DEATH FROM MISADVENTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14495, 12 April 1909, Page 10

DEATH FROM MISADVENTURE.

Sin,—Towar'lt the close of vonr edrloiial in yom issue oi April 3, with tlic above wading, you write: — "Surely, however, there is some method whereby tho risks .Vi&vlatcd with tho eniployinent mav be greatly reduced, if mot entirely climinaUd ; ' Th"? danger arising from lemx "ga/:"d" is mainly caused by the presence of carbonic oxide in the gas This varies from 4 to si) per cent., according to the method of manufacture. When tinch gas is breathed it causes a lack of oxygen in iho lungi and blocil, and therefore the i.ensible remedy is to give a .'-upply oi oxygen to t lie sufferer. The British Home Office issues instructions to makeiv and users o! the various gases, and i! is made flic duty of the iip'wetors of factories to enfoico these provisions as regards factories and workshops in which such yas is w«l for engines, etc. To i ■.liberies, also, similar instructions are issued, end last year an cvpe-rimental gallery, representing workings, was erected by a liumhcr of owners lo experiment witii the gaiies and train men to rescue work. In tho posters issti'd there are slight ir.odiiioilions to suit, various industries, bm the following instructions are common to all Leaving out tho dcH'riptions of syiuu'.oo/:, they go on to slate:-—"No y.erson smk!: 1 1« allowed, singlo-li'iiubd, lo exccuV work in a piai'i! where exposure to the por-.on-ous gas is to be, antiiipalcd. . . . No workman .should cider or approach \<n:«n opined the hnldor or other |»irl of the gas circuit until tic gas has been well -.iu-'ie.l out by fresii air. ... A oylbWe-- oi coinpre-:«.-d oxygen, filttd with lever. :;•;,;, nipple and union, and rubber gas iuh-n;,' with nioutiipieco, should be. kept in ro:i slant readiness The apparatus sbotiM bo in churr/j of no!. ,!"is than two p.-eiews. instructed in its ir-:e. At least onw a. month it, should be examined by when the condition of tin: mouthpiece, jn.| of tho rubber tubing should Ivob-.-ervc-.1. If tho rubber becom'.; har.,l and -.try, warm water wiil rrelore iho pliabiliiy. . Hopes should be provided for rescte purposes, and the pbv.e wJiero the-y are to be found elated on Iho notke. Whero dangerous work is foreseen special re; cue appliance.'; i-honld lie supplied, such as those now kept in many ciicniicet! works arid coal mines; they bitpply the re-cuov with air, or a mixture of oxygen and air, FX) tint ho does not. 'urealhe the. i:;>i-.;i.i>;i>,;-j 3«"-. • ■ further, notice's should he affixed in the works explaining lii.-> dozily nature of the gas, the symptoms of pe;.-on-aid ' The workmen i-liould he in racuo drill, ineluding the u-e o| the appliances provided; they should be further instructed by a incdieai man in artificial breathing and administration of oxygon. They should be especially warned of tho danger of exposing a. ' gassed' iiorson to cold. The administration of ttiuiulanls, iii any form is most dangerous, and is also strictly forbidden. Men in chaigo of aiiy engine worked by .poisonous gas, or of any apparatus in which mich gas is stored, or otherwise to risk ol" inhaling it, should bo free from any disc;;.",- of" iho heart and lungs. Kiupjoyir; would do well to cause such ptwons to l;o nrdkailv examined and cortii'rd."

flio appropriate rouied-ips for phoning by carbonic oxide arc frctJi air, ar.ilicial breathing, a<lniinisir.!.tioii of oxj.;. i; , ami tlio application of warmth. And' how efficient oxygon is may 'i?c jitfe'd from tho (act that in experiments one litis breathed carbonic o.vjlo until tho blood was pink and showing a '19 po'r cent. KltU'Tfition with carbon monoxide, vision dim, and walking without assistance. Mas impossible, but after the adiiiinisu-ation of oxygen all tho disi'rosoinji symptoms terminated immediately. And in many chemical works known to me there lias not ten a, fatal accident from "gasling" since tho introduction of the oxygen i.-ottie. Tho iiion o! tViir own free will ci>mc and havo a. snilf of oxygen, which is always "on tap," whenever they feci the slightest throbbing o( the blood-vessels of the head or giddiness, and arc at once, relieved. The above will, I think, answer your question, and show that much lias been done to diminish the risks run by workers.—l am, etc., Ugokge D. Macindoe. Invcrcargill, April 6.