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accordance with certain facts. He mentioned a case of

punctured wound of the seventh cervical vertebra in which,apart from the typical loss of sensibility for pain and

temperature on the right side, there was an isolated dis-turbance of the sensibility of the left forearm in the line of aprotopathic zone. This happened without there being anyconnexion of fibres.

On the Relation between Oxygen Supply and Circulation.Dr. PLESCH (Berlin) described a method for determining in

the human subject both in health and disease (1) the quantityof blood driven into the circulation at each contraction of theheart (Sohlagvolqtmen) ; and (2) the quantity of blood whichcirculated in a minute (Minutenvolumen). He found that inhealthy persons the average Schlagvolumen was 60 cubiccentimetres and that the average Minutenvolumen was 4’ 5litres, the extreme range being respectively from 40 to 80cubic centimetres for the former and from three to five litresfor the latter. It was found that 30 per cent. of the oxygenin the arterial blood was appropriated for the organism, sothat the blood came back to the heart with 70 per cent.In valvular diseases the Schlagvolumen was not at all

smaller ;’it might even be greater in the state of compensa-tion as, for instance, in stenosis of the mitral valve. Theduration of circulation was in healthy persons 55 seconds,and 65 beats of the heart were necessary to propel the bloodfrom the heart through the circulation and back to theheart. In increased muscular exertion the duration of thecirculation might be accelerated by five seconds, and thiswas also the case in anaemic persons, for in them the

quantity of the blood was diminished and the Mi7t?ttenvol-iimenwas increased. On the other hand, the duration of thecirculation was but little increased in chlorosis.

General Septicæmia Originating in the Maiith..Dr. PAESSLER (Dresden) reported a series of cases of

septicaemia which had originated in the tonsils. Sometimes,although the tonsils themselves were healthy, suppurationmight be present in their recesses. The septicasmia mightbe treated successfully by removing the source of infectionin the mouth. Polyarthritis was also often caused byaffections of the tonsils.

(To be continued.)

REPORT ON HUMIDITY AND VENTILA-TION IN COTTON WEAVING

SHEDS.(FROM OUR MANCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.)

THE report of the Departmental Committee on Humidityin Cotton Weaving Sheds is of great interest to all engagedin the cotton industry and has urgent bearings on thehealth of the cotton operatives; and as Lancashire andCheshire are the chief seats of the industry its importancelocally is very great. Since the first meeting of the Com-mittee on Dec. 13th, 1907, in Manchester, 37 of the44 meetings held took place in Manchester and the neigh-bourhood and the remainder in Glasgow and Bradford.The weaving sheds were divided into " humid " and " dry."Of the former 76 were visited, and 31 of the latter, whilefour worsted mills and ten works where ventilating plant ismanufactured or used were also visited. The questions ofthe use of artificial humidity and of ventilation have beendiscussed for 30 or 40 years, and the practice of the formerseems to have obtained first at Padiham, where it is said itwas introduced from America. In 1882 Dr. Bridges andMr. Osborn reported that the chief complaint, was that theclothes of the workers were so damped by the steam thatcoughs and colds and lung diseases were contracted, withrheumatic and other ailments. These gentlemen thoughtthat neither excessive dust nor steam was inseparable fromthe process of heavy sizing, and that there were secrets ofprocedure which did away with the need for the diffusion ofdust or moisture, and that there was a greater evil than dustor moisture in the lack of ventilation.As the result of an alarming report by Dr. Stephenson,

medical officer of health of Blackburn, in 1887 on the healthof the cotton workers of the district .the borough healthcommittee in 1888 had a special inquiry made, and con-cluded that the ventilation of the mills was unsatisfactory,especially in winter; that heavy steaming had been prac.tised in Blackburn ; that the conditions of work 14 had

influenced the high death-rate " of the borough ; and thatheavy and excessive steaming was injurious to the health ofthe workers, but that light steaming with proper ventilationwas not injurious. In 1889 an Act was passed fixing andtabulating the maximum limits for humidity permissible atdifferent temperatures, and a minimum of 600 cubic feet of £fresh air per hour for each worker was ordered. Comingnearer to the present time, a committee consisting of SirHenry Roscoe, Sir William Roberts, and Dr. Arthur Ransome,appointed in consequence of the representation of theWeavers’ Associations in favour of the abolition of steam-ing, issued a report in 1897 advising certain improvementsin the hygienic conditions, and a standard of 9 volumes ofcarbonic acid in 10,000.

