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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 2
[Antimonial symptoms]
« Lydney Dispenser, » in the English Mechanic, says: « Antimonial symptoms are often found among type compositors. » If this gentleman has any definite facts or statistics in support of this statement, we would be glad to see them set forth at length. That the idea is prevalent among compositors, as well as that they dread the risk of lead-poisoning, we are aware; but we are inclined to attach no more credence to the belief than to the corresponding one that a free use of brandy is an infallible specific against these poisons. Caslon, in his circular, some years ago, made the very sensible observation, that if any class of men ran a risk of poison from type-metal, it was the page 99
workmen in the foundry; yet among them cases of metallic poisoning are unknown, and there is no healthier or more long-lived class of operatives. We have never known a case of lead-poisoning among printers. There is a common idea that the use of warm water in distribution leads to absorption of the lead, and wrist-paralysis. We have no doubt of the injurious effects of warm water; but from quite another cause. It is liable to relax and weaken the tendons, and the rapid evaporation in very cold weather (which is when warm water would naturally be used) causes chills and rheumatic pains—erroneously attributed to lead poisoning. The real enemy is dirt. We have seen type indescribably filthy from carelessness in washing. Covered with foul and decomposing vegetable and animal matter, it is quite sufficient to cause disease when brought into contact with abraded fingers or lips. In time the foul deposit dries, and the attrition of the type produces a black and poisonous dust in the bottom of the cases. This is simply alive with evil germs. In our own offiee it is a standing rule to « blow out » every case, upper and lower, in the open air, before dis. All forms are thoroughly washed—at once— and the type afterwards well rinsed. Having disposed of the « microbes, » we bid defiance to the metallic poisons, and our comps. find no occasion for the brandy.