50 Years ago

Health in Industry. By Donald Hunter — The history of occupational disease spreads over many years and, until comparatively recently, ailments like beat knee, 'stagmus', writer's cramp, grocer's itch and cotton-workers' throat were accepted as heavenly or other visitations about which little could be done. With the growth of the industrial revolution the number of diseases multiplied so much in factory, workshop and mine that few industrial workers were able to get through a life-time free from occupational disease ... This interesting book ... describes the genesis of industrial medical services and the way they have developed. Rightly, the author emphasizes that in this field prevention is better than cure, and that responsibility for prevention rests not only upon doctors but also upon the Government, architects, management, trade unions and the workers they represent.

From Nature 7 May 1960.

100 Years ago

During the last General Election much was heard about the hard lot of the German workmen and peasants who are compelled to eat black bread, and much political capital was made of it. It may therefore be interesting to inquire how much of a hardship this is from the point of view of nutritiousness and also of tastiness. The so-called black bread is made of rye, and has the property of keeping moist for a much longer time than wheaten bread ... But a consideration of the chemistry of the different breads gives no support to the idea that black bread is an inferior article of diet ... It is good food, nevertheless, and those accustomed to it often actually prefer it ... The political orator is not too particular about his facts so long as he thinks they will serve his turn, and the allegations made about black bread have been, to say the least, wanting in scientific accuracy.

From Nature 5 May 1910.