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1. PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY OF GRINDERS FROM PHTHISIS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN SHEFFIELD, 1890-1907.

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II. PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY OF CUTLERS FROM PHTHISIS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES, SHEFFIELD, 1890-1907.

25-34

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"The term cutler has not, in Sheffield, the meaning popularly given it; that of a maker of scissors, forks, razors, and other small cutting uten-
sils. Such a one is a dry grinder; whereas a cutler is one who makes heavier goods, edge-tools, saws and scythes, all of which are wet ground." (Ar-
lidge, "Diseases of Occupation," p. 341.)

"The baneful tendency of the trade [grinding] is not confined to dry grinding; the position in which the artisans work is exceedingly unfavor-
able to the action of the lungs, the upper half of the body being constantly bent forward over the revolving stone; and in the branches in which dry
grinding is not used, the articles, such as saws, scythes and edge tools, are heavy, demanding great muscular exertion. Independently, however,
of the bodily exhaustion which is occasioned, the grinders are exceedingly subject to acute inflammatory diseases from the exposed situations in which
they work." (Holland, "The Vital Statistics of Sheffield," p. 115.)

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III. PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY OF TOOL-MAKERS FROM PHTHISIS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES, SHEFFIELD, 1890-1907.

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IV. PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY OF FILE-CUTTERS FROM PHTHISIS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES, SHEFFIELD, 1890-1907.

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*File-cutting as carried on in Sheffield in the past by hand methods has exposed the cutters to lead poisoning, or plumbism, to such a degree that this factor alone has called forth many and extended comments by qualified inquirers. These observations have extended over a long period, and have been made by various English authorities, including Drs. Holland, Greenhow, Hall, White, Thomson, Arlidge, Littlejohn, Robertson, Scurfield, Oliver, and others. The subject of lead poisoning in this connection is such a large one that it will be worth while to give it special consideration in a future note.

The figures in Table I. do not indicate that there has been any marked improvement in the mortality from consumption and respiratory diseases among the grinders of Sheffield during the period 1890 to 1907. In fact, as a rule with few exceptions, the proportionate mortality from consumption and from consumption and respiratory diseases combined was higher at all ages during the six years 1902-07 than during either of the other six-year periods. On the other hand, the mortality from respiratory diseases, when considered separately, seems to have declined fairly constantly at all ages or divisional periods of life.

Table II. shows that the proportion of the total mortality due to consumption has increased among the cutlers of Sheffield at all ages over 25. The proportionate mortality from respiratory diseases has increased at ages under 35 and decreased quite considerably at ages 35 and over. Combining the mortality from consumption and respiratory diseases, the proportionate mortality from the two was higher during the period 1902-07 than during 1890-95 at ages under 35 and lower at ages 35 and

over.

The proportionate mortality of tool-makers from consumption and respiratory diseases has, on the whole, showed improvement during the eighteen-year period under observation. The age period 25-34 is the only exception when both causes are combined. When consumption only is considered, the improvement was more noteworthy during the period 1896-1901 than during 1902-07. In fact, the proportionate mortality from consumption was lower among tool-makers during 1902-07 than during 1890-95 at ages under 25, 35-44, and 65 and over, and higher at ages 25-34, 45-54, and 55–64.

The proportionate mortality of file-cutters has not improved from consumption, but was higher at all ages, except 25-34, during 1902-07 than during 1890-95. On the other hand, there was a quite general improvement in the proportionate mortality from respiratory diseases.

Summarizing the four preceding tables they seem to indicate that, if there has been an improvement in the death-rate from

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