1881,1 



405 



[Chance. 



Dr. Chance communicated a paper entitled " An analysis 

 of the Fire-damp Explosions in the Anthracite coal mines, 

 from 1870 to 1880." 



Mr. Fraley reported that he had received the last install- 

 ment of the Michaux legacy, amounting to $131.18, and, 

 paid it over to the Treasurer. 



And the meeting was adjourned. 



An Analysis of the Fire-damp Explosions in the Anthracite Coal Mines, 

 from 1870 to 1880. By H. M. Chance, M. D. 



{Bead before the American Philosophical Society, May 6, 1881.) 



The table which forms the subject matter of this paper is compiled from 

 the reports of the Inspectors of Mines, for the years from 1870 to 1879 inclu- 

 sive. In it are included all recorded explosions, whether resulting in serious 

 or trivial casualties. The majority of these were caused by the ignition of 

 but a few cubic feet of explosive mixture, but some were terrible dis- 

 asters, the victims of which may be numbered by scores. 



The total number of recorded explosions is 639, the number of casualties 

 1127, and of these 225 resulted fatally. As the reports for two or three 

 years are not complete, these figures do not represent the exact number of 

 casualties ; but they express sufficiently well the ratio between the explo- 

 sions and the number of miners injured by tliem. 



During these years the explosion of fire-damp was the cause of sixteen 

 per cent, of the total casualties reported by the Inspectors, of eleven per 

 cent, of the fatal accidents and of eighteen per cent, of the non-fatal cas- 

 ualties. 



Explosions of Fire-damp. 



* Explosions In Eastern District of Luzerne, not included in the report for 

 1871. 



t Explosions in Southern District of Carbon and Luzerne, not included in 

 column for 1875. 



JShamokin District statistics omitted froni report for 1876, 



