270 
PROCEEDINGS 1849 — 1858. 
facts respecting fire damp, clioke damp, atmospheric air, combustion, 
and other agents related to these frightful accidents. Mr. William 
"West, F.R.S., in 18o0, gave a report of the circumstances attending 
explosions. Perhaps one of the most astonishing pieces of evidence 
adduced was that of Mr. Green, at liisca, who stated that he had 
many times seen colliers wdth the safety lamp hung np by them 
burning, and they working with the naked candle, also burning, close 
to each other. There appears to have been considerable evidence 
that the men objected to the use of the safety lamp, partly from tlie 
dim light afforded by it, and partly, as in the case of Upton and 
Roberts' lamp, on account of its weight. Tlie following year, Mr. 
AV. Sykes Ward contributed a paper on the use of the barometer in 
coal mines, and explained a cheap form of instrument which he had 
invented for use in the mine, whereby the miner would be able to 
appreciate the differences in the weight of the atmosphere as indicated 
by the barometer, which had so much to do w^ith the escape of gas in 
mines. Mr. James Nasmyth, of Patricroft, read a paper in which lie 
described a steam fan for the better ventilation of mines, which he 
stated was used in several pits, and was found to produce a better 
ventilation than the ordinary method of fire at the base of the 
up-shaft. At the same meeting, Mr. B. Byram described a fan erected 
for the ventilation of theHemmingfield Pit, belonging to Earl Fitzwilliam 
at Elsecar. Earl Fitzwilliam, who presided, stated that there were diffi- 
culties in regulating the velocity of the air, which was made to pass 
through the mine by the fan, but he considered that in case of accident, 
and the ventilation becoming suspended, the fan was calculated to be 
of great advantage, as considerable time might elapse before the furnaces 
could be got into operation. In April, 1852, Dr. George Boddington, 
of Sutton Coldfield, contributed a paper on the subject of ventilation, 
his plan being founded on the arterial and venus circulation in the 
human body, which suggested to his mind a natural mechanism for 
moving and circulating the atmosphere or gases in a pit. Mr. W. 
Sykes Ward read a paper on a new thermostat for regulating ventila- 
tion, and Mr. W. H. J. Trace explained the principle of Williamson's 
improved system of colliery ventilation. The practicability of carry- 
ing out the views of either was very much doubted by the meeting. 
