Crowded working conditions in 19th century match factories. Photo: Wikimedia Commons In 1855, a 16-year-old factory worker named Cornelia visited a doctor in New York (USA) because of a toothache in his right lower jaw. The girl said she worked at least 8 hours a day at a match packing factory, for two years, but now her mouth hurts so much that she can’t even eat. Unbeknownst to the patient, she was regularly exposed to the toxic white phosphorus substance, which is used as a match, which caused the terrifying condition on her face, known as the “phossy jaw”. The doctor cut the patient’s gums, removed a tooth and allowed her to return to the factory. But Cornelia quickly returned to see the doctor at Bellevue hospital in a worse condition. A hole had formed in her jaw and was constantly oozing pus. Finally, in a painful and difficult surgery, the doctor removed the entire lower jaw of the patient. Cornelia was just one of hundreds of young women suffering from “phossy jaw” in the early 20th century. An illustration of a female patient suffering from “phossy jaw” – also known as “matchmaker’s leprosy”. In industrial plants, female workers are hired to dip wooden sticks in white phosphorus, soak them for hours at a time, creating matches that “can be hit anywhere.” But such close exposure to white phosphorus caused their jawbones to deteriorate. According to Allthatsinteresting, matchmakers struggled to raise public awareness of the pain they endured, but it still took decades for white phosphorus to be completely banned. However, their struggle was not in vain, patients like Cornelia were at the forefront of the fight for workers’ rights. Haunted by matches Matches were a popular commodity in England and America in the early 19th century. Industry insiders worked tirelessly to find new innovations in matchmaking technology: the use of white phosphorus. Despite its reputation for being toxic, the chemical is made into a paste that can shine on any surface with just a little friction. The “hit anywhere” matches, also known as lucifer matches, became extremely popular, and the industry that made them profited proportionally. Factory owners know that long-term exposure to white phosphorus can cause jaw necrosis, but they continue to administer it. They hire women and girls to work in the factory for 10-15 hours a day. It is estimated that in the 1900s there were almost 5 million women in the labor force in this industry. A woman with a “phossy jaw”. Image: Wikimedia Commons Every morning, factory workers come to the matchmaking workshop. Mixers mix phosphorus with glue and color, then dryer workers stack thousands of matches onto a frame. The immersion unit then dips those matchsticks into the phosphorus mixture. After the matches are dry, the workers will perform the final stage of canning. A dipping worker can dip up to 10 million matches a day, exposing himself to toxic chemicals at the same time. Factory owners have also implemented new procedures to reduce harm. Employees must wash their hands after working, workers who dip matches use masks to cover their mouths. Some other factories are looking to improve the ventilation system. But white phosphorus continues to poison workers. “The Matchmaker’s Leprosy” “Phossy jaw” is also known as “matchmaker’s leprosy”, in part because it causes facial disfigurement and is often ostracized from the workplace. The first recorded case of “phossy jaw” was in 1838 in a matchmaker living in Vienna, Austria. By 1844, a doctor in Vienna reported 22 more cases of phosphorus-related jaw necrosis, but the industry was still growing rapidly. In 1857, Dr. James Rushmore Wood of New York began writing about “phossy jaw” after treating 16-year-old Cornelia. He noticed that the first sign of the disease was jaw pain, followed by abscesses along the gum line. Sometimes the victim’s gums even glow in the dark. In some severe cases, necrosis completely destroys the jawbone, and can be fatal. Dr. Wood’s treatment of Cornelia’s jaw using a saw, known in the 19th century as a “cheese string”, was unsuccessful. Mr Wood had to perform a second surgery and monitor the patient for a month before declaring Cornelia “cure”. Other victims were not as fortunate as Cornelia. A 22-year-old girl named Barbara, who worked in a match factory for three years, died less than three months after the onset of symptoms. Then there was a 13 year old girl named Annie who noticed her arm started to glow after working in the match factory for 4 years. Like Cornelia, she also had surgery to remove her jaw. Maggie, 23, continues to make matches after undergoing five surgeries to remove her jaw. It is estimated that approximately 11% of people exposed to white phosphorus develop a “phossy function”. By 1909, the United States recorded more than 100 such cases. Painting of a match worker protest in 1871. Photo: Wikimedia Commons While the employers are indifferent, the workers are forced to solve their own problems. In June 1888, feminist activist Annie Besant wrote about the plight of matchmaking girls in England. In her article “White Slaves in London”, Ms. Besant chronicles the working conditions in the match factories and the terrifying reality of the “phossy jaw”. She pointed to inequalities in factories such as low wages, unreasonable fines, cluttered, dirty spaces. Annie Besant was a British activist who fought to reform working conditions for female match workers. Image: Wikimedia Commons Decades of struggle At the time of writing Besant, several countries had banned the use of phosphorus in factories, but not the UK, where the government argued that banning the chemical would restrict free trade. Besant’s article created a conflict between Bryant & May, a large London match factory, and their workers. Bryant & May pressured workers to sign a statement denying Besant’s demands, and fired workers who didn’t. The company’s actions caused the match workers’ strike of 1888, in which 1,400 factory workers refused to work, protesting the dire conditions. Bryant & May workers joined the 1888 strike. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The striking workers won several concessions from Bryant & May, including an end to unfair fines. But the plant continues to use white phosphorus. Although phosphorus was not yet outlawed in England, the strike of 1888 drew new attention to the appalling condition in many match factories. Journalists reported abuses, including an attempt to cover up the severity of the “phossy jaw”. In 1892, The Star newspaper published a series of photographs of victims of the “phossy jaw” at the Bryant & May company. The newspaper alleges that Bryant & May forced a worker with a “phossy jaw” to quit her job and promised to pay her when she recovered. But when the female worker recovered from her illness, they refused to hire the girl again because of the victim’s hideous appearance. The factory claimed that a woman who lost half her jaw would panic other workers. Even after learning of the cover-up, the British government decided not to ban white phosphorus, a toxin that has harmed workers for more than half a century. In 1898, the British government finally fined Bryant & May 25 pounds, equivalent to several thousand dollars in today’s prices. In 1891, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, joined the fight against the use of white phosphorus. He opened a match factory that refused to use the chemical, hoping it would pressure other factories to do the same. His factory encouraged consumers to boycott white phosphorus matches. However, phosphorus matches were only discontinued until French chemists discovered sesquisulfide, a safe substitute for white phosphorus. Bryant & May switched to this alternative in 1901. Britain finally banned white phosphorus entirely in 1910, but decades have passed since a doctor in Vienna first determined that it caused “phossy jaw” in match workers. By then, it will be too late to undo the damage this poison has done to so many workers, “in the name” of better-quality matches.

