Miners' Nystagmus

Abstract

Two reports on this subject by a Committee of the Medical Research Council were issued in 1922 and 1923. The principal finding of the Committee was that the chief symptom of this disease—the involuntary oscillation of the eyeballs—is caused by an insufficiency of the light reaching the eyes of the miner while at work, and that the most important measure of prevention is to secure for the miner at work adequate illumination. Nevertheless, in spite of considerable improvement in the illumination of mines, the incidence of the disease has, on the whole, steadily increased, for compensation on account of this disability was paid to 10,638 persons in 1930; this is the largest number, with one exception, during the past twenty-three years. The Medical Research Council has therefore considered it advisable to reconstitute the Committee, which has now issued a third report on the subject (Special Rep. Series, No. 176. H.M. Stationery Office. 9d.). This reaffirms, in the strongest terms, the conclusions of the former committee. There should be constant illumination of 0.25 foot-candle on the coal face, and it is understood that there are recent developments in the direction of improving illumination in mines. To account for the continued prevalence of the condition, it must be recognised that the oscillation of the eyeballs is but a part of the disease, and various psychoses and neuroses are also present. The practical treatment of the disease should consist in the elimination of a hopeless dependence on compensation by the provision of opportunities for work of some kind, even if restoration of full work underground has to be preceded by a period of work in daylight.