June 6, 1913. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1215 old north side workings first, and wooden. block work. This work at Norton in an atmosphere which stoppings Nos. 9 and 10 were built, the material for was absolutely irrespirable constitutes a remarkable these being conveyed on trolleys over abridge built in! record. The atmosphere was practically devoid of aatu.i-x j n... n . i. i /. OXygen, an(j *n no one could have lived for many seconds without the use of breathing apparatus. There was not a single hitch due to any fault in the appliances, but on one occasion, owing to the gland of the main valve being slack, some oxygen escaped. The defect, however, was detected in time for the men to get into fresh air before all the oxygen was exhausted. The men who carried out the work were of ordinary physique and build, the lightest weighing 9 st. 8 lb. and the heaviest 15 st. 10 lb. Their ages varied from 23 to 43, and their previous experience had been mainly that of the ordinary course of training at the Stoke centre, although several of the men had some little actual experience at Birchen wood, Jammage and Cannock collieries. They did their work cautiously and with good judgment, avoiding over-exertion in the laborious part, as also haste at critical times. Their success reflects great credit on themselves, on their training at Stoke, and on the apparatus. A certain amount of personal risk is always involved in the use of rescue apparatus, and the question is sometimes asked whether such recovery work as described is justifiable or legitimate. The writer thinks that there are certain circumstances such as the above when it is legitimate and wise, especially when other methods would have been attended with perhaps greater risks, as, for instance in this case, the leakage of air to the old fire and danger of further explosions. The writer looks forward to the increased usefulness of self-contained breathing apparatus and its application for purposes at present not contemplated. the main dip. Whilst doing this the brigades found that the supply of oxygen admitted through the reducing-valves was not sufficient, and these were altered so as to allow of 1| instead bf 1J litres passing per minute; the charge of caustic soda in the breathing- bag was also increased from 3 lb. to 4 lb. The signal- wire and rope were carried through stuffing-boxes in the back dip stoppings as before. The second length of dip was found to have fallen in very badly, and it required timbering in many places. On Thursday, May 23, the brigades reached the old gob-fire stoppings Nos. 2 and 3, a distance of 200 yards from No. 1, and found them in •good condition. When the dip had been cleaned up as far as No. 1 levels, it was found that the separation-doors in the thirling opposite the top heading were blown towards the back dip, and the brigades were able to proceed into the main dip. Block stoppings Nos. 11,12, 13, and 14 were built. On Monday, June 24, the second length of dips was ready for re-opening. The stoppings in the thirlings were all repaired in the morning, and the re-opening was commenced at 3 p.m. in theafternoon. They were opened out in a manner similar to the first length, and cleared at 5.30 p.m. The back-dip stopping was then strengthened, and another stopping built to form an air-lock in the main dip. The recovery of the second length of dips took 40 working days. On Monday, July 1, the recovery of the third and last length was commenced, the main dip being used for travelling up and down, as the rails were not laid in the back dip. No large falls had taken place, but a great deal of timbering was necessary. On Saturday, July 6, the No. 2 levels were reached, and on the same day the ____________________________ Norton brigade travelled along the south level, a distance of 170 yards, taking notes of indications of force, &c. The top heading of No. 2 south levels was cleared to the preparation stopping No. 5, and ground was got out on the inbye side of it for building another stopping. In view of the long distance over which materials had to be carried to build this stopping, it was thought advisable to increase the number of men; the brigade was therefore increased from six to nine men. A mouse was taken down and kept alive with oxygen in a bottle until the top heading was reached, and. on being liberated, it lived only about two minutes. A blood test showed that there was carbon monoxide present. Nearly all the stoppings in the thirlings were destroyed, and 14 new ones had to be built in this length. All the stoppings were completed ready for opening the third length on Saturday. July 26 ; but, before doing so, the Norton brigade walked down the main dip to No. 3 level, a distance of 430 yards, to see whether all was in order for restoring the ventilation. The third length was cleared in a manner similar to that adopted foi* the others. The door No. 11 was opened at 3 o’clock and the main doors No. 12, 20 minutes later. Before the opening out, the water gauge on the old gob fire stopping No. 3 recorded 0*2 in. of positive pressure, and after opening, the pressure rose to 0*6. It was 6 o’clock before progress could be made down the dip without rescue apparatus, and then it was found possible to walk down to No. 2 levels. The rebuilding of the brick stoppings Nos. 5 and 6 in No. 2 levels was commenced at 7 30 p.m. on Saturday, and they were completed at 4 a.m. on Sunday, when