Reports to the Secretary of State for the Home department on the use of phosphorus in the manufacture of lucifer matches.
- Thorpe, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1845-1925.
- Date:
- 1899
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Reports to the Secretary of State for the Home department on the use of phosphorus in the manufacture of lucifer matches. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![IV.—On the amount of Phosphorus “Fume” in the air of the workshops of Match Factories, and on the amount of Phosphorus on the hands of the Box Fillers. In order to obtain an idea of tbe amount of “ fume ” present in tbe air of a match factory I was directed by Dr. Whitelegge to make analyses of the air of different parts of the factory of Messrs. Bryant & May, Ltd., and also to ascertain how much phosphorus adhered to the hands of the operatives. The results were communicated to the Home Office in a report made in July 1898. It is as follows :— Sib, In accordance with your instructions, two visits have been made to the factory of Messrs. Bryant & May, one on 27th June in company with Mr. Seale, the District Inspector, and the other on the 29th June. Samples of the fume-bearing air from two of the departments—one of the dipping-rooms and two of the boxing-rooms—have been examined, and an estimation has also been made of the quantity of phosphorus removed from the hands of the workpeople by washing. The details and results of these analyses are given below. Air from Dipping-room.—The room selected was that in which, as stated by the manager, the “ dipper” worked whose case terminated fatally a short time ago. The fumes were collected at a point over the dipping-table in front of, and a little below7, the centre of the fan, the height being about 12 to 14 inches above the surface of the phosphorus paste, i.e., a few inches lower than the level of the dipper’s mouth and a little higher than that of his serving boy’s. 63 litres of air were aspirated through the apparatus, and '012 milligram of phosphorus, free and oxidised, was obtained in the analysis, giving D2 milligram per 100 litres of air. “ Dipping ” was in operation as usual during the time of collection, and the fan was said to be working at its normal rate. An excellent draught appeared to be maintained over the greater part of the surface of the table, but the action was naturally much weaker on the part remote from the fan, i.e., on the part most directly under the dipper’s nostrils. This defect could, no doubt, be effectually remedied by means of a very moderate blast in front of the dipper and directed from him towards the fan across the surface of the paste. [This addition has since been made, see p. 16.] It must, however, be admitted that so far as visible fumes were concerned none were observed to rise more than a few inches above tho surface of the paste on the day in question. The table at which the air was collected was one at which the deceased dipper was accustomed to work; but on inquiry it was found that the present kind of fan has only been fitted to this table since last Whitsuntide. Air from the Boxing-rooms.—The sample was taken partly near the middle of one of the more lofty rooms, and partly from a smaller and lower building, the point of collection being in both cases in close proximity to where work was being carried on as usual. Fifty litres were aspirated and yielded '016 milligram of phosphorus, free and oxidised, or T2 milligram per 100 litres of air. The atmosphere in the boxing-rooms was, on account of the frequent “firing” of the matches, obviously more charged with visible fumes than in any of the other departments. Phosphorus removed from the hands.— A number of workpeople were caused to wash the hands with soap, brush and water, and then after working a certain number of hours to wash again in their usual way ; the water in which this last cleansing was done yielded on analysis 37'3 milligrams of phosphorus. The employees in question were 22 in all, . including 16 “boxers,” 3 “dippers,” and 3 boys; and they had worked on an average four hours each. This gives therefore 4‘2 milligrams of phosphorus per head per day of ten hours, assuming the accumulation to be proportional to the time employed. With respect to the mixing-room, there was so much wind on each of the days when the visits were made, and the room is so well exposed to the open](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2804003x_0022.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
