Silvarian Syndrome
Silvarian Syndrome is an ailment caused by inhalation of metalwork-related debris, such as metal shavings and dust, coal and charcoal dust, and smoke. The common symptoms of the illness include coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, and chest pains. It was a common ailment amongst metal workers and blacksmiths until people learned how it was happening. Now it’s much easier to prevent, and many workers take the precautions because they are terrified of getting it themselves. It’s easy to prevent, a cloth over the mouth and nose seems to keep the debris out of the system well enough. Many metalworkers and blacksmiths are taught about this condition and its prevention by their masters when they are apprentices.
Causes
Silvarian Syndrome is acquired by breathing a surplus amount of metal shavings and other airborne metal working debris. It is extremely common amongst metal workers such as blacksmiths and some other types of craftsmen. Aside from metalworkers, the disease is quite rare. The typical citizen most likely will never have to deal with this condition over the duration of their life.
Symptoms
This ailment often comes with symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, sore throat, and trouble breathing. In the most extreme cases, the afflicted person may even experience throat bleeding as well. Sometimes the metal shavings and dust will cut the throat, causing the bleeding.
Treatment
The best and really only way to treat this is by just taking a break from work for a while until you start feeling better and even a little after that. Breathing in lots of fresh air is good for the patient as well. Drinking warm drinks helps soothe the throat, things like hot tea, soup, or simply just warm water can greatly reduce the pain caused by the metals. Taking deep breaths can help work the other dusts out faster, but it’s advised not to take too many deep breaths in a row to avoid coughing and wheezing.
Prognosis
If left untreated for a long while, this condition could lead to coughing up blood, lung failure, and even death. Metalsmiths nowadays know how to detect this disease and can start healing before it gets that bad. Many with this condition survive and even live full lives with minimal remaining effects. Back in the day, however, many people would die from this disease not knowing what it was or how they got it, let alone how to treat it.
Sequela
The citizens that recover from Silvarian Syndrome often report breathing troubles in their sleep. There are also a lot of reports saying people that go back to work report a weaker lung capacity they never had before. Fortunately, this is often treated by easing back into hard work, and many patients are back to normal within about a year.
Prevention
The best way to avoid this is to just not work with metal. Aside from that, many metalsmiths wear some sort of face-covering to protect themselves from it. Many choose to go with a simple cloth they tie around their neck that they pull up when they work, and pull it back down when they step away. They wash the cloth with their usual loads of laundry and it's good as new when it's dry. Ripped fabrics don't do anything to protect the user, so it is recommended that metalworkers change them out when they rip and tear.
Epidemiology
This condition cannot be spread from person to person, as each individual needs to be exposed to metal working debris for them to contract this disease. People understand this and thus do not feel scared when helping someone that has it.
History
The first person to report these symptoms and get treatment was a man by the name of Marten Silvarian, after whom this ailment is named. He was a coppersmith and frequently coughed up copper dust when he returned home. His wife took notice and took him to see a doctor. The doctor told him that he thought there was dust in his lungs related to his work, and he should avoid working with metal for a while until he felt better. Eventually more and more doctors and healers heard of him, and decided to add the disease to their diagnosis book.
Cultural Reception
Many people used to see this condition as a sign of a hard worker and a dedication to the craft, before people realized it could be prevented. Since learning of the prevention, people with this disease are considered either extremely forgetful (because they forgot to wear a cloth) or simply uneducated.
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