DUST EXPLOSIONS*
I'rof. \Ylieelcr said that it W:IS soiiictinics suggested that tlic prob:ibility of dust in :I factory being able to cnuse :in explosion had first been realised from tlie fact that coal dust in a mine caused 1111. esplosion, and tliat the precautions that \'ere cleviscd by tlic lloiiic Office with regard to factories tirosc iis II consequence of their work iii respect of cod-dust esplosions in mines. That opinion, however, was far from tlie truth. Apporently, long before there \vas recognition of the fact tlint coal (lust in a mine could cause an esplosion, there were esplosions in factories, recognised as dust csplosions. He believed that one of the earliest esplosions in this country, definitely prored to be due to dust, occurred a t a flour mill in Glasgow about 1870. This had caused considerirble damage, and liad brought home very forcibly the danger of dusts in buildings. It was not until inany years later that mining engineers rccognised that coal dust in a pit could be as dangerous as the firedamp which had been held previously to be responsible for esplosions underground. 'Rcp(rrt of n loclurc given nt tho HOIIIC Onico Industricil hfuscu~n, Wcstlni~~stcr, %\'.I, 011 July 14, Iry Prof. It. V.
\Vlreclcr.
011 lieatinn tlie coal to a stnnilnrd temperntrire of :ibout 966.