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:-
| (a) |
medical,
|
| (b) |
engineering.
|
|
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.
|
|
|