256 REPORTS ON THE STATE OP SCIENCE. — 1920. 



In France the principle followed is that the records of fatal accidents are 

 restricted to those who are mortally injured in a mine accident, that is to say, 

 either those killed on the spot or who die as the reeult of their injuries within a 

 few hours after the accident, or at the outside within a few months without 

 ever having been able to resume work. With regard to those whose death, 

 occurring after a considerably longer interval, is the consequence of injuries 

 received, they do not appear on the record, the Statistical Department not being, 

 as a rule, informed of their death, and being, moreover, unable to determine 

 its real cause. 



In Belgium, on the other hand, a fatal accident is restricted to an accident 

 that causes death within thirty days. 



Here, again, it may be pointed out that this extremely important matter 

 is in a chaotic condition, and that it is most urgent that an agreement be arrived 

 at as to what precisely is meant by a fatal accident. 



Non-Fatal Accidents. — Here, again, there is a vride variation to be noted in 

 practice. In this country the return is asked for of non-fatal accidents within 

 any given year, non-fatal accidents being defined as accidents disabling the 

 victim for more than seven days. 



In Canada the practice varies in the different Provinces. Apparently in 

 Nova Scotia a non-fatal accident is classified as an accident by which a man 

 must be disabled for at least seven days, but from which he recovers. In the 

 Province of Saskatchewan accidents entailing a disability of less than six days 

 are not recorded. In Alberta a non-fatal accident must be reported if a man 

 is off for more than fourteen days ; apparently in some cases accidents involving 

 a disabilitv of less than fourteen days are tabulated as slight accidents. 



In the United States of America the question of what constitutes a non-fatal 

 accident is even more unsettled than the definition of a fata) accident. In some 

 of the States statistics are collected based on the State Compensation Acts, 

 under which compensation is paid for an injury causing a loss of at least two 

 weeks ; in metal mines apparently an accident causing a loss of at least one 

 shift is tabulated as a slight injury, and one involving a loss of two weeks as a 

 serious injury. 



In France injuries causing disability to work for more than twenty days are 

 counted as non-fatal accidents. 



In Belgium all non-fatal accidents are accidents that cause permanent 

 disability, whether this be total or partial, accidents involving only temporary 

 disability not being included in the returns. 



The above can only be looked upon as an attempt to supply a portion of the 

 information which is evidently needed before it is possible to read coal-mining 

 statistics at all intelligently. It will be obvious, however, from what has been 

 said, that attempts at comparisons, which have been so freely made without 

 taking into account the striking differences in interpretation given above, must 

 result in wholly inaccurate comparisons. I sincerely hope that the data here 

 given may be further extended to all coal-producing countries, and I wish to 

 urge again, as I have done in more than one International Congress, the import- 

 ance of an International Conference for determining the precise manner in 

 which mineral statistics of all kinds shall be collected and tabulated, and the 

 precise meaning that should be attached to the various heading.s. 



Henry Louis. 



