Thorpe (Prof. T. E., F. R.S.): Explosions in Coal-Mines, W. N. Thouar's Exploration of Bolivia, 231 Throat, Various Effects of Irritation in the, 575 Throndhjem, in Norway, Display of Aurora Borealis at, 112 Taylor (Philip Meadows), Tobacco a Farmer's Crop, Prof. John Tidal Friction and the Evolution of a Satellite, James Nolan, Wrightson, 52 75 Tchesme, Earthquake at, 112 Tides of Long Period, on the Dynamical Theory of the, G. H. Tea-Planter's Manual, T. C. Owen, 268 Darwin, F.R.S., 287 Technical Education, 592; Mr. Girling, 567; and the House of Tilden (Prof.), on the Nature of Solution, 21, 64 Commons, Mr. Howell, 326 Tillo (A. C. von), Magnetic Horizontal Intensity in Northern Technical School at Bombay, 206 Siberia, 170 Telegraph Wires, Propagation of Electricity in, Ed. Hagenbach, Time, an Apparatus by which, may be communicated to Per- 333 formers out of the Conductor's Sight, 120 Telegraphic Determinations of Australian Longitudes, 474 Telephone Line from Paris to London, Proposed, 544 Telephonic Line between Paris and Brussels, Proposed, 133 Telescope, Hours with a Three-Inch, Capt. Wm. Noble, 246 Temple Observatory, Mr. Seabroke, 401 Bateson and Prof. Francis Darwin, F. R. S., 429 Tobacco: a Farmer's Crop, Philip Meadows Taylor, Prof. John Ten Years' Progress in Astronomy, Prof. C. A. Young, 67, 86, Torpedoes, proposed Examination of, by Prof. Burdon Sander- Total Solar Eclipse of August 29, 1886, Arthur Schuster, F. R. S., 549 Towns, Ozone Papers in, Dr. W. J. Black, 76 Traill (Dr. William), of Woodwick, Obituary Notice of, 419 Trains of Pulleys and Drums, Prof. H. Hennessy, F.R.S., Transmission of Power by Compressed Air, 272 Trécul (M.A.), on the Term "Latex" in Botany, 600 Tribes of the Nile Valley North of Khartoum, Sir Chas. Wilson Trimen (Dr. H.), Hermann's "Ceylon Herbarium" and Tripos, Mathematical, Prof. J. W. L. Glaisher, F.R.S., 101, 1 Umberto, Il re, the Engines of, 352 United States: Earthquakes in, 36; Fish Commission, Work of Units of Weight, Mass, and Force, Prof. A. G. Greenhill, 486; University of Berlin, Number of Students, 444 University College, Bristol, Albert Fry, 345 University College, Liverpool, Generous Endowments, 280 Universities: University Extension Scheme, 611; Trial of, in Unwin (Prof. W. C., F.R.S.), on some New Measuring-Instru- Upsala University, Female Students at, 306; New University Uralian Society of Natural Sciences, 133 Uranus, Ellipticity of, Prof. W. Valentiner, 614 Urine, Ammoniacal Decomposition of, Dr. W. R. Smith, 404 Urua, Capt. Cameron's Lecture on, 259 Urvolk of Japan, Aino Hairiness and the, F. V. Dickins, 534 Vaerdalen, Norway, Brilliant Meteor seen in, 612 Valentiner (Prof. W.), Ellipticity of Uranus, 614 Van Slyke (L. 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Milnes Marshall, Zoology, Proposed Lectures on, at the Zoological Gardens, Zoology, Mythical, of the Far East, 591 Zurich, Earthquake Shock in, 350 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1886 EXPLOSIONS IN COAL-MINES Explosions in Coal-Mines. By W. N. and J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspectors of Mines. (London: Longmans, 1886.) E VERYBODY in the least degree conversant with matters connected with coal-mining will at once admit that our knowledge of the remote causes of colliery explosions has increased enormously during the last few years. Whether, however, the practical application of this knowledge has kept pace with the rate of increase in the knowledge itself is another matter. Since 1851, when the first Mines Inspection Act was in force, the number of fatal explosions in collieries has steadily diminished, but the annual loss of life from these catastrophes is as great as ever. During the ten years ending 1860 there were 820 fatal explosions, resulting in 2441 deaths, or an average of 2.98 deaths per fatal explosion; during this decade there was an average of 3000 persons employed in and about the mines for every fatal explosion, and 1008 persons for each resulting death. During the ten years ending 1870 the number of fatal explosions fell to 565; the deaths were 2267, or an average of 401 per fatal explosion; and the ratio of persons employed to each fatal explosion was 5650, and hence to each resulting death 1408. During the ten years ending 1880 the number of fatal explosions was 424; the resulting deaths were 2686, or an average of 6.33 per fatal explosion; the ratio of persons employed to each fatal explosion was 11,372, and to each resulting death 1795. During the five years ending 1885 we have had 146 fatal explosions, with a loss of 906 persons, or an average of 6.20 deaths from each explosion; the ratio of persons employed to each fatal explosion was 17,503, and to each resulting death 2820. These figures are in the highest degree significant, but they are not capable of telling everything. They do not, for example, bring out the fact that the actual violence of colliery explosions when they do occur is nowadays greater than formerly. This may seem to be indicated by the increase in the average number of deaths from VOL. XXXV.-Νο. 888 each fatal explosion, but then, on the other hand, there are far more men employed in pits now than formerly. The diminished number of explosions is probably due, in the first instance, to the more general employment of safety-lamps, and, during late years, to the restrictions which have been placed upon the use of explosives. The increase in the average number of deaths to each explosion is doubtless owing to the gradual deepening of the pits and to differences in the mode of origin and character of the explosion. Thirty years ago the pits as a rule were comparatively shallow and damp. Such a sinking as that of the Ashton Moss pit at Audenshaw, which is upwards of half a mile deep, was unknown. Explosions in these damp shallow pits were usually caused by the ignition of gas, most frequently by naked lights; they were very local in their action, and the loss of life was small. Nowadays an explosion in a deep and dry mine not unfrequently penetrates throughout the whole pit; it is often extremely violent, and the number of deaths, mainly from after-damp, is correspondingly great. There can be very little doubt that such explosions are, in the main, caused by dust. The fact that fire-damp is not the only explosive agent which may be present in coal-mines is now generally recognised. It is, however, a moot point with many practical men whether coal-dust alone, in the entire absence of gas, can bring about an explosion of any magnitude. It is generally conceded that a very small amount of gas, an amount, indeed, too small to be recognised by the elongation of the flame of a safety-lamp, or the formation of a "cap," is sufficient in the presence of coal-dust to form a dangerously explosive atmosphere, but colliery managers and many mining engineers have, apparently, been slow to believe that dust itself may, under certain conditions, effect an explosion quite as violent in its character as the most formidable gas explosion of which we have any record. The Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into accidents in mines reported that in their opinion it was well established that even when the air is quite free from fire-damp, an exceptionally inflammable coal-dust, in a very finelydivided and dry condition, and existing in abundance in the immediate vicinity of a blown-out shot, may when B |