Matchstick Maker
Before the safety match revolutionized everyday life, matchstick makers toiled in factories handling dangerous chemicals like white phosphorus. The job was notorious for “phossy jaw,” a painful and disfiguring disease caused by prolonged exposure to toxic fumes. Workers, often women and children, faced hazardous conditions in poorly ventilated workshops where safety was minimal.
Despite the dangers, matchstick production was vital for lighting fires in homes and industries. The invention of safer matches and stricter factory regulations eventually ended this perilous trade, but the grim legacy of matchstick makers remains a cautionary tale about industrial labor and worker safety.
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