The Mines Commission.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 26, 1 September 1911, Page 7

The Mines Commission.

MINERS' COMPLAINT.

VALUABLE MEDICAL OPINION

I.liii the course of his evidence before .the* Mines Commission at Thames, Dr. Lapraik said: Mines' complaint is a wide term, and includes various lung diseases from which miners suffer —- e.g., chronic bronchitis, asthma, emply&ema, etc. True miner's complaint is not asthma, pneumonia, or chronic bronchitis or consumption (phthisis pulmoinalis), but is a fiberosis or pneumoconosis. Pneumooonosis is a general term, indicating chronic disease of the lungs, due to the inhalation of dust. The dust causes fibrosis, bronchitis, emplysema, etc.

As to the cause of true miner's complaint dust is the primary cause. Impure air, faulty ventilation, absence of sunshine,- changes of temperature, dampness, poisonous gases, decaying and decomposing timber in old workings, and insanitary surroundings were contributory causes. The, remedies were good, free ventilation, cleanliness, good sanitation, a-nd the use, if at a-11 possible, of the water spray wherever quartz is being broken, in. rock-drilling, etc.

In -answer to questions, Dr. Lapraik stated that he did not consider mining a healthy occupation. Miner's complaint is not now so prevalent on the Thames as formerly, due to tho fact that there was not much mining going on, the mines were better ventilated; and tfoo miners themselves now knew the risks, and were consequently more careful of their health. Miners suffering from true consumption (which often followed on miner's complaint) should be prevented from working in a mine for the sake of their own health and for the sake of the heaJth of the other minere. He considered a hot bath, followed by a cold shower or sponge, immediately on coming to the surface, was advisable for tho sake of cleanliness and the prevention; of getting a chill from remaining in wet clothes. DR. WALSHE'S EVIDENCE. Dr. Walshe, medical officer in charge of the Thames Hospital, said he had been in charge of that" institution for about four and a-half years. He found that chronic lung disease amongst miners was very prevalent in the Thames district. Some years ago he examined a number of men, and found that 16 per cent, were affected with lung complaints due to continually being in mines. It was generally admitted that the great predisposing cause of miner's phthisis was the inhalation of minute particles of dirt. Miner's complaint rendered the sufferer liable to an attack of tuberculosis, and the large number of cases thus affected with miner's complaint were actually affected with, and eventually died from, tuberculosis. Until tuberculosis intervened miner's complaint was not infectious. As to the precautions to be adopted, he thought that care should be taken to prevent miners expectorat-

ing indiscriminately about «■ mime. In his opinion, those suffering from tubercular disease should, in the interests of the men themselves, not be allowed to work in the mine, for their sputum would be a source of danger. " To Mr. rteed: In the case quoted" where 16 per cent.;. of the men examined by him were affected, those affected were mostly old men, who had contractedvthe disease for some, time. . Tine disease had such a gradual outset that it was difficult to determine when a man became affected. Ho bad discovered by post mortem on those who had. died from miner's complain* that there was a goad deal of dust on the lungs. He favoured medical examrnatkxn of miners in the interests of those engaged, and this should be followed by periodical examinations. Mr. Reed: Then you think that the principal measure of precaution to .be taken to prevemt miner's phthsis is the medical examination of miners? — Oh, no. I don't suggest that. I think the principal measure of precaution to prevent the spread of miner's complaint is to take such measures as will prevent the inhalation of small particles of dust and to provide the men | with pure air to breath in. ' Can you suggest any method? —No. I think that could well be left to the mining engineers and mining experts, j As to carbonic and sulphuric acid : gases?—The presence of such gases in \ the atmosphere in which men were working would weaken their vitality, and make them predisposed to disease. Questioned as to temperature, Dr. i "Walshe said he regarded the wet bulb test as of more'importance-than the dry bulb test. A temperature showing 100 degrees bulb test would be greatly excessive. He would regard 90 degrees saturated as decidedly injuriout -to health, and said tha.t he regarded six hours' work underground in a temperature, of 80 wet bulb test i as a severe test for a man. i

To Mr. Parry: A man whose vitality was low would be predisposed to and would take a disease such as miner's complaint quicker than a man in normal health. The sudden change from working in hot temperature underground to the cold air at the top would lead to a man taking cold and doing injury to his system.

To Mr. Dowgray : He approved of the suggestion that baths should be provided for the use of miners. He thought they would be of benefit in enabling the men to remove from their arms and legs the small particles of rock that occasionally caused blood poisoning to set up.