III. Observations on the Fire-Damp of Coal Mines; with a 

 Plan for Lighting Mines, so as to guard against its Ex- 

 plosion. By John Murray, M. D. F. R. S. E. Fellow of 

 the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 



[Communicated November 14. and read November 20. 1815 *.] 



EXPLOSIONS in mines, from the kindling of the inflam- 

 mable gas, called Fire-Damp by the miners, have always 

 occasionally occurred. Of late they have become more fre- 

 quent in some of the coal-mines in this country, particularly 

 those in the districts of the Tyne, and the Wear, in the North 

 of England, and have been attended with such fatal consequen- 

 ces, as to have forcibly called public attention to the subject. 

 In an explosion in one mine, about two years ago, ninety-two 

 persons were killed ; in another, which occurred soon after, 

 thirty-two lost their lives ; in one which happened within 

 these few months, fifty-seven persons were destroyed ; and re- 

 cently, it has been affirmed, that several hundred lives are lost 



annually 



* It may be proper, from circumstances, to mention, that this paper is print- 

 ed in the text exactly as it was read I have added at the end a few notes, 

 (read before the Society at a subsequent meeting), explanatory of the plan, or 

 connected with the subject. 



