Non-fatal Accident

Thomas Robert Brown

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Department

Official Medical Referee Cases.

4580. Hedley Pit. Thomas R. Brown, 49, labourer.

1. "The said Thomas R. Brown is in indifferent health. He sustained a severe fracture of the right leg in December, 1917, which is now soundly healed with little if any practical deformity. The movements of right ankle joint are only slightly limited. His heart is fatty with distant sounds and valvular action. He has marked muscular tremors and dyspnoea on exertion. He has oedema of both legs with unhealthy skin over the shins. Both feet are studded with corns on soles and toes. It is these which prevent him standing or walking far. His general condition is flabby and unhealthy. His weight is 14½ stones with obese abdomen and furrish tongue, and his condition is such that he is fit only for sedentary work.

2. The incapacity of the said Thomas R. Brown is due to constitutional causes and is not now either totally or partially due to his accident in December.

Dated this 3rd day of May, 1922.

(Signed) SELBY W. PLUMMER, M.D.,

Medical Referee."

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/3, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol III covering Jan-Dec 1922

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Department

4560. Harton. Hugh McGurk, 30, hewer.

This man fell off with nystagmus on 7th October, 1914 He started light work in 1916, and then resumed his ordinary work until 31st May, 1917, but be had to fall off and then commenced light work again and worked at the light work until 9th December, 1921. He was paid the light work rate until 4th February, 1922, and then compensation was stopped and the case was referred to the Official Medical Referee who reported on the 8th March, 1922 :—

"H. McGurk has no Coal Miners' Nystagmus to-day. He has scars from a severe injury on the head and he has epileptoid seizures which may be due to head injury, and his condition is such that he is incapacitated for work of most kinds owing to these epileptoid seizures.

The incapacity is not due to Coal Miners' Nystagmus."

A. S. PERCIVAL.

McGurk sustained injuries to his head on 29th April, 1913, through a fall of top coal. The accident was duly reported and he was off until 19th May, 1913, and alleged he is at present disabled through the effects of such injuries.

The case was before the Arbitration Committee on 26th June when it was adjourned for a report to be obtained from Dr. Drummond. Dr. Drummond reported on the 30th June, as follows :—

"I have examined him very carefully and was struck at once by the man's manner and obvious effort to induce tremor, which, in my opinion, was entirely voluntary. There was no Nystagmus and I must candidly state that I entertain grave doubts of the genuineness of the fits. There were scars on his head, indicating the site of his injury, but there was no change in his eyes, nor any other condition pointing to serious brain lesion.

If my impression of the fits are correct, as I believe them to be, I see no reason why he should not resume his employment as a hewer."

Claim disallowed.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/3, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol III covering Jan-Dec 1922

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Department

4580. South Moor, Hedley Pit. Thomas Robert Brown, 44, labourer.

Had his leg fractured on 3rd December, 1917, through being struck by the falling door of a railway truck. He was paid full compensation until 21st November, 1921, when it was stopped by a report of the colliery doctor.

The case was referred to the Official Medical Referee (Dr. Plummer) who reported on 2nd May, 1922 :—

1. "The said Thomas R. Brown is in indifferent health. He sustained a severe fracture of the right leg in December, 1917, which is now soundly healed with little if any practical deformity. The movements of right ankle joint are only slightly limited. His heart is fatty with distant sounds and valvular action. He has marked muscular tremors and dyspnoea on exertion. He has oedema of both legs with unhealthy skin over the shins. Both feet are studded with corns on soles and toes. It is these which prevent him standing or walking far. His general condition is flabby and unhealthy. His weight is 14½ stones with obese abdomen and furrish tongue, and his condition is such that he is fit only for sedentary work.

2. The incapacity of the said Thomas R. Brown is due to constitutional causes and is not now either totally or partially due to his accident in December."

Brown asked for the case to be re-opened on the strength of X-ray evidence he had obtained since the report of the Official Medical Referee.

The Owners said they would submit our evidence to their Association doctor, and on getting his report would consider the question of re-opening the case. In the meantime the matter stands adjourned.

Adjourned.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/3, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol III covering Jan-Dec 1922

If you are researching Thomas Robert Brown (e.g. for family tree purposes) and you would like to hear from others with the same interest then please complete the details in the following form. We will show the information you provide on this page so that you can be contacted.