OF DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 211 
disease of the brain, including apoplexy, paralysis, and tetanus; 
60 from disease of the heart and dropsy; 56 from phthisis, (20 
of the deaths from phthisis occured under 20 years, some had 
not worked underground, and some are registered as screen-men) ; 
41 from diseases of the lungs, including bronchitis, pneumonia, 
and asthma; 17 from diseases of the liver; 2 from diseased 
joints; from abscess, hemorrhage, and cancer, 11; 4 from dis- 
ease of the kidneys; 45 from old age and exhaustion, and from 
violence (including 1 by suffocation ; 2 by burning; 2 by feloniously 
cutting and stabbing)—166. We notice here the large propor- 
tion of deaths from accident, the paucity of phthisis, and the 
number of deaths from old age; (in addition to the 45 dying of 
old age, 13 of those registered as dying of heart disease, asthma, 
aud bronchitis, were upwards of 70 years old.) Two deaths 
occured from joint disease; 1 from Bright’s disease, and not one 
from the specific diseases brought on by excessive drinking. 
These facts, I think, must show that there is nothing in the 
habits and occupation of the coal miner of this neighbourhood 
detrimental to his health; but rather that his peculiarities, 
however unnatural and even indecent they may appear to some, 
tend to his welfare. On going to work, were he to take a full 
meal, his digestion, from his position, would be either entirely 
suspended, or unduly hurried; and if he washed prior to taking 
food on his return home, this process which more than anything 
else maintains his healthy vigour, would be less efficiently done, 
his stomach might suffer by its own secretion, and his appetite 
and digestive power would certainly diminish, and so also, if he 
followed the usual custom and ate his mutton first, mastication 
might be neglected. 
Pitmen marry young, and are thus freed from a host of 
imaginary and real diseases which-embitter the existence of 
thousands more fortunately placed. I would say, then, to the 
philanthropist—“ Let well alone,” and do not interfere with the 
physical condition of the miner in our northern coal-fields. A 
more useful and important aim would be to try to improve his 
moral state, although even in this respect he is better than he 
seems, and has been grossly misrepresented. The ruffian is 
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