In 1904 it was shown by Mr. Frank Scudder, F.I.C., thatwith adequate and efficient ventilating plant the air of theshed might be kept within the prescribed limits. Not-

withstanding the efforts made to improve the conditions ofthe workers, the leaders of the operatives organised a ballotto get the opinion of the workers on the question of theabolition of "steaming," on the ground that it "producednot only great bodily discomfort but also injury to health,"with the result that 68,154 voted for its abolition, 3094 against,and 1221 were neutral, a convincing majority against steam.ing." There seems to be plenty of evidence that steaming"causes discomfort, but the committee considered that directinjury to health was not proved. It seems that in the United

Kingdom there are 1030 "humid" " and 1636 "dry" cotton.weaving sheds, but while in the latter case the goods madeare of finer quality, it is due to the use of superior qualitiesof yarn. The same classes of goods can be made in the"humid" sheds of an inferior quality of yarn, which is

possible because the damp air prevents the frequentbreakages and delays caused by constant "piecing." All

recognised authorities allow that weaving is facilitated bythe employment of artificial moisture, and before the intro.duction of modern methods primitive modes, such as damp-’ing the floor, called in these parts " degging " (you may heara Lancashire or Cheshire gardener call a watering-can adegging-can), or by putting troughs of water under thelooms, or wet cloths on the beams, especially when drywinds prevailed, were followed. Many of the witnesses

suggested that by the use of better material or improvedsizing the necessity for humidity would cease, but as

long as there is a demand for low-priced goods so

long will there be a supply, "if not from this country,from others, to the detriment of British trade." ;

Sir Henry Roscoe’s committee seems to have considered,chiefly the deposit of moisture on the clothing, andthe consequent chilling effect, rather than the physio-logical disturbances caused by work in a hot and humidatmosphere. It is believed now that the chilling effect onleaving the hot sheds is due to perspiration and absence ofevaporation from the clothing, rather than to deposit of.moisture in the clothing taken off, "except when such

clothing is kept in unsuitable places." The table of

humidity given in the Act of 1901 begins at a dry bulbtemperature of 350 F. and a wet bulb temperature of330 F., and goes up as high as a dry bulb temperatureof 100° F., and a wet bulb temperature of 91° F. Itcannot, however, have been thought possible that weavingcould be carried on at temperatures near either of theextremes. On the whole, the scientific witnesses agreegenerally with the view of Dr. Haldane as given in theJournal of Hygiene, vol. iv., October, 1905. In still andwarm air what matters to those present is the temperatureshown by the wet bulb thermometer. If it exceeds about780 F., continuous hard work becomes impracticable, and he .would propose that 750 wet bulb should be taken as themaximum. Below that there should be a difference of 20between the two thermometers. During the cooler part of the ..year the maximum temperature should be 70°, because moreclothing is then worn, so that when in a warmer place workersare more liable to feel the heat and get wet from perspira- ,tion. He was also in favour of humidifying by means of waterrather than steam to supply the requisite moisture and pro-duce cooling by rapid evaporation. It seems obvious that afine spray of cold water might be an improvement on hot ’steam. In the course of the medical evidence also it wasasserted that a dry shed, even with comparatively bad venti- lation, is preferable to a humid shed conforming to the

present nine-volume standard (of CO2), The ventilation ,standard had important bearings on the question of humidity

