35 
In answer to the question — “ What sensation do you experience after inhaling 
the fumes of nitro-glycerine compounds ?” the answers, of course, varied, according to 
the constitution of the men ; but the general opinion was that the fumes produced 
headache, with vomiting, giddiness, loss of appetite, lassitude, palpitation of the heart, 
and pains all over the body. Some said that every nerve in the body w r as affected, and 
others declared they had to leave tlieir work, as they could not stand the fumes in any 
shape. 
At a meeting of the Maldon branch of the Association, the alleged injurious 
effects arising from the use of dynamite, even in wet ground, were very forcibly dwelt 
upon. One member (Mr. P. J. Williams) said he “spokefrom experience, and asserted 
that dynamite injured men in wet shafts as well as in dry, and even more so. They all 
knew that it was the nitro-glycerine that injured them, and in wet shafts this nitro¬ 
glycerine could be seen floating on the top of the water. This saturated men’s clothes, 
and got on to their hands, and into their systems. He knew one man, who did not 
complain when working, hut who died, and according to the statement of the doctor who 
examined the body, it was saturated with lithofracteur. lie knew another who died 
from the effects of using it, and he was assured by those who visited the man on his 
death-bed, that they could smell the fumes of lithofracteur the moment they entered 
the room— the man’s system was so charged with it that it escaped from his body. He 
(Mr. Williams) had used it in both wet and dry places, and frequently, after coming 
from below, he had laid down on the ground for half-an-liour before being able to walk 
home.” ° 
Mr. Spence, another member, said “ his own experience corresponded with that 
of the last speaker. He had used the compounds in both wet and dry places, and 
always felt seriously injured, by not only the fumes, but the substance found among 
the debris. He knew of similar cases in Creswick. One fine young man, who was 
working on a contract sinking a shaft, had to leave it by order of the doctoi*, as the 
compound was fast killing him; yet it was being used only in a very wet shaft. Another 
man, working in the same party, did not feel it at the time, but since had been obliged 
to give up underground work owing to weakness in the head caused by its use. Eleven 
years ago, at the first conference at Sandhurst, the city coroner, Dr. Pounds, had given 
evidence as to the deadly effects of such compounds.* Evidence from all sides proves 
that it is fatal in its effects.” 
In view of this accumulated evidence, it is clear that, unless some effectual 
means are discovered for dispersing these noxious fumes or neutralizing their 
undoubted injurious effects on the health of the. miners, it will become a question for 
consideration whether the use of nitro-glycerine compounds should not be altogether 
prohibited by law, or at any rate confined to wet ground where the results are but 
little if at all harmful. The health of the miners is not only a matter of supreme 
importance to themselves and their families, but it is a subject in which their 
employers are also interested, for, apart from natural feelings of humanity, it is 
essential that bodily health must he maintained to enable the miner to render a fair 
day’s work. 
Compressed Air. 
It is alleged, by some miners, that exhausted compressed air has an injurious 
effect on them; in fact, several have stated that, in close places, it is as bad as 
lithofracteur. In view of this, I sought the opinion of Mr. J. Cosmo Newbury on 
the subject, which is as follows:—“Air cannot he in any way vitiated by passing 
through the compressor. The only alteration that can take place is loss of heat 
and moisture.” Whether or not, however, this loss of heat and moisture is the 
cause of the unpleasant sensations experienced by some when inhaling compressed air, 
it is certain that there are many miners to whom it is more injurious than others. 
This is shown by the replies received to the circular on the subject issued by the 
Bendigo Miners’ Association (see page 34). Mr. Phillips, the Secretary of the Asso¬ 
ciation, himself a practical miner, speaks thus on the subject of compressed air— 
“ I am impressed very much with the fact that it is not wholesome, and should not be 
depended on altogether for men to work in. The difference between inhaling it and 
the air from a waterfall is on a par with the atmosphere on the surface; when the wind 
is from the north we feel a great lassitude, scarcely able to move about, immediately 
it changes to the south we feel, in a very short tune, as though we could almost run. 
The comparison is as near as I can put it for those unacquainted with the case.” 
