[19] Several of the Pencaitland colliers are at present engaged in the tunnelling operations near to Edinburgh, connected with the North British Railway.
[20] Dr Hamilton's of Falkirk paper in the Edin. Med. and Surgical Journal, Vol. xlii.
[21] I have very lately, through the kindness of Mr Girdwood, surgeon at Falkirk, had an opportunity of examining two or three iron-moulders in that district. Both from the nature of the employment in those iron works, and the character which the pulmonary affection exhibits, the fact of inhalation is fully established. The moulder is at a certain stage of his labour enveloped in a cloud of finely-ground charcoal, a portion of which cannot fail to find its way to the lungs in breathing. He is subject to tickling cough, and as the disease advances, the respiratory sounds, which indicate considerable bronchial irritation, present themselves, and ultimately become dull, and in some parts obscure.
Of the several cases which I saw with Mr Girdwood, one, who has not been labouring for some years as a moulder, occasionally expectorated black matter, and in the other two, there was general dullness of both lungs; and, I doubt not, impaction.
[22] It has not been in my power hitherto to procure so satisfactory a chemical analysis of the blood as I would wish, but through the kind assistance of Dr Douglas Maclagan, who has undertaken to conduct the process, I expect very soon to be able to lay it before the profession.
[23] I found little or no black matter in the lungs of farm servants, who are much in the open air.
[24] Vide Monthly Journal for 1845, p. 702.
[25] At any time when these colliers required venesection, particularly towards the last stage of the disease, the blood appeared peculiarly dark and treacle-like.
[26] Could oxygen not be prepared and forced down?
[27] I am happy to find that the attention of the noble proprietor of the Newbattle coal works is now directed to this subject.