Respiratory Diseases

The miner usually inhales a great deal of dust. Much of the Inhaled dust is arrested and thrown out by the action of the cells in the upper air passages and bronchial tubes, but some of it is carried into the alveoli or terminal air cavity of the lungs. Nature provides a means of removing this dust which is discharged from the lungs in the form of "black spit." According to Dr. Haldane, inhalation of coal dust does not adversely affect the lungs.

Dust, however, containing free silica, is dangerous, and may cause miners’ phthisis.

Miners’ Phthisis or Silicosis is a disease of the lungs caused by the inhalation of fine particles of hard silicious dust. The inhalation of finely divided dust containing free silica tends to produce" fibrosis." This is a formation of fibro~ tissue encroaching on the porous structure of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing and a dry type of bronchitis.

Fibrosis tends in most cases to become active tuberculosis in the infected lung. The disease is prevalent among metal miners, particularly on the Rand. Coal dust, being soft and rounded, is comparatively harmless. One authority, however, suggests that coal dust is dangerous once the power of removal has been impaired by siliceous dust.

In the South African gold mines phthisis is very common, and the mortality is very high. The chief symptoms are a cough, shortness of breath, and in the latter stages, spitting of blood. The elimination of the disease is best secured by preventing dust from rising into the atmosphere.

The Preventive Measures adopted on the Rand may be divided into two groups:-

The medical measures are the initial examination of recruits to prevent the employment of persons liable to contract the disease, and periodical examinations to detect simple silicosis or tuberculosis. Persons found to be suffering from lung infection should be permanently removed from underground work.

The engineering measures are:-

(a)  the laying of dust by the use of water, (b)   regulation of the shifts, blasting methods, and times to ensure the least possible exposure of the workmen to dust and fumes, (c)  efficient ventilation, (d)   the use of dust respirators, based on the filter principle, (e)  the use of hollow drill steel and water.