Sanitary Condition.

CIGARMAKERS.

As a rule, cigar shops are badly ventilated. In 73 returns 16 only report ventilation good, the others, in most cases, report "very bad," "horrible," "sickening," etc. In Kansas City one shop is over a boarding house kitchen, where the smell of cookery disgusts the workmen. The most prevalent disease is consumption, from tobacco dust and close confinement. This statement is supported by every return except three. The working of the tobacco induces such diseases as catarrh, bronchitis, lung and throat troubles. Nervous and general debility is also a common complaint among cigarmakers. The continuous strain at one and the same work, hour after hour, automaton-like, and the rapidity of the movement of the hands and the excitement of the work causes nervous diseases. The tobacco dust injuriously affects the eyes. Better ventilation, shorter hours, out-door exercise, plenty of fresh air, larger work rooms are the remedies proposed by the men to abolish the evils named above. Wash rooms are an exception.

A return from St. Louis says:

The general condition of workshops in which cigarmakers are compelled to work in, is a very unhealthful one most employers, seeming to think that any place is good enough for a cigarmaker. Good sanitary laws are needed above anything else, and they should be rigidly enforced.

TOBACCONISTS.

Three report their shops as bad; one does not work enough in the week, for want of work, to have it hurt him. The inhaling of dust and high temperature in some rooms is very injurious to the health.

The Bureau visited the leading tobacco factories in St. Louis, and while some were in a fair condition, others were found where children from 9 to 15 years of age were closeted in rooms stemming tobacco in a

temperature of 80 to 83 degrees, and every window closed. Extra rooms for female help to change clothing were found in every factory.

PRINTERS.

One return from Kansas City says: "The building is very bad, liable to tumble down at any moment, ought to be condemned.” Another says: "Close confinement and strong odors of printers' ink cause impaired health. Nearly all agree that the want of proper ventilation and the inhaling of dust from cases and wearing of metal, aids to produce consumption and lead colic. Very few have rooms set apart to wash or change clothing.

TAILORS.

Generally, the sanitary condition of shops is fair, except in winter, when the pressing with hot irons makes the room very uncomfortable. Some back shops are reported as dirty. Consumption, dyspepsia, lung and liver diseases prevail in the trade, from excessive sitting and confinement of long hours of labor.

COOPERS.

Five employes report their shops in a bad and unclean condition, the others good or fair. The men complain of dust as affecting them. and bringing on lung disease. The trade is hard on the chest, and piles are very common among the coopers.

FLOUR MILLS.

Flour mills are generally well ventilated. The work is reported as very dusty, and that millers are affected more or less with catarrh.

FURNITURE.

This trade is reported as being healthy, with the exception of the varnishing, which is very unhealthy on account of the confinement of employes in close rooms. One furniture factory in North St. Louis, employing 140 men, is reported as in bad condition.

HARNESSMAKERS.

One establishment, employing 78 men, is reported in bad condition; another, employing 25 men, reports not very good, and another, with 100 men, reported in bad condition. Consumption and lung dis

ease are the effects of night work and constant sitting. One firm with 183 persons, has a wash room, but none for a change of clothing. Health of employes, as a general thing, is good.

IRON WORKS.

The health of employes in this trade is generally good. An iron works at Midland, and a wire works, stove works, and boiler shop at St. Louis, are reported as having rooms set apart for washing and dressing.

IRON MINES.

Rheumatism and piles are reported as very frequent among the miners at Iron Mountain. Mine sickness and lung disease at Pilot Knob. The latter disease is contracted from inhaling the smoke from lamps and powder, which is caused by improper ventilation. The need of an "air compressor," at Pilot Knob, is strongly recommended.

STOVE FOUNDRIES.

Moulders are affected by dampness of their clothing from sweating, and no chance of changing their clothing after their day's labor. Lung disease and rheumatism are very prevalent in the trade, and burns from hot iron are frequent. Stove mounters are blinded from sparks of emery wheels. Chippers' eyes are affected by strain. Condition of shops generally fair.

MACHINISTS.

This trade is dangerous to life and limb on account of the close proximity of machinery; the turning of brass is unhealthy and lathe work dangerous. Dust from emery wheels is unhealthy; sanitary condition of shops reported fair. No rooms set apart for change of clothing.

ENGINEERS.

This occupation is reported healthy; although a great many engineers are stationed in mere sheds, and while sweating, they are often exposed to draught and sudden changes of atmosphere, which produces rheumatism and kindred diseases.

CARPENTERS.

As a general thing carpenters are employed out doors, and the occupation is considered healthy. All that may be considered injurious to health is the dust in tearing down old rubbish in buildings, and the continual stooping. In many respects the occupation is very dangerous from climbing buildings and standing on scaffolding only too often unsafe for use.

PLANING MILLS.

Notwithstanding the dust and dirt in these mills, the general health of employes is reported good. Only in two places are conveniences provided for employes to wash and change their clothing after the day's labor.

BUILDERS.

While the general health of employes is reported good, yet, as one employer states, this occupation "is hard on the lungs, in consequence of dust and exposure, and strain on breast." In many cases the men are exposed to extreme perils from unsound planks and rotten ropes in scaffolds. Numerous are the accidents that happen daily from simple neglect to provide the proper appliances.

PAINTERS.

The painter's trade is very unhealthy, from the use of lead and the constant smell of turpentine. The disease known as "painter's colic " makes fearful ravages in the trade; men are stiffened in the joints, paralyzed in the limbs; the kidneys are infected and the whole system disordered. Lead colic is reported by all the returns, and, as a remedy, one proposes to "take olive oil once a month;" another says, "drink sweet milk and bathe frequently, at least twice a week, and keep the liver well regulated;" another says, " drink freely of vinegar or linseed oil." Working on ladders and scaffolds, very often unfit for use, place the men of this trade in continual jeopardy of life and limb, and many are the accidents reported through the daily press that could be avoided by the exercise of more regard for the men's lives, and by providing propersafe-guards for their protection.

BRICKLAYERS.

Generally, the health of bricklayers is good; the only danger is peril to life and limb on unsafe scaffolds, and liability to sun strokes.