84 Means of Saving Life in Coal Mines [Feb. 19, 



I will ask a man wearing the Fleuss apparatus to step in so that 

 jou may see it. 



[Fleuss's man.] 



Next the Aerolith. 



[Simoni's man.] 



I will next show you the Weg apparatus. This is interesting 

 because the wearer, Hopwood, has been decorated by his Majesty with 

 the King Edward Medal for saving life in mines, and this is the 

 apparatus with which he earned it. 



I will now shut him up in a cabinet, such as is used in testing, 

 and fill it with poisonous smoke, and you will see that he is quite at 

 ease. In fact, his breathing is cut off from the atmosphere around 

 him, so that it is only his eyes that would be affected by pungent 

 vapour. 



My task is now ended all but one experiment, and I hope that 

 the audience feel that to the saving of life in mines earnest and 

 ingenious men are giving the best of their ability, and that some 

 progress is being made. 



I ought not to conclude without one observation. When I spoke 

 of safety lamps, I had to mention the name of Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 the illustrious Professor of Chemistry at this Institution. When I 

 had to deal with dust, I had to point out the work of his successor 

 Faraday, and when dealing with the last development of rescue 

 apparatus, I had to refer to the work of our present Professor of 

 Chemistry, Sir James Dewar, who, I trust, may long be spared to 

 continue his useful labours. 



If any proof were wanted of the utility of Institutions like this, 

 and of the degree to which they merit public support, no better could 

 be given than the fact that in a lecture like I have given the work of 

 the Royal Institution had to be so often mentioned. 



I will now conclude by exploding a gunpowder cartridge in a 

 small model mine, the floor of which is strewn with coal-dust. 



This experiment does not always succeed, for (fortunately) coal- 

 dust does not always explode, but I hope you will see the flame issue 

 from the mouth, driving before it a black cloud like that seen at real 

 colliery explosions, and which smoke, in order to spare the dress of 

 the audience, I shall endeavour to catch and shut up in this chamber. 



[H. C] 



