Through these international agreements between various countries success in the direction aimed at is hopeful, and indeed to a certain extent—as in the phosphorus and lead questions—actually attained. Thus, for example, Germany and Italy were in a position to enforce prohibition of the use of white phosphorus early, while their neighbour Austria, on account of commercial and political considerations and the conditions of the home lucifer match industry, has only recently decided on prohibition.
As international agreement for the protection of workers is advisable on economic grounds, so also is it reasonable and just from purely humanitarian reasons that workers, without reference to civil condition or nationality, should be equally protected. On this point it is proposed to take a vote and to press only for those reforms which are thoroughly sound and recognised as necessary.
The first step in such a comprehensive attack is precise knowledge of the extent and source of origin of the particular forms of industrial poisoning and disease and the collection of reliable statistics. This suggested the obligation to notify such cases to the proper authorities in the same way as is now done in the case of infectious disease. A motion to this effect had already been passed at the Conference of the International Association for Labour Legislation held in Basle, and a request was made to the Labour Bureau to prepare a list of the diseases and poisonings in question. To them we shall refer later, but a schedule is necessary as a basis to work upon. Yet even when this is done there are obviously great difficulties to be overcome in carrying out the requirement of notification when the aim is kept in mind of collecting complete statistical data for controlling the conditions giving rise to industrial disease. The proposal of the International Association seeks to make notification obligatory on the part both of the medical practitioner in attendance and the occupier, and in connection with this to secure the co-operation of the Sick Insurance Society.[D] The proposal to require the appointed surgeons and surgeons of the Insurance Society to notify all cases is hardly feasible in view of their dependent position. Nor can the obligation on the occupiers lead to the desired result because of their lack of medical knowledge and the fact that by notifying they might be forced to act to their own disadvantage. A successful effort in this direction is recorded in Saxony, where lead poisoning was first made a notifiable disease, and later the general duty of notification of industrial poisoning was prescribed by Order dated March 4, 1901.