Ixxxvi 
Dr. JAGO remarked that Mr. Rawlings’s suggestion was perti- 
nent, even if confined to men moving from one home district to 
another, and especially so if extended to men leaving the country. 
For the results of Dr. Barham’s elaborate statistics could only be 
accepted as needing no correction on the assumption that emigra- 
tion proceeds equally and alike among all the classes compared in 
them. In the absence of statistics bearing on this special point, 
he could only say that he had been led to believe that the Cornish 
miner has a peculiar propensity to try his fortune abroad. Some 
twenty years ago, he heard the experienced manager, in this 
county, of the greatest mining firm in the world express his 
astonishment at their readiness to venture into any land or any 
climate whatever; for the firm was beset with volunteers when- 
ever they wanted hands, and of course sent out none but those in 
the prime of life and of certified health. Again, it has been a 
standing complaint of our oldest mine-agents that a new impedi- 
ment has arisen to home mining operations in that the ablest men 
get allured away into the many metalliferous fields that modern 
“ prospecting” has brought to light, leaving them to work their 
mines with boys, invalids, and old men. Thus, according to their 
statements, the majority of the missing men—say of from 25 to 40 
years—have not died at home, but have gone abroad, whilst an 
undue proportion of youths are counted in our mines. Finally, the 
miner, in hopes of making a fortune abroad, and often going into 
places unprepared for households, in most instances, if married, 
maintains his wife and family at home ; and should he ever return, 
with his hopes realized, he ceases to be a miner. The obvious 
effect of all this is, in so many ways, to exaggerate the gloomy 
conclusion of Dr. Barham’s statistics as to the deleterious nature 
of metalliferous mining. His own experience of miners’ com- 
plaints confirmed generally that of Dr. Barham. For instance, 
he did not think miners more prone to heart disease than agricul- 
tural labourers. He would not, however, dilate on this subject, 
but content himself with observing that he was inclined to suspect 
that in the hurry of harassing medical practice, such as that of 
most mine surgeons, the practitioner, in certifying of the cause of 
death, a service for which the State left him unpaid, was often so 
brief or careless as to deprive statistics founded on such certifi- 
cates of much of their apparent value. 
The following Papers were read :— 
Note on a Sub-Marine Forest at Market Strand, Falmouth.—By 
H. Michell Whitley, C.E. 
On a British Celt found by Mr. J. Jope Rogers, near Helston.—By 
Mr. Albert Way, F.S.A. 
