Notes on the diagnosis of occupational diseases : prescribed under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965 (not including pneumoconiosis and allied occupational chest diseases).

  • Department of Health and Social Security
Date:
1972
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Notes on the diagnosis of occupational diseases : prescribed under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965 (not including pneumoconiosis and allied occupational chest diseases). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    visual fields, but having no stomatitis, sialorrhoea or erethism. It should be noted that local contact with these compounds may also cause a severe vesicular dermatitis.* FULMINATE OF MERCURY. This is a skin irritant which, however, does not readily give rise to systemic mercurial poisoning. Occasionally fulminate workers show excessive salivation, but other symptoms of undue absorption are uncommon. Fulminate dermatitis (‘fulminate itch’) starting as an erythema of exposed parts, accompanied by intense itching, swelling and oedema, may assume later a papular, vesicular, or pustular form. Fulminate, if lodging in folds or cracks of the skin, may. cause painful necrotic lesions (‘powder holes’) which later may become circular punched-out ulcers which may penetrate deeply. Fine fulminate dust also causes marked irritation of the mucosa of eyes, nose and throat.* Prognosis Mercurial dermatitis usually clears up in a week or two with suitable treatment; ‘powder holes’ may be more resistant. Systemic poisoning, resulting from the absorption of inorganic compounds, may cause many weeks of disablement; when due to the absorption of organic compounds there may be residual permanent disablement. There are no specific sequelae. 6. POISONING BY CARBON BISULPHIDE Aetiology Carbon bisulphide is a volatile solvent once much used in the vulcanis- ing of rubber but more often met with now in the manufacture of artificial silk and cellophane. It is used to a small extent in the manufac- ture of fine chemicals, pharmaceutical products, and waterproof cement, and is occasionally sold as an insecticide. It is a powerful narcotic which acts also as a general nerve poison, affecting in some cases mainly the higher centres of the brain, and in others mainly the peripheral nervous system. Toxic effects in man are usually the result of exposure to fumes, but absorption through the skin is possible. Women and young persons, and those of a neuropathic diathesis appear to be more susceptible than others. Diagnosis In cases of acute poisoning, usually the result of inhaling fumes in high concentration, the early symptoms are similar to those of mild alcoholic intoxication, but soon the initial euphoria gives place to headache, giddiness, dyspnoea, vomiting, palpitations, and perhaps * Note: Where a claimant suffers from affections of the skin or mucous membranes of the upper repiratory tract thought to be due to the local action of mercury, he should be treated, if the examiner is satisfied that there are no indications of systemic poisoning, as suffering from either No. 41 or 42 on the list of Prescribed Diseases and not from poisoning by mercury. 1]