PART II. THE EFFECT OF OCCUPATION ON THE The novel but important line of investigation followed by the Bureau in 1889 and 1890, to determine approximately the influence of occupation upon the health and trade-life of those employed in the leading industries of this State, was continued during the year. The same method of inquiry was pursued, namely, to obtain from the largest practicable number of individuals in the enumerated trades, information, primarily, respecting the age at which they began work therein, their present age, when loss of activity first was experienced and its cause, the period actually at work and their nativity. These returns from six thousand journey men-twenty-one years of age,. upwards-actively engaged as glassworkers, hatters, potters and miners of iron ore, have been published in the two preceding reports. A summary of the data there compiled is reproduced in the present volume, in addition to the detailed results of the current enumeration of the printing and building trades, comprising the returns from 6,815 journeymen employed in the county of Essex, and in the cities of Trenton, Elizabeth, Paterson and Jersey City, namely, 2,732 carpenters, 1,235 house painters, 1,022 bricklayers and masons, 701 stonecutters, 661 plumbers and 461 printers. These are fairly representative of the whole, embracing a very considerable proportion of the workmen in the respective occupations living within the territory covered and accessible at the time of the enumeration. As a rule, this had to be done by a house-to-house canvass during the early hours of the evening; for not only do employers not take kindly to the interruption of their workmen, but most of those engaged in the pursuits mentioned, those of the building trades, work in isolated gangs, and are not to be reached even during work-hours. Under these circumstances, notwithstanding the limited means to employ assistance at the disposal of the Bureau, the results are considered very satisfactory. The building trades, with the exception of plumbers, are largely outdoor employments, and are therefore exempt from the ill-effects of factory life on health. There are no complaints about badly-ventilated shops, except in a few cases by painters confined where mixing of paints is done or where the work is indoors. On the other hand, the methods of scaffolding come in for a good share of censure, with valuable suggestions by some workmen how to guard against accidents, and also on the personal habits of painters and plumbers with respect to the preservation of their health. The carpentry trade, like most other handicrafts, has undergone many changes within the past generation by reason of the introduction of machinery and other modifications in the methods of work. The making of doors, sashes and the ornamental work for finishing a house, was formerly done by hand, and gave work to the men during the winter months working in shops; but this is now largely prepared in the sash factory by machinery, the joiner work being confined mainly to placing it in position in the house. The result has been very materially to reduce the average of skilled handicraft required in the construction of a house, and in a measure to lessen the individuality of the workmen. A carpenter's outfit, and the wear and loss of tools, are a considerable item of expense, but not so great as formerly when all the work was done by hand. An outfit of tools, complete, used to cost from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars, while at the present time he is as well supplied with from forty to fifty dollars' worth as he formerly was with the greater sum. The following good description of what constitutes a carpenter and joiner recently appeared in the Carpenter : * "Strictly speaking, a carpenter is one who constructs the framework of a house, ship or bridge, made of wood. The carpenter completes whatever is necessary to make the structure substantial. The house carpenter completes the framework of the outside wall Philadelphia, February, 1892; contributed by Mr. Crews Jewell, of Chanute, Kas. and of the partitions; he also completes the roof and the floor. Whatever is joined on to the frame of the house by way of finishing or ornament, made of wood, belongs to the joiner. The joiner also makes the doors, sashes, stairs, mantels, stationary cupboards, closets, and puts in place the facings, washboard or baseboard, and whatever else is necessary to complete the woodwork of the house. Some men are good framers, or carpenters, and are also good joiners. This class has two trades, and we call them 'carpenter and joiner.'" The following comments and suggestions come, mostly, from workers in the respective trades: "House painters are liable to injury from insecure scaffolding and from the injurious effects of the materials used. A painter should always be advised in regard to the effects upon his system of the poisonous compounds he handles, and be informed of the best means of guarding against them. There is no law regulating the sale of paints, and adulterations to cheapen their cost are frequent in the trade, so that it is impossible for the ordinary workman to know what he is handling. In my judgment, there should be legislation regulating the quality of paints, and compelling manufacturers to stamp their packages.' "The use of paints that are mixed, principally, with oil and but little turpentine, and applied for outside work, is not so deleterious to health as those for indoor work, where more turpentine is employed. The rapid evaporation of turpentine carries with it quantities of the lead, which is inhaled by the workmen with every breath. The minute particles so inhaled accumulate in the stomach until it becomes overcharged, and produce painter's colic. This can only be relieved by stopping work and the taking of medicine that will dissolve the lead and carry it out of the system. Then the patient recovers, but only to repeat the process again if he continues at the trade." "A painter, in good health when he begins to work at the trade, can do much to preserve his health by keeping his person clean by thoroughly washing himself after his work is done, so that the particles of lead cannot sink into the skin and through the pores into the system. He should never eat from his hands while there is the slightest particle of lead on them, as in this way it may be taken into the stomach and produce congestion or inflammation. I have worked at the trade steadily many years without any trouble, by always observing these precautions." "The painter's trade is necessarily an unhealthy one because of the materials used; but deleterious effects may be largely overcome by thorough cleanliness and frequent indulgence in a Russian or Turkish |