubber tubing is the least permeable to gas, and, finally, (4) that the walls of flexible metal tubing and "composition" tubing give considerable leakage of illuminating gas.

The rubber ends used to connect gas hose with gas irons and with sources of gas supply were found to be prolific sources of gas leakage. Laboratory tests made upon new connections showed that these were by no means gas tight. In practice, the heat generated by gas irons, as well as the constant to-and-fro motion to which they are subjected causes these connections, too frequently made of scrap rubber and possessing but little inherent elasticity, to expand and to lose the little elasticity originally present so that considerable quantities of illuminating gas escape into the air. The ends also frequently become loosened or entirely detached from the gas tubing, thus leading to crude and ineffectual attempts on the part of the user to make them gas tight by bandaging with tape, rags, and the like.

Hygienic significance of small amounts of carbon monoxid.-It was evident from the foregoing studies that the opportunities are numerous for the contamination of the air of workshops of the women's garment trades with carbon-monoxid gas, and that pressers must frequently be exposed to the risks of chronic poisoning. This gas possesses such affinity for the hemoglobin of the blood that even small quantities in the air of interiors may be detrimental to Health. While we are, as yet, without exact standards as to the minimum amount of carbon monoxid which may be present, without causing harmful effects, in the air of interiors, it is probable that quantities of this gas in excess of 200 parts per million of air exert a deleterious influence upon those continuously exposed to such atmosphere. Carbon monoxid in excess of the proportions just given was found present in a number of instances in the air of the workshops studied.

Freedom from the hazard of carbon-monoxid poisoning due to the use of gas-heated pressing irons can be secured only by the use of approved types of gas irons, carefully selected rubber tubing, gastight connections, and a well-devised system of frequent inspection and constant maintenance. The hazard of chronic carbon-monoxid poisoning may be eliminated by the use of electrically heated pressing irons.

The results of this investigation are being published as Public Health Bulletin 81.

RELATION OF HEALTH OF GARMENT WORKERS TO ECONOMIC STATUS.

Data obtained in the investigation of garment workers in New York City were analyzed by Surg. B. S. Warren and Public Health Statis tician Edgar Sydenstricker in a paper printed in the Public Health

Reports and issued as Reprint No. 341. The conclusion reached was that the greatest number of poorly nourished, anemic, and tuberculous workers were in that group composed of the lowest paid and the least regularly employed.

ILLUMINATION IN GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS,

Photometric surveys.-During the fiscal year the studies begun during the previous year of the hygienie aspects of illumination in relation to occupation and to vision of workers were continued. Photometric surveys of large Federal buildings in Washington, D. C., were undertaken and completed. These surveys covered the Treasury Building and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The results of this survey are now being compiled.

Studies of vision.-These studies were conducted as part of the illumination survey. The Federal bureaus mentioned contain a large body of employees who perform exacting eye work. In addition to investigating the conditions of illumination, it was thought that a study of the ocular conditions present in the workers concerned should yield instructive data. Accordingly Surg. G. L. Collins was detailed to make the studies in question. A room in the Treasury Building was fitted with the necessary equipment to make complete eve examinations. Representative groups of employees from the Treasury Department, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and the Government Printing Office have been carefully examined as to their ocular status. Records of the visual examinations of about 1,000 individuals have been collected so far.

A large number of varieties of close eve work are represented, such as proof reading, engraving, bill counting and sorting, adding machine operation, and clerical work of various kinds. For comparative purposes, groups of persons not subjected to eyestrain, such as laborers and elevator operators, have also been included among those

examined.

HEALTH CONDITIONS SURROUNDING EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN

WISCONSIN.

Purpose ofvestigation. The laws of the State of Wisconsin provide that the hours of labor for women in that State shall be such ww not to prejudice their safety or welfare. The industrial commis sion of the State is charged by law with the duty, after die investi gation, of fixing the hours of labor in women employing industries so as to comply with the fundamental principle expressed in the State law in regard to these hours,

The Industrial Commission of Wisconsin requested the cooperation of the Public Health Service in making an investigation of the health conditions surroun-htg the en.ployment of women in that State in order to obtain data upon which the hours of er ployment of women might be satisfactorily fixed. Passed Ast. Surg Robert Ole- ni was detailed to make this study under the general supervision of the officer in charge of held invest gratior sin occupational leases Work was begun in November, 1915, and has been steadily con Unsed » me that time.

Scope. So far, the scope of this study has been as follows:

(1) A general survey of all the women-employing industries in the State, with a view to gaining an idea of the sanitary conditions surrounding women employed in industries, their hours of employment, and the health hazards to which they are exposed.

