The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-07-01
Miners Consumption.


The necessity for scientific and
thorough inspection of mining
methods, so far as a ventilation is
concerned, is forced upon attention
by the alarming prevalence of min
ers' consumption. 1t is disease
of modern origin, and is believed
to be due to inhaling poisonous
gases arising from the use and COM
bustion of such explosives, in which
nitroglycerine is the powerful con-
stituent. Nitroglycerine was dis
covered in 1846, and has come into
use in mining only within the past
25 years. Before then only black
powder was used. So far as we
can learn from a study of mining
records or medical accounts, the
disease known as miners consump-
ton was unknown until very lately.
It is for this very reason that it is
supposed to be due to gasses arising
from the use of nitroglycerine. To
determine the truth of the claim
would require a widely extended
and well-directed investigation by
physicians whose practice is in
mining regions. Work of this kind
would certainly be cheerfully done
by physicians, if there was some
department of the State or Govern
ment which would intelligently in
augurate it.
If it were once determined that
it is due to these gases, then the
problem of better mine ventilation,
and the way to secure it. so that
the disease may no longer murder
it's hundreds of victims, will be a
new one for the state and the man
ayers to consider.
The disease is one which is close
ly allied to ordinary consumption,
and appears to be impossible of
cure. So far as we can learn from
inquiry, it never attacks any but
veteran miners, who are naturally
those who have been most and
longest exposed to produce it.
Many a one we all know, from Gill
pin, Clear Greek and Boulder coun-
ties, have gone down to death with
it. 1t is, too, most deadly on the
Comstock. Dan DeQuille writes
us that "almost every week from
one to three are borne to the grave
on the Comstock with the disease
and at the same time reports of the
death of others are constantly being
received from other regions of the
Pacific coast to which they have
strayed after being received from
other regions of the Pacific coast to
which they have strayed after being
inoculated with the seeds of the
deadly disease.
All who develop the disease die
sooner or later, even though they
leave off mining in any region and
take up their residence in the most
favored sections of the valleys of
California. The fell disease goes
with the veteran miners to Mexico
and Peru, to South Africa, Austria
liza and China, and lays many OF
them in foreign graves. Some
manage to get back to their families
alive but it is only to bid them an
eternal farewell, close their eyes and
die.
Gall these men who are dead and
dying entered the mines young
strong and the very picture of ro-
bust health. Had they gone to
work at farming, numbering in the
mountains or stock-growing on the
plains, instead of going into the
smoky depths of the mines, most il
not all of them would now still be
hale and strong. 1t is sad to see
these men mere wasted skeletons,
stretched upon their beds and dying
amid a whole household of young
children, just at an age when they
should be at the prime OF life and
strength. Death stalks through
the dark chambers of the mines in
thousand shapes. Generally bis
blows are sudden and terrible.
More pitiable. however, seems the
living death of the doomed man
lingering down to the tomb in the
never relaxed clutch of miners con-
sumption"
If the state has any duty to per.
form in the way of doing anything
for miners, would it not be we'll to
put that work into shape and at
least give us an investigation of this
subject, together with others relat.
ing to the industry which is 80
closely related to the health, life
and material prosperity of every
c;tizon9 Will Our legislature do