The Australian contribution to the history of the pneumoconioses.

THE AUSTRALIAN contribution to the evolution of knowledge concerning the pneumoconioses is perhaps better known overseas than locally. In fact, these studies, commencing about the turn of the century, and dealing with epidemiology, aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology and prevention, were amongst the most systematic and comprehensive medical research undertaken in a specific field in Australia prior to the Second World War (for references, see Holster, 1970). Unfortunately, the results commonly appeared either as separate publications under government auspices or in government reports of various kinds; although the work became known to some overseas experts, its full extent and significance were probably not appreciated in Australia even at the time. In recent years, I have tried, with no little difficulty, to acquire, in the original or in photostat, the relevant published material. It would be premature to attempt any thorough analysis of the history of the dust diseases in Australia, and to integrate the Australian work with progress abroad. As an introductory study, I propose, first, to indicate some of the steps necessary in producing such a historical analysis, taking coal and silica hazards as the classic examples. I shall pay particular attention to the problems which the historian faces in interpreting the available data and hence necessarily to the methodology of early investigators. Second, I shall briefly review several Australian studies, partly to illustrate the breadth and depth of the Australian work, and partly to indicate the significance to the historian, and the growing awareness amongst investigators, of basic principles in the epidemiological investigation of chronic diseases due to occupational hazards. The establishment of these principles is, of course, a matter of very recent history indeed, but the historian must still apply them retrospectively as a research technique within his own discipline.