Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-10-17 | Page 6 | You and Your Health

You Y ou and Your HealtH By MORRIS FISHBEIN Editor Journal Journ of the American Medical Assoc Association ion and end of Hygeia tI the S Health Mag ne' ne With extensive use of coal oil and gasoline asoline for heating purposes and with Introduction of many new products by-products in the chemical field other types of industrial poisoning by gas are beginning to attract increasing attention Benzene is widely used in the the- home and in industry because of its value in dissolving rubber fats and resins It is involved in blending of mot motor r fuels and in making dyes and leather stains It is also used in th the rubber and nd artificial leather industries In some cases people are as asphyxiated asphyxiated as- as while working in tanks which formerly contained ben ben- zol zoI Others Oth s jire are poisoned gradually gradual gradual- lly l- l ly by benze benzene e fumes inhaled during dur dun ing the course of their work Benzene poisoning occurs more often in cold than in warm weather er because because ventilation is greatly reduced by closing of windows and doors Women about to b become become be be- come come mothers mothers and young girls seem especially predisposed to benzene poisoning from inhaling benzene fumes The first signs of benzene poisoning poisoning pois- pois are headache dizziness loss loss loss' of appetite fatigue and general weakness Later the benzene affects af at- the blood As soon as there is any suspicion ion of poisoning from benzene or other gases the person person person per per- per per- son should change his employment employment employ employ- ment n preferably to open-air open work to avoid contact with the poison Doctors treat such cases with plenty of rest fresh air and sunshine sun sun- shine and with foods and drugs planned particularly to build up the blood In very severe cases cases blood transfusion may be necessary necessary nieces nieces- sary to save life Gasoline poisoning resembles that caused by benzene and drowsiness is a prominent tom torn Occasionally children drink gasoline or coal oil These substances substances substances sub sub- stances seem to act like alcohol except that they produce much more irritation of stomach and intestines Following drinking of ot such poisons poisons pois pois- ons ens the first firs thins thing to do is to get as much of the poison as possible out of the stomach Vomiting may may be brought on onby onby onby by any of the common methods such as putting the finger down the throat swallowing salt water water water wa wa- wa- wa ter or having the doctor inject dr drs dr's s 's cause vomiting After collapse the patient immediately immediately im im- lm- lm mediately should be put at rest and kept warm warm and Coffee may be given as a stimulant