It has been the privilege of the authors to study the roenitgeniogramiis of a series (consecutive) of lumbosacral spinies in men applyinlg for 'Work, for the most part heavy labor, at a large industrial plant.* The results of this study were interesting as to the amount of gross abnormalities found and also the large number of cases showing slighter variations from the average normal. Because of the very high percentage of variation from the normal in these men who said they had no backache at the time they were seen or previously, it has seemed worth while to the authors to report this series.It is of interest that the reason for taking routine low back roentgenograms of these patients was the industrial plant's previous unlsatisfactory experience with litigation involving injuries to the lower back. In the year preceding starting the routine lumbosacral roentgenologic examinations, the industrial plant (a mine) had received several large adverse legal judgments in low back cases in which the allegedly injured individual had unquestionable previous pathology in some part of his lumbosacral spine. While no definite opinion can be expressed as yet, it appears that this type of litigation against the mining company is going to be greatly reduced since the introduction of the routine low back roentgenologic examinations, a saving which will far more than offset the cost of taking the roentgenograms.The roentgenograms taken were of consecutive men applying for work,
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