the ventilation was restored below. The recovery of the third length of dips took 23 working days. Early in June the men carrying out this recovery work began to fear that their health might be affected by the continual wearing of the apparatus. Dr. J. S. Haldane very kindly came to the colliery to examine them. He said there was nothing to cause any anxiety in the condition of any of them. The work was evidently rather tiring. He fancied that the strain was partly mental, and partly due to the unusual conditions of breathing and unusual muscular strains caused by carrying the apparatus; but he could find no indication of any physical deterioration, except what a short holiday would very rapidly make up for. He examined the percentage of haemoglobin in the blood of all of them. Each result was in percentages of the average normal for adult men. In ordinary healthy men under ordinary conditions the healthy percentage varies from about 85 to 115 per cent., but is usually about 100. The average for the 15 men was only 94*0 per cent., and in two cases the percentages were a little below normal limits. This slight anaemia, he said, was probably a perfectly healthy reaction to the greatly increased oxygen per- centage in the air breathed during the wearing of the apparatus—in other words, an attempt of Nature to compensate for the increased oxygen in the air by a diminution in the oxy gen-carrying power of the blood. On high mountains or in other highly-situated places ' the haemoglobin percentage is always increased—an attempt to compensate for the diminished mass of oxygen in the rarefied air. One might therefore expect to find a change in the opposite direction in the case of men breathing almost pure oxygen for part of each day. This is the first time that any evidence has been forth- coming on this question, and I should like to mention the results in a forthcoming scientific paper dealing with observations which we made last summer during a MINERS’ NYSTAGMUS. Lecture by Dr. Llewellyn. A lecture on miners’ nystagmus was given on Saturday at the Agricultural Hall, by Dr. T. L. Llewellyn, in which he gave the result of some further experience that has been gained since his book on “ Miners’ Nystagmus ” and his paper, read before the South Staffordshire Institute, were published. Gener- ally speaking these do not affect the conclusions already arrived at. Dr. Llewellyn, after reiterating that most English observers now hold that the chief factor of disease is deficient light, but that on the Continent there is still diversity of opinion, briefly described the symptoms. As regards the latent and manifest forms of the disease, in 750 consecutive cases, he stated, 150 latent cases were observed. The table shows the frequency of the various symptoms in the remaining 600 manifest cases. Symptoms in 600 Manifest Cases. Nomber. - ct 566 ... 507 ... 490:.. 459 ... 284 ... Per- Symptom Very centage. marked, marked. . 94*3 . 84*5 . 816 . 76 5 . 473 51 52 4 10 16 8 Movements of objects ... Headache .............. Giddiness .............. Night blindness __...... Dread of light.......... He mentioned that an attempt had been made lately to describe a condition in which the disease miners’ nystagmus exists without the presence of the nystagmus proper and in which the oscillation of the eyeballs is replaced by blinking of the eyelids. The question is at present under consideration by a Departmental Com- mittee. With regard to the incapacity caused by the disease, Dr. Llewellyn put in the following table taken from returns, extending over four years, from five large colliery companies employing over 28,000 men. 152, or 45 per cent. 9 105 73 Back at old work ..... ....... Left employ or commuted At surface work....... Idle ................. It is at the present time, he said, much more difficult to persuade men to attempt to work underground. He thought it probable that many slight accidents were due to nystagmus, but he had only once had a complaint from a man that his accident was directly due to his nystagmus. There is, however, the possibility of a greater danger—namely, that a catastrophe may result from the failure of a fireman or collier, suffering from the disease, to detect the presence of gas. As to the factors determining the occurrence of the disease, the mean age was 39*84 years, and the mean years of underground life was 25*58 years. The occu- pation of 685 cases is given, the remaining cases were all among under - officials who had been specially examined for the disease, and it was felt unfair to include them in the table. It will be seen that although all, The method of coal-getting known as holing is said by many authors to be the chief factor in the production of the disease. The following table was based on answers given by 580 nystagmus cases, who either were or had been colliers;— Much holing........ Some holing........ Little holing........ No holing __.......