Dangers of the Lead Trade

DANGERS OF THE LEAD TRADE.

Yesterday Mr. George Collier held an inquest at the Green Man tavern, Hoxton-street, Shoreditch, respecting the death of Hannah McCarthy, aged 27, who died from lead poisoning. Dr. Donald Forbes, the medical officer of the infirmary, said that the deceased on admission was suffering from lead poisoning, contracted at a place in Southgate-road, where she worked. The symptoms were very marked, and everything was done to prevent a fatal result, but without effect, and the poor woman died on the 30th ult. The Coroner, in summing up, said that he regretted to state that these cases of lead poisoning were very frequent. The deceased had only been about 10 months at work in the factory, and was but 27 years of age. The Foreman of the jury: Only 27! Why she looks 50 at least. The Doctor: Persons engaged in this work age very quickly, and I understand that this poor woman carried 2s. a day when in full work. Dr. Forbes, in reply to a juror, said he had had 16 cases of lead-poisoning admitted to his infirmary in a few months, and in one case a girl had been employed at the work for two weeks only, and absorbed so much poison that she had to be detained in the infirmary for five months. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from lead-poisoning." The coroner's officer said the manager informed him that there was ample lavatory accommodation. He (the officer) saw several females eating bread-and-butter covered with lead powder, and they thus absorbed the poison into their system.

Source: Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, April 2, 1882, Page 12