THE MINER AND THE MOUSE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 10

THE MINER AND THE MOUSE.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, September Ist. The ancient fable of tho lion and the mouse has a new application to-day. Tamo mice already form a part of the crew of every submarine in “tho King’s navee,” and' their rations aro paid for officially. Presently mice will no doubt form an integral part of every coalmining "shift,” for experiments are proving that they can be of great ser-vice-to man in tho swift detection of foul air in mines. Recently Mr I*. Gray, one of H.M.’s Inspectors of Mines, made certain tests in connection with the terrible explosion which occurred in tho Cambrian collorics, Cydaoh Vale, last March, and in his report to the Homo Secretary gives some interesting details of Ills experiences with tho mousq tost, which scorn to prove that they aro more reliable as danger signals than any invention of man thus far, being especially susceptible to the insidious and deadly carbon monoxide, and almost immediately showing unmistakable signs of its presence. In the Cambrian colliery explorations tho parties with Mr Gray took with them tame mice, wild oner, recently caged being unreliable owing to their excitement in captivity. These tame mice quickly disclosed tho presence of carbon monoxide, only .1 per cent, being sufficient to cause the lit-' tie animals to become sluggish and unsteady in their gait, whilst any larger proportion quickly rendered them helpless. Tho worst feature of carbon monoxide is that it causes no difficulty in tho burning of a light, in fact, it makes it more brilliant, and so deceives tiro uniniated, and shows no “cap ’ on tho flame of the lamp. Tho deadliness of this gas is demonstrated by Dr John Haldane, who says;—“As little as .2 percent. of carbon monoxide in air may produce fatal effects if breathed forever an hour, and .1 per cent, will gradually disable a man completely. Even .05 per cent., if breathed for several hours, itray cause fainting or dizziness on exertion, and probably anythin,- over .02 per cent, will, after some time, reduce distinctly a man s power of doing work.” On mice tiro gas acts much more rapidly than on human beings, so they may bo safely, carried by man into suspected atmospheres, if fresh air is close at band, for they will give almost instantaneous’ warning if corbon monoxide is present. On submarines the mice are kept especially because of their susceptibility to the fumes of petrol. The slightest leakage from any tank In their vicinity apparently causes them acute discomfort of which they givo_ very audible notice by shrill and continuous equeatings.