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With comparatively dry air, the oftener it is changed in theshed the more necessary is it to have artificial humidity inaid of the weaving process. In 1902 the Haldane Committeerecommended a standard of 12 volumes of CO2 per 10,000,or 20 volumes when gas or oil is used for lighting. This

proposal was much criticised, and by some considered re-actionary, and so required careful consideration by the com-mittee. Authorities, such as Parkes, de Chaumont, andPettenkofer, recommended a standard of six to ten volumesper 10,000, and it has been generally accepted that the CO2was an indication of other impurities injurious to healthrather than the CO2 itself. This idea, however, seems nowto be looked upon as "early Victorian." The trend of

opinion now is to treat the idea of something injuriousexisting in expired air beyond the CO2 itself, as a myth, andthat far more C02 in the air can be breathed comfortablythan is usually thought desirable provided that other con-ditions are favourable and that the supply be continuouslychanged. For instance, there is a mill in Blackburnwhere the same class of goods is manufactured in twosheds under the same roof but divided by a partition.In one shed there is artificial humidity while the other is"dry." In the latter the C02 varied between 34 and 41volumes per 10,000 during many months, yet the workerswere as healthy as those in the "wet" shed where thestandard was maintained. No single complaint was

made by the operatives in the dry shed where there is no

legal standard, while in the humid shed complaints wereuniversal.The evidence of Dr. Haldane, Dr. Leonard Hill, Dr. M. S.

Pembrey, and Dr. A. E. Boycott goes to show that the illeffects of crowded rooms are due less to the percentage of C02than to other factors, as "the heat, humidity, and nervousfatigue from excessive illumination and excitement." Theysay:—" One cannot detect any bad effect from 60 volumes per10,000 when the temperature of the room is low ;" and " Theimportant thing is to keep the wet bulb temperature low.""The quality of freshness and stuffiness in a building, andin consequence the energy or slackness of the inhabitants,has nothing to do with the content of the air in CO2 as such.Cool air free from unpleasant smell but containing 3 percent. of CO2" is found to be a distinctly invigoratingmixture." These opinions are backed up by many quotationsfrom European and American physiologists to the effect that,contrary to the old idea, "There is no poison in breath."" Whenever in shut-up, crowded rooms certain impairmentof health ensues, involving headache, dizziness, sickness, &c.,these symptoms are attributable solely to heat retention.""The normal conditions of the surrounding atmosphere, viz., litemperature, humidity, and movement, are of enormously ’,,greater importance for our comfort and health than the ’,chemical composition of the air. Further, the refreshing ’,sensation noticeable on abundant ventilation of closed roomsor in the open air, results not from the greater chemical ’,purity of the air, but from the more rapid heat-loss from thebody." It is easy to understand that, influenced by theseviews, the committee feels justified in recommending that inhumid sheds the standard of ventilation should be 12volumes of CO2 per 10,000, and that when gas or oil is used ’,for illumination 20 volumes of C02 in 10,000 should beallowed.As regards the maximum temperature of the wet- ’,

bulb thermometer the committee thinks that the evidencescarcely justifies it in coming to a final conclusion. ’’

Notwithstanding this, it unanimously expresses the opinion ’ithat the discomfort and possible injury of the operatives can libest be met by fixing a maximum limit of wet-bulb tempera-ture and by securing between the wet- and dry-bulb tempera-tures a difference sufficient to prevent the deposit of Imoisture. The use of steam for humidifying is generally ’,condemned. There are various forms of " saturators " whichare specially useful where the plenum system of ventilationis adopted. Another evil is due to the construction of thesheds, by which the air-intake is in the roof, and so isheated by the outflowing air. It is urged that the white-washing of the roofs should be more thoroughly done, andthe steam-pipes should be kept better covered. It is also

suggested that the taking of the body temperature, whichwas begun by Dr. E. L. Collis, H.M. medical inspector offactories, should be resumed, especially in sheds wherethe heat is abnormally high. They shoald be visited on thehottest days of the summer, so that some definite informa-tion as to the effects of working in damp atmospheres at

