The determination of benzene in blood is usually performed by the so-called Butanone method. However, this method is complicated in practice. This paper introduces a simple and convenient method applying ultraviolet absorption spectra of benzene. The determination methods of benzene in air and expired air were reported already in other paper. It is based on the following facts, that the benzene easily and immensely soluble in ethyl alcohol and this solution has many absorption maxima in ultraviolet regions such as at 2485 Å, 2545 Å, 2606 Å and others. The maximum absorption at 2545 Å is the greatest and the existence of a small amount of benzene in alcoholic solution is detected by measuring the absorption spectra with ultraviolet spectro-photometer. K.Hirasawa, one of the author's collaborators, reported the detection method of benzene in blood by Conway's micro-diffuser. The author developed this method as a quantitative determination. The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. The sample tube is kept in thermoregulated water bath at 37 to 45°C. The absorbent tube containing 3 cc of pure alcohol is put in ice flask and cooled to 0°C. Those tubes are connected by a polyvinyl tube instead of using a rubber tube, because of avoiding the effect of rubber. Aerating the sample tube with hot air passing through a spiral glass tube kept in the bath. This promotes the separation of benzene from the blood sample. The benzene vapor is transfused to the absorbent tube which contains pure alcohol. The experimental results are followings. 1. 0.5 cc of blood is enough for a sample, if the content of benzene in blood is more than 0.03mg per 1 cc of blood. 2. For aeration, 600 to 1000 cc of fresh air is needed for above mentioned range. The aeration is carried out 3 to 5 min. in the velocity of 200 cc/min. 3. The recovery is almost complete at the benzene content less than 0.3mg per cc of blood, and if the amount of benzene is more than value, the recovery rate remains at 80%. 4. The limit of the determination lies between 0.0075mg to 0.3mg per cc of blood. In the case of the benzene is contained less than 0.03mg, two to four samples should be repeatedly aerated in the same absorber. 5. Experimental error is supposed mainly by an inadequate aeration, so three times repetitions are at least desirable for one sample.

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For examining the interplay between pulmonary sericitosis and pulmonary tuberculosis in complication with it, rabbits with experimental sericitosis induced by inhalation of sericite dust were inoculated with bovine type tubercle bacilli. The experiment was also performed in the reverse order. Simple tuberculous and simple sericitotic rabbits were used as controls. The following conclusions were arrived at in summary: 1. Of the animals with induced simple sericitosis, the milder cases showed only right pulmonary change consisting in scattered or aggregated dusty cells in the alveoli; while the severer cases showed graver changes of glanulomata formed on the alveolar walls, the peri-bronchial lymphfollicles, the lymphnodules in the pulmonary hilus and so on, but no suspicion of fibrosis as in silicosis was observable. The correlation, however, between the duration of the dust inhalation and the grade of pathological changes was not always clear. 2. Since low-virulence vovine type tubercle bacilli were used for inducing tuberculosis, the changes in the lungs of the rabbits with simple pulmonary tuberculosis were of the exsudative in only very few of the cases, and the disease showed a marked tendency for recovery. 3. In the animals infected both with sericosis whether the tuberculous was induced before or the sericitosis, the tendency to exsudation and necrobiosis being notable in the former, but no finding suggestive of the sericitotic changes accelerating the infection of tuberculois was observable. 4. From the above results, it can be understood that inhalation of the endothelial cells in the pulmonary tissues and weaken their inhibitory function against the progress of tuberculosis.

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The decrease of albumin and globulin ratio (A/G) measured by the salting-out method and the increase of γ-globulin level by the Kunkel Method in lead workers' sera were already reported by some authors in the past. The decrease of A/G ratio was observed also in the experimental lead poisoning of animals by other authors. For the purpose of making a comparative study on symptoms and the protein fraction changes due to lead absorption, an electrophoretic study on the sera of lead workers in a storage battery factory was undertaken by means of the Tiselius apparatus. Further, by the Zone electrophoresis, it was tried to determine the fraction, to which lead was supposed to be bound. The results were as follows: 1. The lead workers with slight anemia by lead absorption showed a higher level of γ-globulin percentage of serum protein than those without any symptom of anemia as well as healthy controls. 2. Lead in the serum was mainly found in the fraction which corresponds to that of albumin and there seemed to be no relation between the cause of γ-globulin percentage increase and the lead-binding capacity of protein fraction of the serum.

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A series of experiments on the chronic CCl₄ poisoning was performed for the purpose of determining the minimum toxic does for hematological changes of the rabbit. Twenty rabbits were divided into five groups, which were administered by subcutaneous routes in the respective doses of 0, 0.0075, 0.0015, 0.0225 and 0.03 cc CCl₄ per kg. every other day for three months. For small doses of CCl₄, dilution with olive oil was carried out. Hematological observations were made every eight days with regard to the following items ; body weight, erythrocytes, leucocytes, reticulocytes, hemoglobin contents, and iron amounts in the serum and organs. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The decrease of the body weight occured in three groups given in does more than 0.015 cc per kg. 2. In animals which were given more amount of CCl₄ than 0.015 cc per kg., the increase in red cell count, hemoglobin content and serum iron concentration was found but other groups did not show any change. 3. In the beginning of the experiment, all groups of animal appeared to increase in leucocyte counts and reticulocyte counts but the increase was not significant statistically. 4. The iron contents of the liver of the animals administered with relatively larger CCl₄ amounts were higher, but the relationship was reverse in the kidney. 5. On the basis of these experiments, it was concluded that the minimum toxic doses of CCl₄ for hematological changes by subcutaneous injection every other day to rabbits is between 0.0075 cc and 0.00 cc CCl₄ per kg. body weight.

