TALKS ON HEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 11

TALKS ON HEALTH.

The Symptoms of LeadPoisoning. BY A FAMILY DOCTOR. The aches and pains of disorders that follow in the wake of lead-poisoning are 4 so numerous and far-reaching in their effects that scrupulous precautions should be taken by all those who are exposed to the risk by reason of their work to avoid contamination by the lead. Painters and plumbers are more liable to suffer from “ painter’s colic,” as it is called, than workers in any other trade. Acute pains in the bowels, accompanied by obstinate constipation and headache, are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes the lead attacks the nerves and causes paralysis of the muscles on the back of the forearm, so that when the arm is held out the wrists drop and cannot be raised. Along the line where the teeth join the gums a blue discoloration may often be seen. Chronic lead-poisoning, lasting oyer many years, may be associated with gout and chronic Bright's disease of the kidneys, and there have been a number of cases described of insanity, loss of memory and other cerebral affections. Prevention Better Than Cure. All these troubles could, be avoided. No great effort or profound knowledge is necessary. The only precaution to be observed is to wash the hands after touching paint, white lead, etc. Men working amongst paints or lead are much more careful than they used to be, with the result that painter’s colic is not nearly so common as formerly. But still, unfortunately, one meets with this dreadful disease in careless subjects, especially boys who have not reached years of discretion. At every meal the bread is broken and put into the mouth by hands that are soiled by particles of lead. The amount of lead absorbed into the system at one meal must be very small, but in the course of weeks, months and years, the total gradually rises, until sufficient of the metal accumulates in the body to give rise to symptoms. The doctor can help his patient in relieving most of the symptoms, but it is alrfiost an impossibility to dissolve and eradicate from the tissues the lead which has steadily collected during the past ten or fifteen years. With increased care and enlightenment we hope that before long lead-poisoning may be an unknown disease. The list of diseases is quite long enough ; it would be a splendid work to cross off such a serious item as lead-poisoning. The Demon of Disease. Much can be done by studying the habits of disease; let us find out what the Demon of Disease likes and then deprive him of it. I am sorely tempted to wish for a second time on earth; I believe there is a good time coming not only in the next world, but in this. I should, I confess, thoroughly enjoy a second visit to, say, Christchurch, in a thousand years from now. I wonder if I should find the same dear old doctors still bravely struggling with the diseases that tended to throttle the populace. Will they have new diseases? Will they have finally won the battle, so that disease is only a thing to read about in story books? Possibly, I should wander through the streets with a heavy heart, disappointed at the small amount of progress made in a thousand years. Bad teeth, spectacles, cripples, all, all must vanish; but if they don't, I must wait another

thousand years and try again. It is all a question of the co-operation of the people; they can rid themselves of disease just as soon as they like.