What could girls working in match factories catch?

Study for the WJEC GCSE History of Medicine Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question providing hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam effectively!

Multiple Choice

What could girls working in match factories catch?

Explanation:
Phossy-jaw is the health issue tied to the chemical used in match production. In Victorian and later match factories, workers handled and inhaled white phosphorus from match heads. The phosphorus could accumulate in the jawbone, causing painful necrosis and teeth to loosen—an outcome known as phossy-jaw. This is a classic occupational disease specific to the matchmaking process, which is why it’s the correct choice. Mercury poisoning links to hat-making, not matches, and measles or scarlet fever are infectious diseases that could affect anyone, not a hazard unique to match factories.

Phossy-jaw is the health issue tied to the chemical used in match production. In Victorian and later match factories, workers handled and inhaled white phosphorus from match heads. The phosphorus could accumulate in the jawbone, causing painful necrosis and teeth to loosen—an outcome known as phossy-jaw. This is a classic occupational disease specific to the matchmaking process, which is why it’s the correct choice.

Mercury poisoning links to hat-making, not matches, and measles or scarlet fever are infectious diseases that could affect anyone, not a hazard unique to match factories.

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