Crowded working conditions in 19th century match factories. Photo: Wikimedia Commons In 1855, a 16-year-old factory worker named Cornelia visited a doctor in New York (USA) because of a toothache in his right lower jaw. The girl said she worked at least 8 hours a day at a match packing factory, for two years, but now her mouth hurts so much that she can’t even eat. Unbeknownst to the patient, she was regularly exposed to the toxic white phosphorus substance, which is used as a match, causing the terrifying condition on her face, known as the “phossy jaw”. The doctor cut the patient’s gums, removed a tooth and allowed her to return to the factory. But Cornelia quickly returned to see the doctor at Bellevue hospital in a worse condition. A hole had formed in her jaw and was constantly oozing pus. Finally, in a painful and difficult surgery, the doctor removed the entire lower jaw of the patient. Cornelia was just one of hundreds of young women suffering from “phossy jaw” in the early 20th century. An illustration of a female patient suffering from “phossy jaw” – also known as “matchmaker’s leprosy”. In industrial plants, female workers are hired to dip wooden sticks in white phosphorus, soak them for hours, creating matches that “can be hit anywhere.” But such close exposure to white phosphorus caused their jawbones to deteriorate. According to Allthatsinteresting, matchmakers struggled to raise public awareness of the pain they endured, but it still took decades for white phosphorus to be completely banned. However, their struggle was not in vain, patients like Cornelia were at the forefront of the fight for workers’ rights. Haunted by matches Matches were a popular commodity in England and America in the early 19th century. Industry insiders worked tirelessly to find new innovations in matchmaking technology: the use of white phosphorus. Despite its reputation for being toxic, the chemical is made into a paste that can shine on any surface with just a little friction. The “hit anywhere” matches, also known as lucifer matches, became extremely popular, and the industry that made them profited proportionally. Factory owners know that long-term exposure to white phosphorus can cause jaw necrosis, but they continue to administer it. They hire women and girls to work in the factory for 10-15 hours a day. It is estimated that in the 1900s there were almost 5 million women in the labor force in this industry. A woman with a “phossy jaw”. Image: Wikimedia Commons Every morning, factory workers come to the matchmaking workshop. Mixers mix phosphorus with glue and color, then dryer workers stack thousands of matches onto a frame. The immersion unit then dips those matchsticks into the phosphorus mixture. After the matches are dry, the workers will perform the final stage of canning. A dipping worker can dip up to 10 million matches a day, exposing himself to toxic chemicals at the same time. Factory owners have also implemented new procedures to reduce harm. Employees must wash their hands after working, workers who dip matches use masks to cover their mouths. Some other factories are looking to improve the ventilation system. But white phosphorus continues to poison workers. “The Matchmaker’s Leprosy” “Phossy jaw” is also known as “matchmaker’s leprosy,” in part because it causes facial disfigurement and is often ostracized from the workplace. The first recorded case of “phossy jaw” was in 1838 in a matchmaker living in Vienna, Austria. By 1844, a doctor in Vienna reported 22 more cases of phosphorus-related jaw necrosis, but the industry was still growing rapidly. In 1857, Dr. James Rushmore Wood of New York began writing about “phossy jaw” after treating 16-year-old Cornelia. He noticed that the first sign of the disease was jaw pain, followed by abscesses along the gum line. Sometimes the victim’s gums even glow in the dark. In some severe cases, necrosis completely destroys the jawbone, and can be fatal. Dr. Wood’s treatment of Cornelia’s jaw using a saw, known in the 19th century as a “cheese string”, was unsuccessful. Mr Wood had to perform a second surgery and monitor the patient for a month before declaring Cornelia “cure”. Other victims were not as fortunate as Cornelia. A 22-year-old girl named Barbara, who worked in a match factory for three years, died less than three months after the onset of symptoms. Then there was a 13 year old girl named Annie who noticed her arm started to glow after working in the match factory for 4 years. Like Cornelia, she also had surgery to remove her jaw. Maggie, 23, continues to make matches after undergoing five surgeries to remove her jaw. It is estimated that approximately 11% of people exposed to white phosphorus develop a “phossy function”. By 1909, the United States recorded more than 100 such cases. Painting of a match worker protest in 1871. Photo: Wikimedia Commons While the employers are indifferent, the workers are forced to solve their own problems. In June 1888, feminist activist Annie Besant wrote about the plight of matchmaking girls in England. In her article “White Slaves in London”, Ms. Besant documents the working conditions in the match factories and the terrifying reality of the “phossy jaw”. She pointed to inequalities in factories such as low wages, unreasonable fines, cluttered, dirty spaces. Annie Besant was a British activist who fought to reform working conditions for female match workers. Image: Wikimedia Commons Decade struggle At the time of writing Besant, several countries had banned the use of phosphorus in plants, but not the UK, where the government argued that banning the chemical would result in restrictions on free trade. Besant’s article created a conflict between Bryant & May, a large London match factory, and their workers. Bryant & May pressured workers to sign a statement denying Besant’s demands, and fired workers who didn’t. The company’s actions caused the match workers’ strike of 1888, in which 1,400 factory workers refused to work, protesting the dire conditions. Bryant & May workers joined the 1888 strike. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The striking workers won several concessions from Bryant & May, including an end to unfair fines. But the plant continues to use white phosphorus. Although phosphorus was not yet outlawed in England, the strike of 1888 drew new attention to the appalling condition in many match factories. Journalists reported abuses, including an attempt to cover up the severity of the “phossy jaw”. In 1892, The Star newspaper published a series of photographs of victims of the “phossy jaw” at the Bryant & May company. The newspaper alleges Bryant & May forced a worker with a “phossy jaw” to quit her job and promised to pay her when she recovered. But when the female worker recovered from her illness, they refused to hire the girl again because of the victim’s hideous appearance. The factory claimed that a woman who lost half her jaw would panic other workers. Women work at the Sirio Match Co. in Brooklyn, New York, circa 1915. Photo: Getty Images Even after learning of the cover-up, the British government decided not to ban white phosphorus, a toxin that has harmed workers for more than half a century. In 1898, the British government finally fined Bryant & May 25 pounds, equivalent to several thousand dollars in today’s prices. In 1891, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, joined the fight against the use of white phosphorus. He opened a match factory that refused to use the chemical, hoping it would pressure other factories to do the same. His factory encouraged consumers to boycott white phosphorus matches. However, phosphorus matches were only discontinued until French chemists discovered sesquisulfide, a safe substitute for white phosphorus. Bryant & May switched to this alternative in 1901. Britain finally banned white phosphorus entirely in 1910, but decades have passed since a doctor in Vienna first determined that it caused “phossy jaw” in match workers. By then, it will be too late to undo the damage this poison has done to so many workers, “in the name” of better-quality matches.

