Chimney sweep

Most of the dirt in the chimneys is carbon black. If it accumulates a lot, it becomes combustible; soot fire ignition is a common cause of fires. If the stove / stove is also cooked, greasy soot is produced, even more fire hazardous.

In addition, sulfur and nitrogen oxides occur in the exhaust gases - especially when burning coal, organic waste. When combined with water, they turn into acids, which corrode brick and steel structures.

In large houses, chimneys are of complex construction, and climbing into them is quite difficult. Initially, boys of a slender physique were doing this, now they use cables with video cameras for this, and cleaning pipes are made on the pipes.

In the 18th century, boys from 4–6 years old were involved in pipe cleaning; subsequently, these children developed the so-called “soot wart”, which was then called cancer, arising from constant skin contact with soot. The scrotum was most often affected, since the skin in this place is very thin and abundantly equipped with sebaceous glands, through which soot is absorbed. As a result, a painful ulcer first appears on the skin of the scrotum, then it grows into the testicle, which swells and hardens. The tumor quickly gives metastases to the groin and abdominal cavity, which leads to painful death. This disease was first described in 1775 by the famous surgeon Percival Pott , calling it "chimney sweep cancer."

In 1788, this discovery led to the first law protecting people from carcinogens in the workplace. The British parliament banned chimney sweeps from employing boys under 8 years old. In the future, the minimum age for involvement in the profession increased to 16 years.

Pott also drew attention to the fact that in Scotland and Germany they do not get "chimney sweep cancer" - in these countries they used a long stick with rags wound around it to clean the pipes. However, in England, in multi-storey buildings, the chimneys were narrow brick corridors of enormous length, with many turns and corners, which only children could clean. The fight against “chimney sweep cancer” continued throughout the 19th century.

Chimney sweeps were outcasts of society, so they tried to do their work at night or early in the morning, away from a pure public. Their work was shrouded in mystery, and their smeared face resembled a mask. In addition, soot symbolizes a life-giving fire, and if it works at a height and nothing is done with it, then it means good luck. Hence superstition: I saw a dirty chimney sweep - for good luck. A clean chimney sweep does not have this magical power.

When cylinders came into fashion, chimney sweeps began to joke for the sake of wearing inexpensive oilcloth cylinders. However, it turned out that this is a fairly practical hat: you can put small equipment inside. They say that the cylinder can protect against falling bricks - however, this is doubtful, and even at a height the chimney sweep removes the cylinder and puts on a cap - a fitting cap.

The chimney sweep among the people has become the standard of dirty work: “ You are blacker than the chimney sweep, admire yourself ” (“ Moydodyr ”).

Chimney sweeps will exist as long as there are stoves and boilers operating on coal, wood and gas. In addition to the cleaning itself, chimney sweeps are involved in:

• construction, repair and reconstruction of chimneys, ventilation and exhaust pipes;
• expert opinions on the design and condition of the pipes;
• a chimney sleeve - an acid-resistant steel sleeve is placed inside the pipe;
• lining the chimneys - the pipe is plastered with special plaster.

• " The Last Chimney Sweep " is a 1964 cartoon directed by Elbert Tuganov .

• Strange, KH Climbing Boys: A Study of Sweeps' Apprentices 1772–1875 . - London / Busby: Allison & Busby, 1982. - ISBN 0-85031-431-3 .
• Mayhew, Henry. London Labor and the London Poor: A Cyclopedia of the Condition and Earnings of those who will work, ... etc. - Cosimo Classics 2008. - 1861. - Vol. 2. - P. 346. - ISBN 978-1-60520-735-3 .
• Waldron, HA A brief history of scrotal cancer (English) // British Journal of Industrial Medicine : journal. - 1983. - Vol. 40 , no. 4 . - P. 390-401 . - DOI : 10.1136 / oem.40.4.390 . - PMID 6354246 .

• BBC Schools Radio : Audio dramatization of climbing boys testament
• Chimney Safety Institute of America