The state herald., 1895-05-03

In series Of lectures on the "Sanlta
ton OF Industries and Occupations" by
eminent English authorities, ono devoted
to "coal Mining apd Tie Health OF Min
ers." Il OF especial interest, and Is con
densed IL The last number OF the Age oil
S,cci. The number OF miners employed
In the British Isles In the year 1853. wa:
GS,. O0S-5Io,1:IS under ground ant
133,270 above the ground. These figure
run high ana represent large and In
poriapt division OF the industrial army
The sickness and accident rate rs TO iroi
workers and golfers. shows that IN botl
respects the coal miner fares the better.
''rhe death rate from philllsLs In spite OF
exhaustive labor In an atmosphere laden
with coal dust IL remarkably low, In
other respiratory diseases such us bron
cll,ls aud pneumonia the miner fare,
worse. AT the same time. among dus
laden occupations the only two with 4
less death rate from respiratory diseases
are the carpenters aud bakers. Cardiac
disorders nrc more common owing to The
nature OF labor and liabilities TO over
strain"
"func,iuaAi affections are said to b.
the most frequent, attended by rapid pull
sailing heart, shorliiess OF breath. griler
nj weakness, and uniiiness for work"
"i,hcnma''rm IN all It's forms and ser
aiira N,- also mentioned ns diseases IL
Which miners are liable, Dyspepsia wa.
general nilmcnt owing IN the manner
Of HE aud crampcd position NJ work"
"Nys,nsuus Il more common among
miners than with any other class Of
workers. 1'i,r disease Is characterized
by rapid motions OF the cyrhalls, AMI III,
sufferer has the Impression that objects
upon which he looks mcrc generally IN q
circle. II frequently causes tho miner Ia
leave hls work. but IN the bull, OF cases
relief II obtained either by changing
wnri. IN the nine or for tine reiin'
gushing employment IN the pit.
In treating OF the mortality from accl
dents. II was said; "fhr mortality from
accidents Il u very high one. or 1905
males generally tho average between the
ages ~ twenty-five and slxiy.ilyc from
accidents wns sixty seven. That OF min.
err, taking South Walcs, the highest dis,
'rrt, II " 100. or more than three times
the average. The proportion under
ground IA greatly IN excess OF TINT
among those engaged nmong machinery
nj or about tho top ~ tho mlnn. Stalls.
,lcs setting forth the deaths from nccl-
dents were given. II IL evident from
these that the younger hands ARE most
liable to meet with fatal accidents. ~.
prc.nlly with those which ARE due 10 fall
Of roof and sides. IN Scotland 30 per
cent, nre said to he due TO these falls.
On, of n total number OF 1900 fatal accl.
dcniTrporiri by the mining Inspectors
for 1901, ~ hrr given as caused by falls
of roof aud sides, Death from csplo'
s.nns nre subject 10 great variation. En-
,alllIra resulting from mlsllnps IN the
dlift aud cage contribute largely The
evidence before the labor commission
shows that the different coal inlnr rcRu.
laiIon ncta have brought about n dlmlnu
ton NJ accidents They have failed
however, II hns been asserted. 10 prevent
the employment or unsl,lllcd workWcn,"
in a review NJ the facts ~ given. the
medical authority from whom we have
li,5icd the substance NJ his statements.
summed M the situation by quoting
from tho report Of The labor commissions
"llir weight Of evidence seems to be
tr1tngl tho idea That coal mining Is an
unhealthy occupation. oven when allow.
MICA Is mlhp fnr the probability that
Neahly mm c'ihpr nrpid or soon nbnn'
d.y II "