(2) A study of the total sanitary environment of working women. together with the collection of data as to their intimate personal and industrial histories, the time lost through illness and other pertinent information relating to health.

(3) Detailed studies of the fatigue curve and hourly production in typical operations and processes in women-employing industries. (1) Comparative studies of the fatigue curves, hourly, daily, and weekly production in industrial establishments employing women 8 hours and 10 hours daily, respectively.

(5) Collection of data as to the effect of defective sanitary conditions in the causation of fatigue. These data include the effects of excessive temperature and humidity, defective illumination, and similar unhygienic conditions.

General survey.-The general survey of women-employing industries comprised a study of 11 establishments covering practically every industry using female labor in the State. This survey served to gain an excellent idea of the general industrial environment, the hours of labor, and the sanitary status of the establishments studied.

Environment of female workers.-The study of the total environment of female workers and the collection of intimate personal and industrial histories has been conducted by a special field investigator, under the supervision of Passed Asst. Surg. Olesen. The object of this portion of the study is to determine the influence upon the health of female workers, of the environment outside the shop, the character and amount of their nourishment, the morbidity incident to their employment, the effect of the menstrual epoch, the amount of daily rest required by various individuals in order to secure complete recuperation from the fatigue of the day, the time available for recreation and personal improvement, the time spent in performing additional domestic duties, their nature and extent, and similar data of service in evaluating the total stress laid upon women occupied in industries under conditions as they exist in the State.

Fatigue curve-The special detailed studies of the fatigue curve, as exemplified by the study of the hourly production, have been undertaken with a view to investigating the fatigue incident to the day's work. Data of several kinds are being collected, as follows:

(1) A record of the production throughout each hour of the day in order to study the onset of fatigue; to determine if, in the operations studied, there is evidence of cumulative fatigue throughout the week; the period of time during which the worker is (a) active, (b) attentive but not actively productive, (c) the amount of idle (nonproductive) time; the effects of certain variables upon the production (a list of some 20 has been compiled); the effects of heat, humidity, the weather conditions of illumination; and the menstrual epoch upon production and consequent fatigue.

(2) Comparative studies in similar operations of the effects of an 8-hour and of a 10-hour day, respectively, upon the production.

In making these fatigue studies Passed Asst. Surg. Olesen has been assisted by seven special female field investigators. It is thought that the data already collected are of considerable value. It is hoped, as a result of these studies, that a substantial contribution will be made to the difficult task of determining intelligent criteria by which to regulate the hours of labor for women and thus to promote their health and efliciency.

STUDY OF HEALTH OF STEEL WORKERS.

Through the courtesy of the Carnegie Steel Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., permission was obtained to make a detailed study of the effects of occupation in the steel industry upon the health of workers. This study is being conducted at a large steel plant in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. The general methods of investigation pursued have been similar to those in the investigation of the health of garment workers. (See Public Health Bulletin No. 71.)

The investigation embraces the following points:

(1) Careful physical examination of representative groups of steel workers.

(2) Collection of social and economic data.

(3) Detailed survey of places of employment within the plant. (4) Detailed studies of certain processes and operations.

An examination room was placed at the disposal of the service by the steel company. All the examinations have been voluntary, the objects of the investigations having been previously explained to the workers. The work has been carried on by Surg. J. W. Schereschewsky, in general charge, by Surg. G. L. Collins, who made a study of the eye conditions prevailing among steel workers, and by Passed Asst. Surg. J. A. Watkins, Asst. Surg. H. F. Smith, and Scientific Assistant V. A. Williams. By the close of the fiscal year complete physical examinations had been made of about 925 steel workers. The data collected promise to be interesting and valuable.

A PLAN FOR EDUCATION IN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.

A plan for cooperation between private agencies and Federal, State, and local authorities in the education of the worker in industrial hygiene and in the avoidance of occupational complaints was prepared by Surg. J. W. Schereschewsky and presented in an article published in the Public Health Reports and issued as Reprint No. 302. Information is to be disseminated by: (1) Permanent exhibits; (2) traveling exhibits, including moving pictures; (3) popular lectures; (4) bulletins issued for popular distribution by Federal, State, and local health authorities and by private associations; (5) popular articles published by the press; and (6) instruction in public schools.

COOPERATION WITH PENNSYLVANIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND

INDUSTRY.

Relations with the State Department of Labor and Industry of Pennsylvania have been entered into on a basis of mutual cooperation. Assistance will be reciprocally given by the Federal and State Governments in the making of various studies for the improvement of industrial hygienic conditions generally. The results of such mutual cooperation should be valuable.