Auguste-Louis Delpech (1818-80) has been remembered principally as the author of the first detailed description of the serious consequences of exposure to carbon disulphide. A close reading of his work suggests that his reputation has been seriously undervalued. The subsequent development of occupational psychiatry, with its emphasis on the distinction between the organic and the functional, may be traced through publications on carbon disulphide. It is argued that a contemporary approach to occupational psychiatry is long overdue.

The relation between osteoarthritis and occupation was examined in a group of skeletons from the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields, in east London used for burial between 1729 and 1869. Of the total of 968 discrete skeletons excavated, 367 had legible coffin plates giving details of name, age, sex, and date of death. Various sources were used to find the occupations of the group for which these details were known. As many of those buried in the crypt were Huguenots interest centred on the relation between weaving and osteoarthritis of the hands but none was found using a case-control study. Further analyses failed to show a relation between occupation and osteoarthritis of the shoulder or osteoarthritis at any site. There was a statistically significant association between non-manual occupations and osteoarthritis of the spine, the reasons for which are not yet clear.

Occupational exposure to organic solvents has been implicated in the development of "presenile dementia" in several studies. The death certificates of all men aged under 65 dying in England and Wales bearing presenile dementia as cause of death were collected for the years 1970-9 (n = 557): control death certificates were obtained, matched for age and sex. No significant differences were found between the groups as regards estimated occupational exposure to either organic solvents or lead.

In studies of two workforces 44 men exposed to paint solvents and 52 men working with toluene were compared with age matched comparison groups of non-exposed workers. Scores on a series of performance tests were examined, the solvent exposed in each study functioning less well than their comparison group. The apparent deficit among the paint exposed workers was substantial, but this was reduced after allowance for estimated intellectual capacity. No deficit was apparent on rematching with a second comparison group of more appropriate measured capacity. No evidence was found of impaired nerve conduction in the ulnar or median nerves, and few clinical signs of neurological damage were apparent. Nevertheless, in an associated inquiry of neuropsychological symptoms among 236 painters and 128 non-exposed workers a highly significant excess of symptoms was found among those exposed to paint solvents.

Between 1936 and 1976, 344 cases of scrotal cancer were registered in the West Midlands Region. There was a considerable increase in the number of registrations after 1955, the figures remaining high until the 1970s since when they appear to be falling towards the low level seen in the early years of registration. By the end of December 1981 250 deaths had occurred. The cause of death was known in 226 cases and of these, 97 (42.9%) were attributed to cancer of the scrotum, 40 (17.7%) to other malignancies, and 89 (39.4%) to other causes, scrotal cancer not being mentioned on the death certificate. The mean age at registration was 59.3 years and at death 66 years. Mean survival was 6.6 years with a five year survival rate of 51%. Survival was shorter in men who presented with palpable lymph nodes and greater in those treated with surgery alone. Occupations were known for all but 28 of the cases and of these, 61.9% had been exposed to mineral oil and a further 7.8% to pitch and tar. Among the occupations with exposure to mineral oil, tool setters and tool fitters accounted for the greatest proportion, 89 men having followed those trades. In 74 cases second primary tumours were registered after the scrotal primary, mostly in the skin and bronchus. There was no relation between the development of second primary tumours and exposure to mineral oil or to pitch and tar.

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