§ MR. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a paper read before the English Ceramic Society by Dr. Shufflebotham, an acknowledged authority in lead poisoning, in which he urges that certifying surgeons should be provided with a private room in each factory for the periodical examination of workpeople, to avoid the present superficial examination in semi-public offices; and whether the Home Office will inquire into the conditions under which these examinations are carried on with a view to possible improvements.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have not myself seen the paper referred to, but in the covering letter issued with the Earthenware Special Rules of 1901, manufacturers were informed that arrangements should be made to allow due privacy for the medical examination required under the rules. The health register in use at each pottery contains the following instruction:—"In order to secure due privacy it is requested that the surgeon may have the exclusive use of a room or office while he is conducting the examination." The Medical Inspector of Factories has made special inquiry into this subject, and I learn that one of the four certifying surgeons in the Staffordshire potteries had no complaint to make of unsuitable rooms being provided for his examination of workers or of want of privacy; and in the very few cases mentioned by the other surgeons, in which the intervention of the medical inspector was necessary, there was no difficulty in securing better conditions. As regards the alleged superficial nature of the present examination, I may point out that all that can be done on factory premises in the way of physical examination is to observe the objective signs of absorption of lead into the system, which are very few, namely, 1567 blue line on gums, anæmia, and weakness of fingers or wrist. In cases where the certifying surgeon considers a further examination necessary he arranges for the workman to attend at his surgery.