The afflicted bones would also take on a green-white tinge, while severe brain damage also lay in wait for those already suffering. Throbbing toothaches, extreme swelling of the gums and abscesses in the jawbone followed. In those days, matches were made with white phosphorus, and prolonged exposure to the vapor of the substance caused deposits to form in the victims’ jawbones. Phossy jaw, also known as phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, was most commonly seen among match workers in the 19th and early 20th centuries – famously, the “London matchgirls,” whose strike of 1888 brought the problem into the public eye. The true cause of the disease was not proven until 1922, when carcinogens were discovered in soot. The only treatment available to medics at the time was surgery – cutting out the diseased flesh – a terrifying prospect for the young sweeps. Left unchecked, the warts developed into a scrotal cancer that would make the testicles balloon in size before invading the abdomen with deadly effect. The disease into which Pott researched proved fatal if it was not treated. The disease was first identified in 1775 by Sir Percivall Pott, an English surgeon, and one of the first scientists to theorize on the link between cancers and environmental hazards. Its name derives from the fact that it was first noted occurring among chimney sweeps – young men in their late teens and early twenties who had worked with soot for most of their lives.
#Radium girls jaw skin#
Chimney Sweep’s CarcinomaĬhimney Sweeps’ carcinoma, also known as Soot wart, is a form of skin cancer affecting the scrotum.
Definitely not for the squeamish, what follows is a look through the murky world of work-related illness. While the closest most of us get to occupational disease is a brush with carpal tunnel syndrome, we’ll soon see that there is a fascinating and disturbing assortment of illnesses and diseases that have made hay in the workplace – particularly in times past. Or can they? Throughout history, not everyone has been so lucky. However, most of the time, present-day job seekers can at least count on being safe and not at risk from serious illness.
The modern job market, for example, can take a candidate into areas where they undertake many unusual and unexpected activities.
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