I came across the following today, was going to send it to a colleague with
an interest in the subject, but thought it might be appreciated on the list
as a whole.
Cipolla, Before the Industrial Revolution, (London, 3rd edn., 1993) p. 113
quotes the following from Ramazzini, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Le
malattie dei lavoratori, ed., O. Rossi, Turin, 1933 - English translation by
W C Wright, New York, 1940) -
miners: they come up into the untainted open air looking as ghastly as the
retinue of the god of the underworld because of their stay in those dark
foul places. Whatever metal they mine, they invite dreadful diseases which
too often mock at every remedy.... But it is from mercury mines that there
issues the most cruel bane of all that deal death and destruction to
miners.... In the mines of Meissen where blacl pompholyx is found, the hands
and legs of the miners are eaten away to the bone.
Peter
______________________________________________
Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen,
Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599
University of Exeter - Department of History
School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
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