Report on Acute Illness Among Rural Mattress Makers Using Low Grade, Stained Cotton

This report deals with an acute illness among workers in rural mattress making projects using low grade cotton. The history of the outbreaks of illness, distribution of cases, estimated number of persons involved, nature of the illness and description of the investigations undertaken to determine the cause of the illness are presented. Numerous reports of sudden outbreaks of acute illness occurring among workers on rural mattress making projects were received by the U. S. Public Health Service throughout the period from March to December 1941. Outbreaks of a similar illness were also reported in one cotton mill and in several cottonseed processing plants. Illness invariably followed the use of a very low grade, dusty, stained cotton of the 1940 crop. The rural mattress making projects, sponsored by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, were part of a program designed to reduce the cotton surplus and to benefit farm families. Rural