Small Splinter Causes Miner’s Death

July 1908

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 15 July 1908

Small Splinter Causes Miner’s Death

How splinter entered the thumb of an apparently healthy miner, set up blood poisoning, and killed him within a few days, was told an inquest yesterday at the Denaby Fullerton Hospital before Mr. D.. Wightman.

The deceased, John Thomas Holmes (28), dataller, 28, Tickhill Street, Denaby, was employed at the Cadeby Colliery.

Early on the morning of the 7th inst he, with two others, was in the pit putting timber up when splinter ran into his thumb. He complained -of the pain and later in the day was attended by Dr. Twigg and subsequently by Dr. Gardner.

On Friday night he was removed to the Fullerton Hospital where he died 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Dr. Frederick Graham Twigg, who had made a post mortem examination, said death was due to blood poisoning-

A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.