View report page

9
I have deemed it a duty thus publicly to record the circumstances
of this death, forming one probably of many every year in our Mercantile
Marine, connected with the smaller ship owners, from the spirit
of a sordid economy.
It will be remembered that cases of lead poisoning were not of
uncommon occurrence at a neighbouring factory, which led me to
devise a Respirator as a protection to the labourers. It is no objection
to the contrivance if the prejudices of ignorant persons can see no
advantage from its application, and so but partially make use of it.
I am happy to say that casualties of the kind are now extremely rare
from the more systematic use of remedial agents which I have suggested.
It cannot, still, be too widely known that death, and scarcely disease,
can arise from this dangerous calling if the workpeople would but
wear in the hours of business this simple and comfort-giving apparatus,
always at hand, and so liberally supplied.
There are very many manufactures going on, the persons employed
in which would be alike benefited. It would surprise our
leading phihanthropists to go the round of our workshop and warehouses,
and docks, and to witness the vast amount of physical suffering
endured on the part of the poor drudges of labour, but which, by some
modification of this Respirator, might in very many cases be remedied.
It may be but little known that in the Limehouse District there are
men engaged in pursuits though different, yet quite as dangerous as
the lead works, the horrors of which can best be given in my informants
own words: "Blood rushes from the men's mouths, eyes and
nostrils, sometimes; some hold their breath, and then turning up two
shovels full (speaking of the noxious substance) they then run back
a few paces to take breath; but I plug my mouth and nostrils with
wet sponge; still here I am as you see me."
This man was suffering from Hœmoptysis, or hemorrhage from
the lungs, with the promise of speedy consumption, from inhaling the
irritant poisonous dust.
From local sources of disease I turn with pleasure to an undertaking
in hand for the diversion of the sewage. On the completion
of this great work, it is considered by many of unquestionable
authority that the health of London will be considerably enhanced.
From all I have heard, and from what I have very closely witnessed,