18 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN July 7, 1916. The intervals could not be taken regularly, as the energy increases very quickly. The' quantity of methane changes little, and then in a contrary direction to what might have been expected; since with increasing energy the quantity of methane slightly declines. Pro- bably this is owing to the number of tests made being small. In order to determine fully the question of the connection of the microseism with the liberation of methane, it will be necessary to collect data of con- siderably greater extent than it was possible in thef investigation. A larger number of analyses performed with special care might reduce the importance of the individual errors of each test, and might equalise the influence of the other factors, but for that it is necessary . to have data, not for 43 days, as in the present case, but perhaps for a year, or even for several years. In any case, it may be concluded from the observations that the question of the connection between micro- seismic vibrations of the first order and the liberation of methane has at the present time, and probably will for a considerable time in the future, have only a purely theoretical interest; but for the time being is of no practical importance as a means of foretelling extensive liberations of gas. A more reliable indicator in such cases is the barometric pressure. Microseisms of the second order doubtless vary in concordance with the quantity of gas. These micro- . seisms are distinguished by a less regularly characteristic vibration, and a greater period compared with the micro- seisms of the first order, and are caused apparently by occurrences of a local character, such as air pressure, etc. In the bulletins of the seismic stations, these microseisms give only such signs as “ weak ” or “ impor- tant.” In order to connect these vibrations with the liberation of methane, the indications of the bulletin w ere furnished with signs— “ weak ” 1, “ important ”2, “ strong ” 3, “ sharp ” 4—and then the data were read in the usual way. In Table V., where this reading is given, the analyses were not given per shift as before, but all the 326 analyses per hour. Table V. Number of analyses. Microseisms second order. A verage liberation of gas. Average pressure for these analyses. 24 1 3,952 ... 785'1 204 2 3,901 ... 783'4 86 3 . 4,062 ... 781’4 12 4 4,150 ... 781’3 The following table, Table VI., gives the probable explanation of such an influence of the microseism of the second order. The microseisms are connected with the pressure, and therefore their connection with the quantity of methane can be understood. Table VI. Average Intervals of Number of Average importance pressure. analysis. pressure. of microseims second order. 769-773 2 770’5 . 3 774-776 9 775’3 . 2'89 777-779 46 778’7 . 2’39 780-782 121 781’2 . 2’37 783 785 80 .784 2’12 786-788 46 . 787’3 . 2 04 789-791 6 789’7 . 2’17 792 and up . .... 14 794’1 1’93 Table VII. shows the liberation of methane, and also of carbon dioxide in various hours of the 24. For this calculation, idle days are excluded, and only the 24-hour day taken. As can be seen from the table, the pressure was more or less equal, and could not exert any influence. Table VII. Hours. Quantity of methane. Quantity of carbon dioxide. Pressure 0 4,017 .. 1,840 ... . 782’8 3 4,013 .... 1,798 783 6 4^07 1,701 782’5 9 4,012 1,901 . ... 782 12 4,004 .. .. 1,905 783 15 3,954 ,. 1,824 782’5 18 3,896 .. 1,747 782’7 21 3,919 . 1,825 782’8 24 4^17 1,840 782’8 Thus the methane is liberated in a fairly uniform manner from midnight to mid-day. After 12 o’clock noon the quantity falls; this may be explained by the fact that after 4 p.m. there were heat storms. The carbon dioxide gives two maxima and two minima, and the quantity is found to be dependent on the number of people present. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull to foreign countries for the week ending June 27 is as follows:—Dunkirk, 493 tons; Gothenburg, 1,953; Gebe, 1,8'14; Guernsey, 151; Harlingen, 772; Rotterdam, 152; Rouen, 3,023; West Coast Africa, 1,200— total, 9,558 tons. Corresponding period June 1915—total, 12,719 tons. These figures do not include bunker coal, ship- ments for the British Admiralty, nor the Allies’ Govern- ments. Geological Work in Scotland.—The report for 1915 of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and the Museum of Practical Geology states that, in Scotland, surveying has been suspended in Central Sutherland, but continued in dis- tricts of special economic importance. Many localities have been visited and specimens collected. In the revision of coal fie’.ds, 13 square miles with 55 miles of boundary were revised in Sheet 22 (Kilmarnock district). In Sheets 23, 30, and on the eastern margin of Sheet 22 (Lanarkshire and Renfrew- shire district) 44 square miles with 169| miles of boundary were revised. The examination of mineral workings was carried out in Scotland also. The total area surveyed in the Highlands amounted to 31| square miles, with 198f miles of boundary. The area of coal field revised amounted to 57 square miles, with 221| miles of boundary. PREVENTION OF DISEASES AMONG MINERS. “ How a Miner Can Avoid Some Dangerous Diseases ” is the subject of a circular (No. 20), by A. J. Lanza and Joseph H. White, issued by the Cnited States Bureau of Mines, in order to call attention to the causes and the symptoms of some