Rock Lung
A disease that occurs with certain dwarves and gnomes that work in the Suffocation mines or live in Soapstone Halls.
It affects the breathing ability of those who suffer from it.
Causes
Dwarves who have worked for a few decades eventually develop the disease. Apparently a combination of small rock particles and fumes from the different toxic lakes clump together and form hard rock-like nodes inside the lungs.
Symptoms
The dwarves suffering from Rock-lung begin with a simple cough, which won't go away. The rocky nodes will eventually grow large enough to block entire parts of the lungs and the patient will slowly start suffocating and eventually die from lack of oxygen.
Treatment
No real treatment exists. Although there are expiments with inecting the lungs with solvents in order do dissolve the rocky nodes, but this hasn't been very successful. As the solvents injected also damage the tissue of the lungs.
Patients suffering from Rock-lung are advised to quit their work at the Suffocation Mines and leave Soapstone Halls and move to a place with cleaner air and live above ground.
Prognosis
Dwarves who are first diagnosed with rock-lung generally have 20 to 30 years of life left. Gnomes diagnosed with rock-lung are given 2 years.
Affected Groups
Mostly the dwarves that work in the Suffocation Mines seem to suffer the most from this disease. Gnomes are also affected by this disease.
Hosts & Carriers
None, the disease isn't contagious.
Prevention
Wearing protective masks that filter out the small stone particles and the toxic fumes seems to help.
Epidemiology
The disease isn't contagious. But as with all diseases, there are a few people who will tell you it is, and blame those who suffer from Rock-lung, or Slime-lung that they are spreading it.
History
Rock-lung first appeared when the dwarves settled the Soapstone Halls and started to use the different chemicals that where found at the underground lakes. It did take a few generations before it was obvious that some of the dwarves died because of the chemical lakes.
Cultural Reception
The dwarves who have to leave their work and home behind when they move to the surface are sometimes met with harsh words and are shunned by other people.
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