SYMPTOMS IN EARLY STAGES OF INDUSTRIAL PLUMBISM

My purpose in this paper is to review briefly, from the point of view of the industrial physician, the various signs and symptoms commonly associated with plumbism and to discuss more fully some of those observations which may usually be considered of the greatest value in its early diagnosis. It is obvious to those acquainted with this problem in industry that efforts to reduce the incidence of industrial plumbism will be greatly handicapped if emphasis is not placed on such observations as may be considered presumptive evidence of lead absorption or lead intoxication.

From an early date medical literature has been replete with reports dealing with the toxic effects of lead. With few exceptions the signs and symptoms considered in the present discussion have been fully described by early medical workers. Later scientists are to be given credit for experimental studies made to determine the action of lead on the