Is an old miners cuss word meaning to get
Decompression Sickness or known then as
Cassions Disease.
When they built the foundations for bridges they worked in water tight containers on the river bed (Cassions) and when they came to the surface too quick bubbles formed in the body, mostly around the joints causing them to be doubled over in pain. This is known as the
Bends.
This could last a long time.
Once a worker had this he looked deformed, couldn't work and left a vacancy for a family member/ friend etc. of another worker.
