United States Casualty Co. v. Smith

In June or July, 1921, 0. L. Smith, as an employee of the International Vegetable Oil Company, was repairing a pipe in a well when water leaking out of a drain-pipe fell upon the back of his neck and caused a blister about the size of a nickel or a quarter. The blister was burst and became a sore. Some time in July or August of the same year the wound was exposed to ammonia gas, which enveloped him as he was repairing a pipe from which the gas was escaping. As described by the employee, it was not a “liquid gas,” but was lighter than air, “and it will burn your hand to hold a pipe.” “It will…