Chemotherapy Illustration. Not all chemotherapy causes eyebrow hair loss. There is usually a standard protocol that if you don’t lose your hair, you will lose your eyebrows. Infection If you have a fungal infection, scabies, syphilis and leprosy, your eyebrows will fall out from scratching a lot. Autoimmune disorders This causes hair loss all over the body, including the eyebrows. Immune disorders that cause brow loss include symptoms like lupus that can cause thinning of eyebrows and hair loss. Vitiligo can sometimes cause inflammation that is severe enough to cause hair loss and hair loss. In general, eyebrow hair loss often occurs with other symptoms more severe when lupus and vitiligo visit. Onions and honey to thicken eyebrows In onion contains a lot of sulfur, a compound that stimulates hair growth, enhances blood circulation very effectively. Honey contains many important vitamins that support the growth of eyebrows. Materials need to prepare: – 1/3 onions 1/2 teaspoon honey – Blender, sieve, bowl and spoon The ingredients you need to prepare Doing: – Onions peeled, washed, sliced ​​and then put in a blender, puree. Shred the onions to make this recipe – Use a sieve to remove the residue, separate the juice to the bowl. – Pour honey into a bowl and use a spoon to stir until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. The mixture after being obtained has a viscous form. Using: – Clean the eye area with warm water to enlarge pores, pat dry with a soft towel. – Use a cotton ball to dip in the mixture above, apply evenly over 2 rows of eyebrows from base to tip. Save the mixture overnight, rinse with cold water the next morning. Apply this method 3 times / week, after only 2 weeks, your eyebrows are both thicker and longer than seen.

