LEAD POISONING T EAD poisoning Is one of the com-' com-' monest diseases due to occupation. occupa-tion. It is found among painters, plumbers and many other workmen who handle or use some form of lead in their work. A recent article on lead poisoning lists over 150 occupations occupa-tions in which cases have occurred. Lead poisoning Is also found among persons who have been poisoned by foods containing lead or cooked Id vessels lined with an enamel containing contain-ing lead or by drinking water which ha,s stood for some time In lend pipes. Lead poisoning does not come on suddenly, hut so slowdy as to cover weeks or even months. The patient Is constipated, always tired, has no appetite, has cramp-like pains In his muscles, especially in the calves. Ills tongue Is coated, he has a foul breath, Is pale and loses weight. Soon a blue line appears on the gums, just above the edge. This Is the certain and characteristic sign of lend poisoning. If the patient, at this stage, finds out that he is being poisoned and removes re-moves the cause, or gives up the harmful work, takes frequent warm baths, eats good food, takes tonics and laxatives, he may recover without any further harm. Hut if the poisoning goes on without being treated, he is apt to have an attack of lead colic or painter's colic as It is sometimes j called. This is a sudden, severe pain 1 In the abdomen, like acute colic, uc-I uc-I eompanied by constipation and fol-i fol-i lowed ry d;arrhea. The pain may ! last for several days, disappear and ' return in two or three weeks. Finally, the poisoned person may : have a paralysis of one or more groups of muscles. The muscles which ' straighten out the fing'-rs may first he pfiralyzed. then the group which opens the hand, and finally the muscle which straighten the wrist, so that it is Impossible to raise or close the band, which hangs lifeless from the wrist. This is called "wrist drop." The patient Is unable to use his hands. .Inst why lead poisoning shonid paralyze the muscles which the painter paint-er or plumber specially needs in hin work, no one knows, hut these are the musi le rno-r generally afTecp-d. persons- bundling or using nnir d;.c. pain's or even some forms of fi,.-e powder may also have lead poisoning. 'jhost- whose work makes it nocot.-tir to handle l.cid "r anything containing It shoeld e especially careful to wnxh their hands alwav hefore eating, not :o ent in the work Shop, to protect their food f-oin any contact with lead and to a-., d breathing dit which may rorraln Ich'L