Agricola in 1556 referred to dusts in his "De re metallica"; likewise, late in December 1933, Sappington commented on the problems of dust in relation to disease. In the intervening 377 years at least 2,766 other publications were made, related directly or indirectly to the influence of dusts on living organisms. The citation of these hundreds of publications with many types of cross references, together with a large section devoted to compensation laws, make up the contents of this large publication. By its authors it is described as "a reference book designed for the permanent convenience of physicians, surgeons, lawyers, industrial executives, librarians, journalists, engineers, trade association officials, student and research workers." The amount of labor expended manifestly was enormous—perhaps out of proportion to the extent to which the book will be applied. For the industrial hygienist, whether physician, engineer or other public health worker, the book provides both a