The Report of the Union for Chemical Industry for 1908 describes a similar accident in a nitro-cellulose factory.
Of those engaged in extinguishing the fire twenty-two were affected, and in spite of medical treatment and use of the oxygen apparatus three died.
From the same source we quote the following examples:
In a denitrating installation (see Nitro-glycerin; Explosives) a man was engaged in blowing, by means of compressed air, weak nitric acid from a stoneware vessel sunk in the ground into a washing tower. As the whole system was already under high pressure the vessel suddenly exploded, and in doing so smashed a wooden vat containing similar acid, which spilt on the ground with sudden development of tetroxide vapours. The man inhaled much gas, but except for pains in the chest felt no serious symptoms at the time and continued to work the following day. Death occurred the next evening from severe dyspnœa.
A somewhat similar case occurred in the nitrating room of a dynamite factory in connection with the cleaning of a waste acid egg; the vessel had for several days been repeatedly washed out with water made alkaline with unslaked lime. Two men then in turn got into the egg in order to remove the lime and lead deposit, compressed air being continuously blown in through the manhole. The foreman remained about a quarter of an hour and finished the cleaning without feeling unwell. Difficulty of breathing came on in the evening, and death ensued on the following day.
In another case a worker was engaged in washing nitroxylene when, through a leak, a portion of the contents collected in a pit below. He then climbed into the pit and scooped the nitroxylene which had escaped into jars. This work took about three-quarters of an hour, and afterwards he complained of difficulty of breathing and died thirty-six hours later.[5]
A worker again had to control a valve regulating the flow to two large vessels serving to heat or cool the nitrated liquid. Both vessels were provided with pressure gauges and open at the top. Through carelessness one of the vessels ran over, and instead of leaving the room after closing the valve, the man tried to get rid of the traces of his error, remaining in the atmosphere charged with the fumes,[6] and was poisoned.