Montgomery News
DOCTOR DENIES
Ohio Investigator Doubts If 200 Died From Breathing Silica Dust
Was Member Of Medical Commission
Dr. Hayhurst, Studying Silicosis 25 Years, Is an Authority on Disease
February 7, 1936
SO MANY DEATHS
FROM SILICOSIS
An authority on silicosis - an often fatal disease caused by breathing silica dust - disputed at Columbus, Ohio, Saturday charges that it caused 476 deaths on a New Kanawha Power Co. hydro-electric tunnel project at Hawks Nest, W. Va.
Dr. Emery R. Hayhurst, consultant in occupational diseases at the Ohio department of health, who has studied silicosis for 25 years, said he doubted more than 200 deaths were caused directly by the disease.
Re. Vito Macantonio of New York precipitated a congressional investigation by charging 476 workers on the project died from silicosis and that 1,500 more were dying.
Silica dust may have collected in the lungs and contributed to other deaths of pneumonia and tuberculosis, Dr. Hayhurst said.
He based his opinion largely on investigations made at Hawks Nest by a medical commission of which he was a member. The commission was hired by alleged silicosis sufferers who sued contractors on the project. Of 306 workmen who contended they were suffering from silicosis, Dr. Hayhurst said, only 152 were diseased.
The others had healthy lungs.
Some persons may be exposed to silica dust for 30 years, he said, before becoming afflicted with silicosis. Others may die of tuberculosis or pneumonia after being exposed only a few months.
The tuberculosis germ would have to be present in the lungs, he said, before silica dust was breathed, and it is a matter of dispute whether the dust aggravates tuberculosis or is antagonistic to it.
Symptoms of silicosis, the physician said, are shortage of breath, pains in the chest and poor circulation.
Silicosis easily can be discovered by the X-ray even when there are no outward symptoms.
Dr. Hayhurst recommended better control of the dust in the mines and physical examinations of the workers to cut down the toll of silicosis. Wet drilling and dust traps on drills, he said, will help much to eliminate the dust. determined.