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According to the previous investigators, K. Tsuchiya and M. Nishimura, it has been demonstrated that the parathyroidectomized rats showed less serious symptoms of lead poisoning then control animals. They made a conclusion that this phenomenon might be due to the decrease of precipitation of the serum calcium which was accompanied by the increase of lead precipitation to the bone. The established fact that the growing animals are more susceptible to the lead administration than the grown, has been remained to be explained for its cause. By the present author, both the calcium and lead metabolism were observed in the growing animals with experimental lead poisoning and were compared with those of the grown animals to which parathyroid hormone was subcutaneously administered, simultaneously with lead. Principal conclusions obtained were as follows: 1) The growing rats yielded more serious lead poisoning symptoms in anemia and body weight, compared with the grown. The lead poisoning was advanced by the injections of parathyroid hormone. 2) The lead contents in both the bone and blood of the growing rats were found to be more than those of the grown. Those animals to which parathyroid hormone was given, contained more lead in the blood and less in the bone, than the control animals. 3) Although reference to the calcium and lead metabolism, the growing rats were not necessarily to be analogous to the grown with injections of parathyroid hormone, the hypersusceptibility of the former animals to lead might be attributed to the higher activity of the hormone.

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For the purpose of studying the change of blood picture in the early stage of silicosis and the morbific elements, 32 male workers in a firebrick making factory, i.e., 18 workers in the first grade silicosis and 14 healthy ones with 2 to 13 years of work experience, were examined and an attempt was made to signify the change of blood picture for the diagnosis of silicosis. 1) No marked change in the red blood cell count, the haemoglobin content and the colour index was seen on every worker. 2) A temporary increase in number of the white blood cell was detected among the workers with two to three experience years, while not so with the others. 3) A trend of slight increase in number of basophilic leucocytes and monocytes was found on the workers in the first grade silicosis, and on some of them was found plasma cells which in the formerly reported animal experiment had appeared in the eariy stage and the later stage. On almost all of the workers, eosinocytes increased regardless of years of work experience and the invidual state of health. 4) Neutrocytes and lymphocytes did not show any detectable change in number. 5) Morbidness of silicosis is concidered to depend upon the physical element of individuals, and signs and symptoms are different in each case. However, from the data obtained by the animal experiment and the present medical experiment and the present medical examination it can be concluded that the censecutive examination of blood picture, besides the X-ray examination and cardiopulmonary function test, could give some helpful findings such as plasmacytosis to diagnose silicosis, especially to diagnose whether it is the pre-morbid stage or morbid state.

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Oral lead contents of lead workers in a storage battery and a lead refining plant were estimate, and were compared with blood lead contents, whole blood gravity and coproporphyrinuria. The oral lead was estimated in samples of the teeth calculus or coating and also in samples of 30 cc of 0.5% acetic acid solution by which the oral cavities of workers were washed out. The principal results obtained were as follow: 1. Lead contents of teeth calculus and coating were estimated from 3 to 120 μg per 100 mg. 2. Lead was scarecely recovered from saliva of the parotid gland. Lead contents of teeth calculus and coating showed no correlation with those of blood lead. From these facts, it seems most logical to assume that the oral lead of lead workers is of environmental orgin but not come from the lead absorbed in the body. Lead contents of the washed out solution from the oral cavities of the workers indicated a high correlation (r=-0.71) with whole blood gravity, which is one of the best indicators of the chronic lead intake. The lead contents of the washed out solution must be directly influenced by the lead concentration of environmental air.

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Among diseases and injuries of the crew, gastrointestinal disturbance occurred at a high rate. As the causative factors irregularity of meal time because of watch service and others are suspected. Three members of the crew whose watch time was 12.00-4.00, when occurrence of gastrointestinal disturbance was especially frequent, were selected and their digestive function was examined to observe influence of heat and food on the crew of this route. The results were as follows: Because of watch service their meal time was irregular. In one of the three subjects degestion rate was quite low especially as to protein. It is supposed that inate weakness of gastrointestinal function became apparent when the subject was exposed to strong stress.

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Preveously the present author reported on disturbances evoked by crude oil in the crew of tankers as his first report (Rodo Kagaku Vol.32, No.12). Thereafter, animal experiments were performed, taking into consideration the living conditions, surroundings, and labor conditions of the crew. The results of pathohistological examinations were reported as the second report (Rodo Kakaku Vol.34, No.12). In this work attemps were made to observe the influences of body contamination and aspiration of generated gas during cleaning of tank residuum of tankers: Body weight, blood pressure, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts and urine protein and urobilinogen were examined. After three day continuous work decrease in body weight, elevation of blood pressure, increase in leucocyte count, excretion of protein and urobilinogen to urine were observed in all crew especially in the aged. In one subject exanthema was found in the back. These changes were recovered before the two day main work which was performed after several days. However, after the main work, changes which were similar to those observed after the preliminary work were observed. The above stated changes are to be ascribed to body contamination with crude oil residuum and aspiration of generated gas.

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