dangerous diseases found in mining towns, how these diseases are spread, and what precautions the miner can take against them. Most miners do not know that sickness is just as preventable as accident, and as regards some of the diseases that affect miners there need be absolutely no risk, if proper care and attention are paid to the means of prevention. The “ safety first ” movement has made the miner feel that each man is responsible for not only his own safety, but the safety of all around him. The same principle is true in preventing sickness. Each person is responsible for not only his own health, but the health of those around him. When he neglects or breaks one of the common-sense rules of health, he endangers not only himself, but his family and the men who work near him. The circular mentions some diseases that every year cause much sickness and death among miners, and describes the precautions that should be taken to prevent such diseases from starting and spreading. Germs and Filth. Since germs cannot be seen, it is difficult to protect ourselves from them; but one precaution that is perhaps more helpful than any of the others is to avoid all things unclean. Real cleanliness means clean water, clean yards, clean milk, clean food, clean houses, clean air, clean bedrooms, and clean bodies. Germs and uncleanliness are closely related. The throwing off of waste poisons is one of life’s processes, and these poisons must not only get out of the body, but must also be 'removed from all possible contact with the body. Many a little mining town is in the open country, surrounded by wide stretches of forests or cleared land and plenty of pure air and sunshine; but when one or two thousand people live together on a compact area, as in the average mining village, no matter how open the surrounding country is, within the mining colony itself there are many of the elements of the city, and stinking pigstyes, steaming manure heaps, smelly hen- coops, stagnant puddles, decaying garbage, and neglected privies are out of place. Dustbins. A covered, watertight dustbin should be provided, and kept near the back of each lot, for holding all the old cans, bottles, rubbish, and garbage. It is a mistake to keep garbage near the back door for the sake of con- venience. A few steps may be saved, but flies and bad smells get into the kitchen. The refuse should be cleared away each week, and, in warm weather, about every other day,, and burned or buried far away from any house. The collecting and burning of garbage should be done by the town or the company controlling it. Clean ashes may be used to fill in hollow places in the yard. It is best to save the ashes for several days, and fill up one place at a time, and then cover the ashes with soil. The ashes then help the under-drainage of the ground, whereas if scattered around each day they will be blown about by the winds or washed away by the rains. Slop Water. Gutters should be built by the owners, so that the dirty water from washing clothes and floors may be drained off. Kitchen slops and dirty dish water should not be thrown on the ground near the back door, as this keeps the ground damp and muddy, and causes dirt to be tracked into the house. The water also forms breeding pools for mosquitoes, and causes the ground to give off bad smells on warm summer nights. In the absence of gutters, a few square yards should be spaded up some distance from the back door, and away from the well. If the waste water is poured over the earth so loosened, it will disappear much quicker than if thrown on the hard, tramped ground near the kitchen door. It may be necessary to spade up new areas from time to time. Sanitary Privies. Many disease germs may leave the body with the bowel discharges, in the case of people who are not actually sick, and even those who are seemingly well may dis- charge disease germs. In the light of this knowledge the privy cannot be neglected without peril. An insani- tary privy is one that does not prevent the bowel discharges from re-entering the human system. Con- taminated well water, food infection by flies, and soil pollution by chickens are the indirect ways in which this revolting process takes place. If the container under the privy seat is water-tight, the danger of the pollution leaking into -the wells will be gone. This container must be protected from chickens, dogs, hogs, and, above all, flies. An effective way to keep out the latter is to have a box of dirt or lime in the privy and to sprinkle the lime or dirt in the receptacle each time the closet is used. The containers must be removed and cleaned regularly and their contents burned or in some other way kept from being a danger to health. This work also should be done by persons employed by the town or the company controlling it. Flies. Every means should be taken to keep flies out of the house, as they breed in and thrive on filth. Disease germs and filth are plastered upon their hairy legs. Don’t permit flies to walk over the food. Just before that fly touched the butter it may have dipped its feet in the spittle of a consumptive. Under the House. In some mining towns the houses rest on posts, and the shelter under the house is sometimes used in ways injurious to health. No chickens, rabbits, geese, pigs, or animals of any kind whatever should be allowed under the house or porch, as they leave filth from which foul smells rise. The warm house acts as a