Guarding The Worker's Health
Page 20
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REFUSAL to recognize unpleasant truths has, in the past, been responSible for the initiation and perpetration of many quite unnecessary evils.' Among these may be reckoned occupational 'skin diseases, a subject which attracted attention certainly so long ago as the middle of the 18th century, which was made the subject of legislation towards the close of the 19th century, and which aroused definite conscience among public health bodies, employers and employees alike some 25 years ago.
A small booklet recently prepared by Alexander Duckham presents an admirable summary of the genesis, mechanism and treatment of industrial skin diseases; more particulrly those caused by oils and lubricants are' adequately dealt with.
From previous notes in this ,journal, a sufficiently broad knowledge of the general outlines of the position should have been obtained; for this reason, therefore, it is not proposed to review, in detail, the contents of the booklet. Reference, however, may be madi, to three particularly useful sections. First, that on non-occupatiopal skin troubles and their diagnosis, this account being useful for comparing the retative incidence and seriousness of different affections. Secondly, Home Office dicta governing the prevention and cure of those complaints of a strictly occupational type and, finally, a summary of current legislation. It is, we fhink, to be recommended that careful study be made oj experience in foreign countries on these problems; the German literature is particularly prolific and well repays close examination. As a preliminary to advanced reading, Duckham's book can be most warmly commended.