Non-fatal Accident

James Hoyle

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Department

Medical Referee Cases.

Twizell. James Hoyle.

1. "The said J. Hoyle is to-day suffering from Miners' Nystagmus, and his condition is such that he is unfitted for any work that involves much stooping as that makes him giddy.

2. The incapacity of the said J. Hoyle as stated is entirely due to Miners' Nystagmus.

Dated this 26th day of July, 1926.

(Signed) A. S. PERCIVAL,

Medical Referee."

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/6, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol VI covering Jan-Dec 1926

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Department

Twizell. James Hoyle, 59, hewer.

On 4th June, 1925, this man fell off with Miners' Nystagmus. Full compensation was paid until 25th June, 1926, when it was reduced to 7/6 per week on a report of Dr. Wardale (the Owners' doctor) who reported on 11th June, 1926, as follows :—

"Present Condition. — I could not get any definite Nystagmus but he, occasionally, had a slight spasm of the lids which would probably be left by Miners' Nystagmus. His sight is very defective indeed and will get worse. He has a cataract commencing in the centre of each lens and that is why he sees badly in daylight and is better at night, because in a bright light his pupils contract and he will not be able to see past the sides of the cataracts. In Miners' Nystagmus they are always worse at nights. In addition to the cataracts he has serious mischief at the back of each eye. As far as Nystagmus is concerned I think he is able to work on bank but he will never be able to do any skilled work because of his defective sight."

Dr. Boyd Cunningham (the man's own doctor) on 16th June, 1926, reported as follows :—

"Examination. — Hoyle is suffering from Miners' Nystagmus the oscillation of the eyes cars be observed when he turns his eyes into extreme positions. They are also more marked after he has been stooping for a short while — there is also a good deal of giddiness after he has been stooping. In addition to this Hoyle has also very early commencing cataracts in each eye — the Right is more marked than the Left. The back of the eye is also somewhat affected.

From the result of my examination I am of opinion that Hoyle is incapacitated from performing any kind of work underground ; he is also unfit to perform the full work of a labourer at bank. He is only fit to perform very suitable light work on the surface in daylight where there is little or no stooping or heavy lifting. Such incapacity is entirely due to Miners' Nystagmus. Did he not suffer from Miners' Nystagmus he would be quite able, despite the early cataracts, to follow his former occupation."

The case was referred to the Official Medical Referee (Dr. Percival) who reported on 26th July, 1926, as follows :—

1. "The said J. Hoyle is to-day suffering from Miners' Nystagmus, and his condition is such that he is unfitted for any work that involves much stooping as that makes him giddy.

2. The incapacity of the said J. Hoyle as stated is entirely due to Miners' Nystagmus."

On the above report compensation is being continued at the reduced rate of 7/6 per week. Hoyle is still off work and now claims full compensation

Awarded compensation at the reduced rate of 18/- per week.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/6, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol VI covering Jan-Dec 1926

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