Workers coming into contact with tar suffer from an inflammatory affection of the skin, so-called tar eczema, which occasionally takes on a cancerous (epithelioma) nature similar to chimney-sweep’s cancer, having its seat predominantly on the scrotum. In lampblack workers who tread down the soot in receptacles the malady has been observed to affect the lower extremities and especially the toes.
In tar distillation and in the production and use of benzene industrial poisoning frequently occurs. Many cases are recorded, but in several the immediate exciting cause is doubtful, and consequently it is often difficult to classify the cases.
Most frequently the manufacture and use of benzene come in question. Besides this, in tar distillation poisoning may be caused by other substances, such as sulphuretted hydrogen gas, carbonic oxide gas, &c. In the production of antipyrin, aspirin, &c., and in the preparation and use of anthracene injury to health is recognised.
From the list of recognised cases of these forms of poisoning the most characteristic are chosen from the recent literature on the subject.
The Prussian factory inspectors’ reports for 1904 describe the following: In cleaning out a tar still two workers were killed by inhalation of gas. The nature of the gas was not ascertained. But what probably happened was that the cock on the foul gas pipe collecting the gases from the stills leaked and allowed fumes to pass over from one still to another.
A foreman and worker were rendered unconscious on entering a receiver for heavy oil for cleaning purposes. On treatment with oxygen gas they speedily recovered.
Industrial benzene poisoning is especially frequent now in view of the increasing use to which it is put. Several cases have proved fatal.
A worker, for instance, forgot to open the cock for the water to cool the condenser, so that some of the benzene vapour remained uncondensed. The case proved fatal.
The Report of the Union of Chemical Industry for 1905 stated that a worker on night duty, whose duty it was to regulate the introduction of steam and the cooling of the benzol plant, was found lying dead in front of the building. Inquiry showed that he had not opened the valve for running the distillate into the appropriate receiver. Eight thousand litres overflowed.
In an indiarubber extracting factory a worker was rendered unconscious while inspecting a benzol still; before entering he had omitted to observe the instructions to drive steam through and have a mate on watch at the manhole. Two other workmen were similarly affected who went to the rescue without adoption of precautions. Only one survived.