§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether any case has recently been brought to his notice in which a woman has been kept continuously employed on T.N.T. for a fortnight, and has developed toxic jaundice with fatal results; whether the practice of continuous employment on dope is contrary to the official regulations; and whether steps will be taken to secure compliance in all factories with official regulations
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend refers. It was not a case of dope poisoning, as appears to be implied in the question, but a case of T.N.T. poisoning, which is quite distinct from dope poisoning. So far as the former process is concerned, dope is only used in aircraft factories, and since a certain element has boon removed from its manufacture it has ceased to be a cause for toxic jaundice. So far as the particular case of T.N.T. poisoning is concerned, under the T.N.T. rules it is only permitted in cases of necessity for a woman to be employed for more than a fortnight continuously on T.N.T. In the case in question alternation was not possible, as the factory was incomplete. Since then complete alternation has been effected. The House will be glad to know that the preventive measures taken by the Ministry of Munitions against T.N.T. poisoning have been increasingly effective. The number of cases reported during the last quarter of 1916 was 86, with 23 deaths. The comparison figures for 1917 were 29 cases, with 4 deaths.