__ j = 384 or 60 per cent. i = 232 or 40 per cent. Taking all the cases, 362, or nearly 50 per cent., had done no holing. Colliers in Somerset, Forest of Dean, and in the house coal pits of South Wales, all get their coal by bottom holing, yet nystagmus is very rare in these pits. Coming to the question of illumination, the lecturer said manifest nystagmus was common in the safety lamp coal pit, rare in the open light coal pit and unknown in the metalliferous mine. Taking into con- sideration the number of men employed, England and Wales, using safety lamps three times more frequently than Scotland, had four times the number of cases of nystagmus in 1910. In five open light collieries the average illumination at the coal face was 0*09 of a foot-candle. In eight safety lamp collieries the average illumination was 0*018 of a foot-candle or only one-fifth of that obtaining in an open-light mine. Dealing, in conclusion, with preventive treatment* Dr. Llewellyn said it was in the first place necessary to improve the miner’s lamp, and the mining engineer must no longer be content with an average illumination of one-fiftieth of a foot-candle at the coal face. The introduction of electric lamps into general use was probable, as it seemed unlikely sufficient light could be obtained in any other way. The elimination of unfit workmen by medical examination before employment would also be of the greatest service. Efficient ventila- tion and any hygienic measures would also help. stay of six weeks on the summit of Pike’s Peak, ‘Colorado. Of course, the slight ansemia may be due to some other cause than the increased oxygen; one cannot be at all certain as yet, though the facts are very suggestive. The rescue brigades worked wearing the apparatus for 120 days, although the actual time worked in the recovery of the dips was only 85 working days, and -actually lived nn their oxygen 360 hours during this period. Part of the time in the early stages was spent about the pit-bottom before the upcast and Dumping shafts were opened, and also in exploring the Hardmine ;and Holly Lane workings in advance of the recovery classes of workmen are affected, the great majority of cases come from the coal face. Occupation in Colliers ...................... Collier lads (fillers or loaders). Timbermen and repairers .... Hauliers and haulage men.... Rippers ..................... Labourers ................... Contractors................................ Under-officials .............. Hitcher, engine-driver, ostler, and mason, each ........ 685 CASES. 525 1 = 557 or 81 3 per 32) cent. 52 — 7.5 per cent. 40 = 5 8 per cent. 8 6 5 3 1 ___________________________ Miners’ Relief,—Dr. T. W. Parry, J.P., vice-president of the Monmouthshire and South "Wales Miners’ Permanent Society, presided at the annual conference of the Central Association of Miners’ Permanent Belief Societies at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, on Tuesday. The annual report, which was adopted, stated that the total membership of the societies was 335,254. The revenue amounted to £313,634, members’ contributions to £292,132 and the accumulated funds to £943,326. The number of non-fatal accidents dealt with during the year was 64,056, or 191 per 1,000 members. The number of widows admitted was 216 and the number in receipt of annuities 3,970, whilst respective figures relating to children were 402 and 3,650. Compared with 1911, there was a decrease of 12,789 in membership, £17,709 in contributions, £32,303 in revenue and £19.941 in accumulated funds. The non-fatal cases showed a decrease of 5,400, while there were 25 widows and 65 children fewer on the funds. The number of deaths by accident was 400, compared with 393.—The Earl of Crawford was elected president of the association. His lordship wrote expressing his warm appreciation of the compliment they had paid him.—Mr. Storey (Northumberland and Durham Society) read an interesting paper on his society’s experience in regard to the working of the National Insurance Act and its bearing upon the Permanent Belief Fund movement. Other societies gave their experience.—The consultative committee was reappointed on the motion of Mr. Saxton (Midland Fatal Accident Society). Doncaster Mines Rescue Station.—It is hoped that the new mines rescue station which is being erected at the corner of Wheatley-lane, Doncaster, at a cost of about £3,000, and which was commenced about the middle of March, will be completed about the middle of August. The greatest interest is being manifested in the work by the managers of the various collieries, and several of them have paid a visit to the spot during the past few weeks to note what progress is being made with the erection of the station. The building will be partly one storey, and partly two storeys high, the second storey portion consisting of a cottage house for a caretaker and a committee-room. The front elevation faces Wheatley-lane. There are folding doors at the entrance, which is quite wide enough to allow of the passage of a motor-car. The principal apartment will have an observation hall 55 ft. by 26 ft. This will permit observation to be made of experiments which are being carried out in the fume gallery which adjoins it, and entrance to which is possible through several doors. The gallery will be 8 ft. 6 in. wide, and admirably adapted for the carrying out of exercises in rescue work, such as may be necessary in a mine befouled with gas. A visitor to the site will be struck with the large number of windows which are being put in the building, evidencing that there will be plenty of light and ventilation. Bathrooms are being provided for the rescue teams who will receive their instruction at this training stationj and an apparatus room and workshop, 20 ft. by 15 ft., and a waiting room, 16 ft. by 12 ft. 6 in., are included in the plans. The architect is Mr. James Enight, of Rotherham, and the contractors, Messrs. Thornton and Son, of the same town.