The crude sulphur thus wastefully produced is purified by distillation in cast-iron retorts directly fired. It comes on the market as stick or roll sulphur or as flowers of sulphur. Further sources for recovery of sulphur are the Leblanc soda residues (see Soda Production), from which the sulphur is recovered by the Chance-Claus process, and the gas purifying material (containing up to 40 per cent.), from which the sulphur can be recovered by carbon bisulphide (see Illuminating Gas Industry). The health conditions of the Sicilian sulphur workers are very unsatisfactory, due, however, less to the injurious effect of the escaping gases (noxious alike to the surrounding vegetation) than to the wretched social conditions, over exertion, and under feeding of these workers. Of importance is the risk to health from sulphuretted hydrogen gas, from sulphur dioxide in the recovery of sulphur from the soda residues, and from carbon bisulphide in the extraction of sulphur from the gas purifying material. SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN GAS Sulphuretted hydrogen gas is used in the chemical industry especially for the precipitation of copper in the nickel and cobalt industry, in de-arsenicating acid (see Hydrochloric and Sulphuric Acids), to reduce chrome salts in the leather industry, &c. In addition it arises as a product of decomposition in various industries, such as the Leblanc soda process, in the preparation of chloride of antimony, in the decomposition of barium sulphide (by exposure to moist air), in the treatment of gas liquors, and in the preparation of carbon bisulphide: it is present in blast furnace gas, is generated in mines (especially in deep seams containing pyrites), arises in tar distillation, from use of gas lime in tanning, and in the preparation and use of sodium sulphide: large quantities of the gas are generated in the putrefactive processes connected with organic sulphur-containing matter such as glue making, bone stores, storage of green hides, in the decomposition of waste water in sugar manufacture and brewing, in the retting of flax, and especially in sewers and middens. Both _acute_ and _chronic_ poisoning are described.