Radaca V. United States Smelting

Early in January, 1943, petitioner came to Phoenix and was treated and examined by several doctors; x-rays were also taken. The evidence disclosed that in mid-January his left chest, back and left side were sore, he spit up a little blood, was weak and had pain in the left chest. He was suffering from an advanced stage of osteo-arthritis of the lower dorsal region of the spine; also from silicosis moderately advanced. The films showed the broken ribs to be in good condition. Some of these ribs were fractured near their attachment to the spine but had united in proper alignment. The medical evidence disclosed that petitioner was suffering from spondylitis deformans or hypertrophic spondylitis of long standing and progressive character, which was aggravated by the injury.