A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE liable to these are the makers of plates and cups, ware-cleaners, ' scourers ' and
- turners.' The lead dust produces lead poisoning in various forms, and attacks
specially the persons who mix the lead-glaze or dip the articles in the glaze, also colour mixers and majolica paintresses. The lead is also absorbed through the pores of the skin, and its fumes through the mouth and nostrils. In the Factory and Workshop Act of 1891 special rules were laid down for the conduct of pottery workshops and for the safeguarding of the health of the workers. These regulations concerned the provision of special washing appliances, of effectual means, such as fans, for the removal of dust where necessary, and for the wearing of overalls and head coverings in certain pro- cesses ; meals were forbidden in workshops, and more stringent rules were laid down for the sweeping and cleansing of the work places. Something was effected by these special rules, but the result of an investigation made by Professor Thorpe and Dr. Oliver in 1898 revealed a very serious state of affairs. The returns of Mr. J. H. Walmsley, H.M. Inspector for the Potteries district, showed that in the three years 18968, 1,085 P ersons were certified as suffering from lead poisoning, and of these 607 were women and girls. It was quite clear that much of the evil could be prevented if the use of raw lead, then universal, were discontinued, and replaced by 'fritted' lead, admittedly far less injurious to the worker. Since the Home Office rules of 1900 the use of raw lead has been abolished, except in a few special cases, and the Annual Report of the Factory and Workshops Inspectors for 1905 shows a considerable reduction in the number of reported cases of lead poisoning in North Staffordshire. In 1899 there were 204 ; next year the number fell to 165, and in 1901 to eighty-four. In 1902 the lowest figure was reached, viz. sixty-six ; the next year the cases numbered seventy-five, and rose to eighty-four the next year, and in 1905 fell again to seventy-five. Of the seventy-five, forty-six were cases of ' dippers,' and of these twenty- nine were women and girls. The present figures for lead poisoning show a percentage of 1-5 of the total number of persons employed in the pottery industry compared with 9-4 in iSgS. 205 The lady inspectors, however, are of opinion that with a more in- telligent and scrupulous observance of the special rules on the part of employers and workers alike, a still greater measure of improvement ought to be seen. 206 In a minor degree, the workers in enamelling and tin-plate works also suffer from lead poisoning, and women are in this case also the greatest sufferers. In the Returns for lead poisoning issued by the Board of Trade * 07 for the eight months ending August, 1906, the china and earthenware manu- facture was responsible for seventy-six cases, tinning and enamelling for eighteen only, and litho-transfer work for three. Women play a very important part in the industrial economy of Staf- fordshire, especially, as we have seen, in the Potteries. No one passing u Ann. Rep. of Factory and Workshops Inspectors, 1905, pp. 352-7. " Ibid. 292. *>' Labour Gaz. Sept. 1906, p. 283. 3 IO