high temperatures could be obtained. To carry this out it is

suggested that the help of the medical officers of health shouldbe obtained, and if this suggestion comes into effect it is tobe hoped that this extra work will be met by increasedpay. Steaming has, it seems, been largely superseded byappliances for introducing " atomised " water into the sheds,and frequently this is also used for the double purpose ofventilation and humidifying. "Live steam " raises the wet-bulb temperature very considerably, and its use is very un-

popular among the operatives. In the districts of Burnley,Nelson, and Colne the operatives have steadily refusedto work in the sheds if artificial humidity is introduced,and no standard of ventilation has been fixed for them.The amount of C02 in these sheds in winter is, on theaverage, 16-5 volumes in 10,000, but exceptionally this ismuch exceeded, and legislation is desirable in these cases.Mechanical ventilation does not seem to be much used in the

dry sheds, but it has been complained of as causing draughts,which would probably not have been the case if the incomingair had been warmed. The purity of the water used is, ofcourse, important, and with the assistance of Mr. Scudder astandard of purity has been agreed on. Briefly, " any waterwhich absorbs from acid solution of permanganate of

potash in four hours at 600 more than 0-5 grainof oxygen per gallon of water shall be deemed to

be liable to cause injury to the health of the personsemployed." Cloak-rooms are recommended, but there aresome difficulties met with. A self-registering hygrometer,to do away with the labour at present involved in takingrecords three times daily, is very desirable, but none so farare fitted to stand the dust and vibration of the weavingsheds.

Summarising the recommendations of the committee, alimit of the wet-bulb temperature should be fixed at whichall admission of artificial humidity should cease, the limit tobe determined by early experiment and to be the lowestnecessary for efficient weaving. The schedule of humidityshould be amended by eliminating all temperatures above themaximum, to be hereafter determined, and all temperaturesbelow 50° on the dry bulb. The standard of ventilation inhumid sheds should be altered from 9 to 12 volumes of

CO2 per 10,000. That in dry sheds 15 volumes of CO2 in10, 000 should be the standard ; that draughts must be avoidedin the sheds; that a standard of purity should be fixed forwater to be used for the purpose of humidifying ; that thereshould be cloak-room arrangements; that the readings ofthe thermometer should be taken jointly by representatives ofemployers and employed; and that there should be a standardhygrometer. It is also recommended, among other details,that the size of steam pipes for the wet bulb should remain asat present pending further inquiry, and the covering of thembe maintained efficiently; and that the cleansing of floors andwalls should be better attended to, as also the whitewashingof roofs. No doubt these recommendations, if carried out,would greatly, in many cases, improve the conditions of work.In a lecture at the Manchester School of Technology givenby Professor J. RadclifEe recently, he passed some criticismon the report of the committee, especially as to the raisingof the COo standard to 12 volumes per 10,000, which heconsidered was a step in the wrong direction "as theavailable quantity of air for each individual was very small,and a great deal depended on the amount of moisture present,the source of the CO2, and the freedom of the air from dust."He said that in many cases the injury to health resultedfrom uncleanliness, deficient ventilation, and constant

changes of temperature directly due to the carelessness,indifference, and ignorance of the work-people. He had haddirect experience of this. He favoured the mechanical

systems of ventilation over the ordinary provisions forventilation, heating, and humidifying of large factories andworkshops. The difficulties generally arose from insufficientcapacity of the plant, or from bad management. Hethought also that some treatment of the yarn might bedevised which would give good results without the presenceof excessive moisture. There will always be some points onwhich opinion may differ, as, for instance, the question ofhumidity, to which Professor Radcliffe thinks too muchattention has been paid, but the great mass of the workersseem to think otherwise. If the suggestions of the Com-mittee are carried out the comfort and health of the opera-tives will no doubt be increased, provided that they do theirshare in maintaining the improved conditions under whichthey would work.