Perforation of the nasal septum due to soda ash.

Perforation of the nasal septum as a direct result of occupation has been recognized since the days of Rammazzini (Wampler, 1943). However, the unspectacular nature of the symptoms and its self-limiting nature have so conspired together to keep the condition from the public eye as to make references to it in the literature both few and cursory. Particularly is this true of perforation of the septum occurring amongst workers in soda ash. Review of the Literature St. Clair Thomson and Negus (1948) briefly mention perforation of the nasal septum due to syphilis and traumatic ulcers secondarily complicating rhinitis sicca. Marchand (1949) mentions the perforations of the septum which occur in cocaine addicts. Perforations of the septum due to chrome and arsenical salts are frequently mentioned. Legge, (1934) writing of the effects of arsenic salts in the form of dust, says: