In  the  case  of  quicksilver  mining,  it  appears  that  conditions  have
very  much  improved.  With  the  abandonment  of  the  mines  in  which
the  metal  occurred  in  its  native  state,  the  incidence  of  mercurial  poi-
soning in  mining  has  practically  been  eliminated.  In  the  various
reduction  processes,  however,  cases  still  occur,  and  the  question
remains  one  of  much  scientific  interest.  As  a  matter  of  practical
experience,  however,  it  may  be  said  that  serious  cases  of  mercurial
poisoning  in  cinnabar  reduction  plants  are  relatively  rare,  but  there
are  reasons  for  believing  that  the  application  of  the  workmen's  com-
pensation act  to  cases  of  this. kind  will  bring  forward  evidence  that
neglected  treatment  is  likely  to  result  disastrously  in  the  case  of
the  more  ignorant  labor  class  from  Mexico  and  elsewhere.  It  may
be  pointed  out  in  this  connection  that  experience  seems  to  show  a
rather  close  relation  between  habits  of  gross  intoxication  and  in-


MINING  HAZARDS  O'N  THE  PACIFIC  COAST.  181

creased  liability  to  mercurial  poisoning,  and  that  with  the  passing
of  the  former  evil  the  incidence  of  the  disease  has  diminished  pro-
portionately in  frequency.  Furthermore,  it  may  be  said  that  the
employment  of  more  qualified  physicians  at  the  quicksilver  mines
has  provided  the  means  for  the  effective  treatment  of  light  cases
of  salivation,  so  that  the  more  serious  forms  of  mercurial  poison-
ing are  now  quite  rare.
