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DUE TO GAS DEEIVED FROM COAL-DUST. Ill 



the experimental inquiry made by himself in reference 

 thereto. The substance of his conclusions, regarding the 

 part taken by coal-dust in the Haswell disaster, was then 

 given in these words : ' The ignition and explosion of the 

 firedamp mixture would raise and then kindle the coal-dust, 

 which is always pervading the passages, and these effects 

 must in a moment have made the part of the mine which 

 was the scene of the calamity, glow like a furnace.' " 



Faraday's view of the function of coal-dust in the Has- 

 well explosion was, that it was thrown into suspension and 

 ignited by the explosion of firedamp, and then burned like 

 coal-dust burns in a furnace. 



Twenty years later, " 1864-67, M. Verpilleux made ex- 

 periments which led him to the conclusion that coal-dust 

 played an important part in coal-mine explosions." '^ 



In 1875 M. Vital made special experiments with coal- 

 dust, and ''■ Concluded that very fine coal-dust, rich in 

 inflammable constituents, will take fire when raised by an 

 explosion, and that portions are successively decomposed, 

 yielding explosive mixtures with the air, whereby the fire 

 is carried along, the intensity or violence of the burning 

 being much influenced by the physical character of the 

 dust. He also suggested that an explosion of firedamp, 

 although taking place instantaneously, may inflame or 

 decompose a small quantity of coal-dust raised thereby, 

 explosive action being thus propagated after the firedamp 

 explosion has ceased." f 



In 1878, Marreco confirmed the conclusions of Faraday 

 and Vital. He observed 'Hhat the coal-dust is in pare 

 submitted to destructive distillation during the progress of 

 the flame through the dust-laden air," :|: 



* Final Report of Eo^-al Commission upon Accidents in Mines, p. 31. 

 f Ihid., E-eport, p. 31. + Ibid., Report, p. 32. 