chimney and sucks these foul smells into the living and sleeping rooms. Moreover, lice, fleas, and vermin of all kinds may get into the house from these animals. Old furniture, mattresses, or clothes should not be stored under the house, since they are soon ruined by dampness and dust, and also great!y increase the danger of fire. The area under the house should be kept dry, ditches being dug to prevent water from the yard or drippings from the roof from getting under the house. Many of the new houses are now being built for miners rest on a wall of masonry or concrete, which makes the house more substantial, saves repairs, and also keeps the house warmer and more comfortable during the winter. All houses in cold climates should rest on a wall; in warm climates the space between the house and the ground should be boarded up to prevent the nuisances mentioned. Gardens. One advantage of living in many mining villages is that each house has a yard, so that a garden is possible. Miners can get great pleasure and profit from their gardens, which help to reduce the cost of living, and greatly improves the appearance of the yard, Banishing disorder, and showing up uncleanliness by contrast. A garden and lawn also help to make a cleaner house, by reducing the dust nuisance. Water. Nothing less than a plentiful supply of pure, whole- some water should be considered in planning mining villages. A water tap should be placed in every kitchen, and water should be made safe at the outset, rather than after an epidemic of typhoid fever has pointed out this need. Many people living in mining towns get their water from shallow wells, and care of the well largely depends on the individuals. The importance of many of the following suggestions will be understood if it is remem- bered that water is a food which goes directly into the stomach, usually uncooked. Muddy water in the well after a rain is proof that the drainings from the yard are getting into the drinking water, and furnishes another reason why the yard should be kept clean, and why a garden is better for the well than a pigstye or a hencoop. Ditches should be dug that will drain the surface water away from the well, and the latter should be covered by a tight platform, a border or belt of green sod, 5 or 6 ft. wide, being planted round. If the water still gets dirty after rains, it is seeping into the well below the surface; and in this event the well should not be used, or, if it is used, all the drinking water should be boiled. To be careful may cause trouble, but diarrhoea and typhoid fever cause more trouble—and they may cause death. Pumps. If it can be afforded, all wells should be provided with pumps, as these draw the water more easily than a rope and bucket, and the water will be cleaner. The pump should not have fancy openwork at the base, as this permits pollution of the well by dogs. If a rope and bucket must be used, a windlass should be made for the rope to wind on. This will save fingering the rope, and prevent it from being dragged and trampled on the ground. A galvanised iron bucket is preferable to a wooden bucket, as it can be cleaned, scoured, and boiled out more easily. If water is obtained from a cistern, the same care should be taken with it as with a well. The down spout on the house should be so arranged that the first of the rain can be kept out of the cistern, otherwise the impurities of the air, the dirt from the roofs, and the bird droppings from the gutters will be washed into the cistern. It is a mistake to believe that water from a natural spring is always much safer and purer than any other water. The spring may be safe if it flows steadily all the year round, but if it is merely a wet weather spring, it should be looked upon with suspicion; and even springs that flow steadily may be dangerous. If running water is furnished from a spigot in the street, yard, or kitchen, reasonable care should be taken to see that the water is not wasted, by fastening open the self-closing spigot with a rope or stick, allowing the bucket to overflow for some time, letting the water run full force an unnecessarily long time before the bucket is filled; permitting children to play with and break the spigot, not telling the authorities that the spigot is leaking, or by letting the water run on cold winter nigh;s instead of shutting off the supply at the stop and waste cock. Domestic Animals. Many people who live in mining towns formerly lived on farms, and naturally follow many of their former customs, but some of the practices of the farm cannot be followed in a closely built-up settlement. Many domestic animals, such as horses, rabbits, dogs, goats, pigeons, cows, chickens, and geese cannot be kept in such a settlement without causing nuisances. Pigs and geese should be prohibited from most mining towns, as being liable to became offensive; and where garden vegetables can be grown, the garden will probably bring in as big returns as chickens. A cow is a desirable possession, especially when there are children : but unless the cow and stall are kept clean the milk will not be pure. The manure should be removed from the cow stall each day, kept in a tight barrel or box, and taken off the premises once a week, as it furnishes a warm breeding place for flies, which worry the cow and spread sickness. The shed should be white- washed about twice a year and the cobwebs brushed down every week from the ceiling and windows.