Arizona republican., 1906-12-15
MINER DOCTORS.
Expert Corps Organized in Hard Coal District to Deal Quickly With Aeei- dents.


 New York. December l. Accidents have always been a serious factor m coal mining. Millions have been spent in safeguarding workers in the anthra- cite mines of Pennsylvania. And now a new force has been added 10 the army Of men employed tO detect and ward Off the approach of menace frong gas. flood and falling earth, stone zES coal
 The latest step taken to protect tss miner Is the establishment Of ~FiFsf Aid to the Injured Corps by many sF the anthracite operators. Formerly =a injured man had to be carried sWs- wardly through the subterranean pas. sages. hOisted to the surface and coa- veyed to a distance before he could get any relief Now the miners hurts are first relieved on the spot and even broken limbs can be set and bandsset by the trained miner doctors" always at hand
 INSTRUCTED BY EXPERTS.
 The First Aid Corps of the Phila1r{- phia and Reading Coal and Iron C0m- pany at its cOllieries near Pottsyills- has attained unusual proficiency. F'Eoss. five to fifteen young miners from every cOlliery of the company make up ss-e corps. They are instructed by tss. George H. Halberstadt of POttsvils. employed by the company to saks charge of this welfare work
 As a result of his instruction ths members of the corps can set splints on broken limbs. help 10 induce srti- ficial respiration in cases of suffOcs- ton. stop quickly a dangerous flow ot blood. dress burns. and bandage wounda with a near approach to the skill og a physician They are taught hos ta carry an injured miner along the steep gangways and over the Instructions iu the mines. to the shaft. If the hessF litter of the army style. with Waica they are supplied is not available. tAz members of the corps know hOg ts make one from blankets or clothing. After the injured man is placed In tks cage and lifted tO the surface he is pag in the ambulance which the company maintains at all of its eOllieries and ls taken to his home or Co the hospital NO STOPS FOR REPRESENTATIVE
 One of the most imperative instrss- tions is that the first aid man. who ala ways accompanies the miner in gAs ambulance, must see to it that me driver never stops on the way Co ths hospital Before the advent OF tHs first aid corps the driver generally stopped to water his mules before q saloon or hotel. which was frequently a reminder that he as well as the mules needed refreshment While he was oh- taining it the wounded man had to Hs neglected. Frequently Whiskey zOala be given to him also. in such quarfs- ties that after a long and injurious ds- lay he would reach the hospital Eith his mine injuries complicated by za- other trouble.
 The watchfulness of the corps rasa now prevents all this. To avoid ths danger of mistakes the corps Is for- bidden to give any medicine and ss stimulant may be administered save hot black cOifee-never whisixey As soon as the injured man is taken home the responsibility of the first aid eorps ceases.
 To test the understanding of shfs important rule. Dr. Halberstadt zt recent lecture asked one of the eorps- Suppose a man is burned in the mines and you dress his injuries and accom- pany him home. What method o- treatment would you adopt when yoz visit him next day?- Il would no. treas him the next day.~was the quick reply. because l would be liable 10 ar rest for practising medicine withOu, . license"
 This shows that the first aiderz have learned the ethics of their prosessioR as well as manual skill in it. They only act when some member Os the !. regular medical stafs are nor quickly ' available.