James Elliott

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Committee

1225. Washington. James Elliott, 54, deputy.

Deceased fell off ill on December 11th, 1918, and was off for 20 weeks. On May 10th, 1919, he commenced light work at bank and worked until September 8th when he had to go home suffering from shortness of breath, which he alleged was due to poisoning by nitrous fumes whilst working as a shot firer, and which he also alleged was the cause of his falling off work on December 18th, 1918.

When deceased first fell off work he was a member of the Deputies' Association, who took his case up, and having him examined by a doctor, decided to proceed no further with it.

On commencing work at bank be joined our Association.

On September 15th, Elliott was instructed to obtain a certificate from the Certifying Surgeon to certify that he was disabled owing to the effects of nitrous fumes, and such certificate was obtained a few days after, but before the appeal could be sent to the Official Medical Referee the deceased died.

A post mortem was held on September 27th, and Dr McCullagh, who represented this Association, reported as follows :—

"A post mortem examination of the body was made on September 27th, Dr Hume, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Dr Young, Dr McCullagh being present. The internal organs presented the signs of Pernicious Anaemia, a disease diagnosed by Dr Young during his attendance on Elliott. We all agreed that Pernicious Anaemia was the cause of death.

"Pernicious Anaemia is a disease of the blood of very obscure origin. The inhalation of noxious fumes is not given as a possible cause by Sir W. Osler nor by Sir Thomas Oliver in his book on Industrial Diseases, and I am not aware of any case having been reported as due to inhalation of gasses. I think, however, that the continued inhalation of poisonous gas might be a cause, although there is no scientific evidence of which I am cognisant to support the theory."

The family consisted of the following :—

Deceased, 54, deputy.

Sister-in-law, 38.

Daughter, 6.

Daughter, 2.

Nephew, 16, flatter, £2/7/6.

Nephew, 15, screener, £1/8/6.

Claim made by the sister-in-law.

The Owners resisted the case, and the Committee failed to agree, and our side will consider what further action (if any) shall be taken.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/1, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol I covering Sep 1918-Dec 1919