On This Day, 10 July 1918

Evening Despatch

Wednesday 10 July 1918

LOSS OF AN EYE.

CLAIM AGAINST A CITY FIRM DISMISSED.

Messrs. Kynoch. Limited, were successful in the Workmen’s Compensation claim brought against them by Cornelius Heggie, behalf of his son, Hector Cornelius Heggie, 79, Holly-lane, Erdington, for the loss of his left eye.

The accident occurred on 6 December last, and in giving judgement to-day, Judge Ampriett, K.C., ruled that the mistake in pouring alcohol into a beaker containing mercury and nitric acid, in the course of making fulminate of mercury, did not arise during the course of his employment. At the same time the explosion occurred applicant was engaged in analysing pure copper, and which purpose alcohol was not used at all.

It was clear from his own admission that he was well aware of the danger of manufacturing fulminate of mercury. He felt driven to the conclusion that the accident did not arise out of the applicant’s employment at all, and the experiment was quite outside his employment, and contrary to the regulations of the respondents’ establishment. While he sympathised with the young man, who by the loss of sight, of his left eye had lost a commission in the R.A.F., the application must be dismissed.