The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-18


the tourniquet.
Now, in the last 26 years have had an
experience OF some 5000 cases of trauma-
tism or injury; of these three have died
from primary hemorrhage from the want
of proper treatment at that time. A
tourniquet applied In either of these three
cases would have saved lives 1t is true
that Is very small percentage in such
large number of cases, still those cases
will occur, and that is one of the impor-
tant things that the corps should be
familiar with"
DR.. Cunningham continued with instruc-
ton and illustration along scientific lines.
He was applauded throughout his address,
which was delivered off-hand with char
acteristic snap and animation.
Short Talks.
Following Dr. Cunninghams speech
many physicians were called upon by
the chair, and the following responded
with practical observations fitting the
occasion: DIR. Judson Dayie, physician at
Flat Top; Dr. J. e. Seay of Ensley, DR..
Artemus D. Killian of Holt, DR.. Stova1
of Jasper, Dr.. w. F. Black of Sayreton.
After DR.. Black had concluded the chair
announced adjournment for dinner.
At the afternoon session DIR. Cunning
ham made a few supplemental remarks.
Chairman: 1.-THE next on the programme
is one OF our young heroes, who is in
position TO be of great benefit to US at
the time of accidents of all descriptions
In coal mines and 1t gives me great pleas
ure to introduce him. He is a man full
of energy, a man who has studied mining
and has been In and about mines all his
life I refer to Mr.. Edward Flynn, chief
mine Inspector (Applause)
Mr.. Flynn Speaks.
Mr.. Flynn: MIR. Chairman and Mem
bers of the Alabama Operators Associa-
ton and Mine Officials: feel very thank
full to the chairman for referring to me
as young hero. However. I have never
been able to discover anything heroic that
/ have ever done yet.
Now, gentlemen, you have heard some
very able addresses from the medical
fraternity in regard to 'first-aid to the in
jured.' They were very good, indeed, and
the suggestions impressed me as being
the proper things to do on certain &C.
casions, and trust that first-aid corps
will be organized In all the mining camps
of this state, and those first-aid corps are
very important. The subject that those
gentlemen discussed this morning is very
important. but have the honor of repre-
senting department that In my opinion
is far more important than the subject
that has been discussed here, because the
gentlemen who have talked told you how
to administer to the injured, while our de-
partment is created for the purpose of
telling you how to prevent the injuries
(applause), and II we can succeed in
preventing the injury, then we will not
have any argument as to whether 1t is
proper to give a hypodermic injection or
whether it is improper. Therefore, the i'm
portant subject, in my opinion, is not how
to treat the injured, but how to prevent
him from getting injured.
Now, then, 1 am glad that we have
succeeded in getting the mine foremen
of this district together l want to say
again that I intend to discuss the duties
of mine foreman; that is going to be
my subject ! will handle it as well as |
possibly can. The law of this state-the
laws of every state in this union, in fact
the laws of every country where coal
mining is carried on-recognize the fact
that the mine foreman is the most I'm
portant official connected with coal min
Ing; they recognize the fact that he should
be the most competent man connected
with coal mines Why do I say that?
Because there is not safe in this union
there is not a country under the sun
where coal is mined, that mine foreman
is not required to stand an examination
and convince board of examiners that
ne Is competent to take charge of the
mine and look after the welfare of the EN-
ployes and look after the property of the
operators before he Is permitted to act as
mine foreman. The law, | say, recog-
nizes the fact that he Is the most i'm
portant man connected with mining In
the state of Alabama our law requires
that men shall have certificates of the
first class in order to be competent ia
take charge Of mines that generate ex-
plosive gases, and they require that a
man shall have certificate OF the second
class before he is competent to take
charge of mine that does not generate
explosive gases.
IF the law makes you the most import
ant man in and around the coal mine
then you certainly have great RESPONSE
bility. l sometimes believe that the
mine foremas fails to realize, or in Other
words he does not realize, he doesn't com.
prehend the responsibilities that are rest
ing upon his shoulders, both from a lega
and moral standpoint.
Now, gentlemen, regarding the first
duty of mine foreman, in my opinion
/ am going to divide my subject into
three different parts. What are the three
most important duties of mine foreman
But before 1 go into that / want to gc
back again, for fear that forget It, t.
the address of DR.. Cunningham this morn
ing. Inc laws OF Alabama require thai
certain supplies shall be kept at the mines
at all times for use In cases of accidents
They require, of course, that a stretchel
shsA be on hand for the purpose of con
veying the injured or the dead from
the mine to their homes or hospitals; anc
they require that you shall have bandage,
there for the purpose of bandaging III
those injuries that may take place. The,
also require that you shall have linseed OF
olive oil. I don't know whether DR.. Gun
bingham referred to all kinds of oil thl.
morning or just simply black oil or com
mon oil; but linseed oil and olive oil have
been used for gas and powder burn.
around the coal mines ever since I have
been connected with mining. Whether
they still use them or not do not know
II they are not the proper things to use
our laws should be repealed and they
should be taken away from the mines.