This article’s Professor and Doctor of Dermatology Duong Hy Xuyen (China) talk about the history of leprosy and the miracles that humans have fought to overcome this evil disease.

When you hear the word “leprosy”, what comes to mind first?

“Phong Village” is forgotten

Without a doubt, most people have this idea first in mind.

This is a somewhat frightening and remote topic, this bizarre disease has been too distant for us in the 21st century, far enough away to be forgotten.

Fifty years ago, hundreds of thousands of shunned leprosy people were still living in China, now it is hard to see them. The miserable patients are inherently seen as symbols of sin: leprosy and death are equated.

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial illness that can be written as leprosy, but it has nothing to do with madness. Perhaps to avoid such misunderstandings, this disease is often referred to as “leprosy”.

But everyone’s association with it is not only madness, but also represents bright red eyes, short fingers, festering wounds, amputated feet, distorted appearance and even death. miserable.

For thousands of years, leprosy has been considered an evil disease, even a symbol of evil, and under the tragic fate of leprosy patients, they continue to be tortured both physically and mentally, This is beyond our imagination.

In the old era, when medical technology was limited, medical equipment was scarce, leprosy was basically determined to be incurable since it had regionally contagious properties, the only way to Control of fluid growth is isolating the patient.

So, on the mountain, on an isolated island, a group of leprosy villages were built so that the sick lived there. There is no specific medicine or vaccine, and untreated self-resisting patients will continue to develop ulcers and disfigurement until they become paralyzed or even die.

Over time, people misunderstood, dispelled, and feared it, and the “scary” Phong was now a trademark of terror.

The end of the leprosy era

The leprosy history is long, stretching for 1400 years, like an endless nightmare.

It was not until 1874 that the Norwegian physician Hansen (GerhardH.A.Hansen) broke the darkness that he discovered the culprit – the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.

Symptoms caused by Mycobacterium leprosy bacteria are manifested in the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, if not treated promptly can lead to blindness or deformity, disability and other consequences.

In other words, once leprosy is found, the disability rate will be very high. However, if the disability is detected early and treated promptly, the disability can be cured.

In current medical conditions, leprosy is already an easy-to-diagnose and treatable disease, currently in clinical use mainly a combination of many drugs and chemotherapy treatments, which can cure leprosy. Within 6-24 months, the contagiousness of the disease may disappear after a week of taking the drug.

Usually, if the patient unfortunately gets the disease, the patient does not need to have negative psychology and bewildered when treating this disease, on the one hand it will not be inherited, on the other hand, the survival rate of bacteria in vitro is low.

Generally, they can be destroyed by disinfection, most people have natural immunity (according to survey statistics with 90% or more), extremely low incidence, when infected. Nor does it need isolation, just treatment.

Darkness has long passed, the era when leprosy is “incurable disease” has been shortened by history. At present, there are basically few new cases, there is no so-called “leprosy village”, only more than 3,000 elderly people in community rehabilitation villages have survived the disease, but have also incapable of working, still facing sequelae.

Leprosy is not terrible

Although leprosy is rare, but because it is very similar to the symptoms of other diseases, it is possible to misdiagnose or omit the disease, so the prevention and treatment cannot be relaxed.

On the other hand, leprosy is a disease with a dark history. Even modern people will still have a lack of sympathy towards patients with fear of leprosy, which has become the biggest obstacle to leprosy prevention today.

So sometimes, it is not the terminal illness, but the hearts of people. Of course, society is not without action.

The last Sunday of January every year is “World leprosy Day”, many countries will organize many activities on this day to mobilize social forces to help leprosy patients overcome difficulties in their life. live and work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.

There are also many volunteers entering the rehabilitation village, sharing, chatting, even eating, living together, giving care, warm care and making their best contributions. can.

The original purpose of writing this article was to hope everyone to have a correct understanding of leprosy, not to be bound by inherent impressions of the past. Leprosy is not as formidable and frightening as we can imagine. It can be seen from a scientific perspective, it will reduce the superficial evaluation and alienate the patient.

• According to The Paper