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23
to which his trade had been very largely lost owing to the number
affected. On cross examination, however, it appeared manifest
that there was a larger number of heavy drinkers in the house,
than in the Hammersmith houses. I am at a loss to account for
the fact that the four Hammersmith houses escaped comparatively
free, despite that the tanks were installed from two to three weeks
before those in this district, and that the analysis of the enamel
shows 42% of Lead, apart from the fact that the week-end draw
appears to be more rapid. The only other reason would appear
to be that in our district the customers are more faithful to one
house.
Of the 93 cases notified to the Brewery Company, only
three were women.
In view of the fact that abortion is one the results of lead
poisoning in women, enquiry was made of the Medical Practitioners
and Midwives in the district, but no evidence of any cases could
be obtained.
In the majority of cases notified to the Brewery Company,
the symptons have been mainly Colic with Constipation. There
have been amongst them a number of cases with great muscular
pain and anaemia. Some of the cases have lost as much as two
stone in weight. In only one case which came to my notice
were there tremors. Jaundice occurred in several cases. Neuritis
tnainly in the calves but also in the arms occurred in a few cases.
There have not been any cases of paralysis or the other graver
nervous ocular symptoms generally associated with prolonged
industrial lead poisoning. In practically all the bad cases, the
men were heavy drinkers. Some, however, of those who were
affected were comparatively small drinkers, but their drinking
was a perfectly regular, day in, day out occurrence. The reason
tliat the trouble was not discovered earlier, is that lead poisoning
is what is known as a cumulative poisoning and does not show
itself until a certain amount has been absorbed into the system.
It has been stated in the Press, that the solution of the Lead
has been brought about by the sugars in the beer. It should be
slated that the beer in question is a carbonated beer. The carbonic